Customer Reviews

Tales of the New West

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am 20 years old and have a five piece heavymetal band that played locally in three counties until 6 months ago, but since my mom and my grandmother only listen to country I cant help but learn it. I hear it all day every day. My grandma has been sick for about 9 months and can't walk so I've been going to her house around three times a week for a dozen hours a day and all she plays is country music. I relaize the music I played was nothing but loud gibberish with lots of screaming. After listening to Tales of the New West I realize how poetically heartfelt it is written, with sheer perfection each song tells a beautiful story and the best part is that everyone can understand ALL the words. Here's something I never thought I'd say, but that CD has made our band decide to give up on the heavy metal and start singing country music. "Tales" really turned my life around. It is so brilliantly written by the Coreys and Buddy Jewell sings it magnificently. The only problem I have with Buddy Jewell is the same as Tim McGraw, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Eddie Montgomery, Alan Jackson and numerous others that have bald spots and/or thinning hair. They constantly hide under everything from rags to baseball caps to cowboy hats to boggans and thats so assinign and rediculous. Do they really think the public is so naive that we all believe they each have a head full of thick hair under those hats. Come on, guys, get real, better yet, get medical hair restoration and put some hair there if you all are SO VAIN. Look at the REAL MEN that are not afraid too be themselves, like Jimmy Buffett and James Taylor. Their fans love them like crazy. Can you just imagine what each of those singers could do with a Corey song? WOW! The record label could make a million bucks with "Tales" if Buddy would just sing the songs in videos. It's without a doubt his VERY BEST work, ever and I have heard several of Buddy's other CD's because my grandmoher has them ALL! Hey, Coreys, you dudes keep on giving us those GREAT songs. You're the best. You sure made a huge impact on my musical future, thanks a million from a brand new country singer.

TimoLeeChino

Man, this CD blew me away. I can remember as a little boy listening to the likes of Hank, SR., Marty Robbins, Merle Haggard, Don Gibson, Eddy Arnold, Bill Monroe, Bill Anderson, just to name only a small group of greats! Tales of the New West is extremely exceptional in that it is NOT flavored with rock, rap, pop or hiphop. It's the real deal, the true country music that originally made Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry the roots of country splendor that it used to be before the music got all blended together, such as Big and Rich with a rapper, McGraw with a rapper. I do like Big and Rich and Tim McGraw, but all of their material is NOT the true genuine great "country" music or writing that Tales of the New West is. There is not one song on this album that isn't worthy or radio play or a video. In fact, why haven't we seen these magnificent songs on CMT and GAC. Its by far the best album to come along in decades and Buddy jewell has a wonderfully rich full voice and sings each song to the full limit of greatness. I sure hope that Nashville and ALL the top singers grab up these Corey songs and cut them because this kind of greatness comes along so very seldom. The Coreys are exceedingly briliant writers. I have seen Buddy seven times in four states, including Fan Fair but he never sings any of these dynamite songs. WHY? It's the best material he's ever recorded!This triple platinum quality album is being wasted because no top singer, like Toby or Kenny or Tim, etc., or top label exec has got the good sense to snatch it up and make a million. This album has it all: it is a beautiful, serious, funny, creative, silly, heartfelt, tearjerker, cute, a truly unique CD all wrapped up into one. You will love every song because you can't pick just one favorite. Buy it and see for yourself. You'll play the daylights out of it like I do. Way to go, Coreys! Rock on, brothers and sisters!


Barry Gibson

I hear a lot of music. In fact, I rarely ever hear an album twice because I have so many to listen to for consideration for airplay. The music I hear ranks from awful to excellent. "Tales of the New West" falls squarely into the "Excellent" bin. The outstanding songwriting of the Coreys and Dennis Kahler coupled with Buddy Jewell's warm and effective vocals and more-than-adequate instrumentation make for a very satisfactory listening experience. After listening to 11 tracks with only "The Downtown Matinee" left, I said, "If this final song is a good one, this will be one of those rare albums where every single song is radio-worthy." And that's exactly what it turned out to be. There are only a few country music albums that come to my mind when I think of those without a single bad cut - Porter Wagoner's "Thin Man From West Plains"; Confederate Railroad's self-titled debut CD; Hugh Moffatt's "Loving You"; Hank Thompson's "Most of All; Emmylou Harris' "Pieces in the Sky"; "The Spectacular Johnny Horton" to name a few off the top of my head. "Tales of the New West" is now added to that list. Upon listening to this CD, one is immediately struck by the creative lyrics. "I Get the Bird" will bring a smile to any mid-westerner like me who has a sense of humor. I would like to have heard five or six more verses for "The Downtown Matinee" - just so all the silver screen cowboys could have had mention. But the song brings quite a wave of nostalgia as it is. One begins to feel like he's actually sitting in front of a big screen while listening to "Pancho Villa's Gold." This is storytelling at its best. As one who has always believed the #1 spot on the charts should be determined more by the strength of the songwriter than the singer, I'm always intrigued when great songwriters like the Coreys and Dennis Kahler come out of the woodwork. We can only hope it won't be long before their work is presented to us again and they receive the commercial success they so deserve.

I get lots of records sent my way, but "Tales of the New West" is a very pleasant surprise. This is a terrific CD that unites some truly outstanding songwriting with the warm, resonant and familiar vocals of Buddy Jewell, who's quite simply one of the best singers in the business.

As most country fans know by now, Buddy was an in-demand Nashville session singer and veteran of the dance hall and honky tonk circuit for years before his recent "overnight rise" to stardom. In peak form on this record, Jewell demonstrates here his seemingly effortless knack for making a song his own, and his versatility is showcased throughout.

But it isn't just Buddy's singing. This record is very well produced, and the songs are stellar.

From the train-whistle fiddle and wonderfully stacked vocals on the opening strains of "Oh, Justine," which is just plain good, to the final evocative "ooh ooh oohs" of the record's showcase cut, "Downtown Matinee," this CD is a top-notch collection of country-pop songs written by California brothers Arthur and Alton Corey and their respective wives, Margie and Sharon, along with Dennis Kahler, a well known Alabama songwriter.

These skilled songwriters have come together to fill "New West" with melodic, wonderfully constructed tunes that, though country, also reveal touches of 70s rock and folk. And Jewell sings all of them with equal skill and heart.

The lyrics throughout are mature, and the choruses stay in your head, but there are a few standouts for me on this record, including "One Time We Cared," a great song with an almost ethereal sound and terrific back vox, and "Silver Wings in the Stars," which features a very cool jangly/folkie vibe slightly reminiscent of the Byrds.

Alternately obvious and subtle, the writers' influences here range from folk-rockers like John Stewart and the aforementioned Byrds to country outlaws like Waylon and Willie to singer-songwriters like Gordon Lightfoot and Jimmy Buffett. There's also a bit of Spanish/Southwest flavor woven throughout ("Pancho Villa's Gold" "Rosa Danced in Verecruz"), that makes it all the more enjoyable for someone like me, who lives just a few miles from the border.

For you traditionalists, there's some old-school honky tonk of which ole Hank himself would approve in "Cold and Lonesome Life," a bit of country swing in "Mama Della," and a nice driving acoustic feel and excellent dobro solo in "So hard to Be Strong," which also contains a poignant lyric.

But the real standout is the final song, "The Downtown Matinee," which would have fit comfortably on an Eagles album circa "Hotel California" or "The Long Run." Recalling the memories two grown bothers share of watching their favorite cowboy heroes on the big screen as kids, "Downtown Matinee" is a beautiful piece with its major 7th chords and effectively sentimental lyrics.

This is a genuinely touching, even gently haunting song that evokes the same kinds of bittersweet feelings as a "Desperado" or "The Last Resort." And it actually sounds a bit like Tim Schmidt or my buddy Randy Meisner singing backing vocals - though I know it isn't.

The only complaint I have is that the fade-out on "Downtown Matinee" doesn't last a little longer. The "ooh ooh oohs" here are the most musical moments on the entire record, and I just wanted a few more of them. Sometimes, songwriters just shouldn't listen to the oppressive advice of anal-retentive, chart-obesessed songwriting teachers or pain-in-the-ass radio consultants, who say a song has to be just 3 minutes or so.

When a tune is this good, it should last. Ironically, this song recalls a time when records were called "albums" and made of vinyl, and the best songs on those albums lasted 6 or 7 minutes. It would have been entirely appropriate if "Downtown Matinee" had been a little more epic in nature. It's a song that begs to be longer than three and 1/2 minutes. But hey, this didn't change my mind about this record, which is a winner from start to finish.

I thoroughly enjoyed "Tales of the New West". I recently purchased this CD because I enjoy Buddy Jewell's voice, however, I was blown away by the lyrics and music. Each song had its own story. I particulary enjoyed "Oh, Justine", "Parrothead Paradise" and "One Time We Cared". The music and melody were very catchy... I hope that The Corey's and Dennis Kahler continue to work on another CD in the very near future. I know I'll be one of the first to purchase a CD!

I feel that many of the songs on this CD are better than a lot of songs that I hear on the radio!!! Way to go!

Keep up the good work - I will keep a look out for anything new by The Coreys and Dennis Kahler.

The Coreys rock!!!! Great album, fantastic writing, great singing, but why aren't CMT and GAC showing videos of these fine songs??? This album is triple platinum material! Don't miss out on it! The late great Marty Robbins would have stood "Tall and Proud" to have performed this magnificent album and every song on it. There are several number one songs on it, no doubt about it. Why isn't Buddy doing these songs instead of the lackluster videos he does do that offers no excitement. If he got Michael Solomon to direct Tales of the New West videos with Buddy he would be smiling all the way to the bank. Now, George Canyon, with that gravelly thing he does on certain words could also sing the daylights out of Corey material. The Coreys are some of the best writers Ive ever had the pleasure of listening to. Talk about creative and the heart and soul of a poet, keep it up guys, you're what country music is sorely missing today and pretty soon Nashville, Sony and all the others labels and powers to be will wake up and see what they have been ignorant enough to overlook. Shame on Nashville and Music Row!!! Coreys, keep em coming! If you close your eyes when you listen to Tales of the New West you can watch the story unfold in your minds eye. I'd buy anything the Coreys write. They are number one!!!!! You all rock!!!!!!!!!!


Miss Marysue

I enjoyed listening to the CD and found the songs really well crafted. I would recommend this to any music lover. Buddy Jewell is one great singer!

I recently got the chance to review this album, and I was really impressed. Buddy Jewell is a great singer, and really belts these tunes out. If you like Buddy Jewell already, just stop reading here and buy the album.
The album is really easy to listen to all the way through, but several of the songs are really top notch. "So Hard to Be Strong" has one of the best lines in country music....but I won't spoil it for you. "I get the bird" is hilarious, almost on the level of Joe Diffie's "John Deere Green", and "Downtown Matinee" is a great reminiscence of a song. If you like Radney Foster's "DEl Rio, TX, 1959" album, you'll love this song and the whole album.
The songs on this album are great, and the vocals are tremendous. It's got that old-timey country music feel with all the benefits of modern recording and songwriting. Just like driving around in a restored 1956 convertible....with air conditioning and a CD player! It's great!

I am a big fan of the writing style of the Coreys and have been for many years. I have been in radio for over 12 years, have played some good, some bad and some mediocre country songs and I am happy to say that I have played most of the Corey penned songs on my radio program. I am also a huge fan of Buddy Jewell and I totally disagree with R. Dixon that these should have remained on the shelf. Buddy has done an excellent job singing the songs and they deserve a great voice like Buddy's. Yes, the songs are demos and they were recorded well before Buddy won his Award and I'm sure the fact that Buddy used to sing for Mr Dixon has nothing to do with his scathing review. This album is great and, definitely worth the purchase and the country listener will have hours of listening pleasure - great songs - great voice. Have a listen for yourself and then buy it.

I have given it four stars and not five only because it is a demo and a well recorded demo comparable to many major label releases.

I agree that this album is musically very good, even great. However, contrary to misleading rumors, I disagree that there are any ethical problems involved in buying this album. I personally know the songwriters (The Corey Family) who financed this whole project themselves and paid Buddy a substantial amount of money for his participation. Furthermore, they have a contract with Buddy to pay him royalties for every album sold and the royalty rate is three times what Sony or any other record company would typically pay. THIS IS NOT A BOOTLEG ALBUM.. To the contrary, Buddy stands to gain more financially than any other person involved with this album and I heartily recommend it to any of his fans.