The shows begat plans for a box set; the planned box set begat a book. Although both have already been released in his native Australia, they are now getting a proper US release.

How impressive is the box set? Well, let’s start with how remarkable Kelly’s catalog is. With a career that has spanned nearly 40 years, it is a catalog of unparalleled depth filled with songs of emotional purity and musical allure.

The A-Z Recordings is comprised of eight cds that encompass 105 songs from throughout his career. Most of the performances are acoustic, shining a bright light on the brilliance of Kelly’s songs.

In celebration of this release and Kelly’s upcoming US tour, Twangville is giving away a copy of the A to Z Recordings. To win, post a comment with your favorite singer-songwriter. How simple is that? A winner will be selected at random when the contest ends on Tuesday, 14 February 2012 at midnight ET.**

Kelly talked about The A-Z Recordings at a TED Conference in Sydney last year. His remarks include the details behind “How To Make Gravy,” his Christmas song that “doesn’t have a chorus and is set in prison.” Brilliant.

Click here, here and here for more Twangville coverage of Paul Kelly.

In June of 1970 Elvis entered RCA’s Studio B in Nashville with a crack group of musicians including guitarist James Burton. In short order they roared through a collection of country and rockabilly gems, from Ernest Tubb’s “Tomorrow Never Comes” to Bob Will’s “I Washed My Hands in Muddy Water” to Willie Nelson’s “Funny How Time Slips Away.” Throw in a raucous take on Jerry Lee Lewis’s “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” and the collection was complete.

Want to hear it for yourself? Twangville is giving away two copies of for ELVIS COUNTRY: LEGACY EDITION. To win, post a comment to this post with your favorite Elvis song. Really, it’s that simple. A winner will be selected at random when the contest ends on Tuesday, 17 January 2012 at midnight ET.**

ELVIS COUNTRY: LEGACY EDITION by ELVIS PRESLEY
(RCA/Legacy 88697 90439 2)

CD One: ELVIS COUNTRY – ORIGINAL ALBUM (originally issued January 1971, as RCA 4460) Selections: 1. Snowbird • 2. Tomorrow Never Comes • 3. Little Cabin On The Hill • 4. Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On • 5. Funny How Time Slips Away • 6. I Really Don’t Want To Know • 7. There Goes My Everything • 8. It’s Your Baby, You Rock It • 9. The Fool • 10. Faded Love • 11. I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water • 12. Make The World Go Away • Bonus tracks: 13. I Was Born About Ten Thousand Years Ago • 14. A Hundred Years From Now (studio jam) • 15. Where Did They Go, Lord (single, Hot 100 #33).

CD Two: LOVE LETTERS FROM ELVIS – ORIGINAL ALBUM (originally issued June 1971, as RCA 4530) Selections: 1. Love Letters • 2. When I’m Over You • 3. If I Were You • 4. Got My Mojo Working/Keep Your Hands Off Of It • 5. Heart Of Rome • 6. Only Believe • 7. This Is Our Dance • 8. Cindy, Cindy • 9. I’ll Never Know • 10. It Ain’t No Big Thing (But It’s Growing) • 11. Life • Bonus tracks: 12. The Sound Of Your Cry • 13. Sylvia • 14. Rags To Riches (single, Hot 100 #33).

Over the past several years, Columbia Records has dug into their vaults to unearth some vintage Cash recordings. Their latest release documents some classic Cash live shows dating back to an early 1956 show in Dallas through his 1964 Newport Folk Festival appearance and a 1970 visit to the Nixon White House. All told, the two-disc set includes over 50 tracks from 10 shows spanning more than 20 years.

Here’s your chance to win this impressive collection. To win, post a comment with your favorite live performance of this year. A winner will be selected at random when the contest ends on Monday, 19 December 2011 at midnight ET.**

“Here is a young fellow that’s really been sellin’ the records throughout the country and a guy that’s got a million fans all over these United States.” said the announcer introducing Cash at the 1956 Dallas show captured here. If he only knew then…

**By participating in Twangville contests you agree to allow Twangville to post the winner’s name and city on our web site. We pass along the winning addresses to the record company or pr agency for fulfillment. Twangville will not use your address for any other reason. Contest open to US residents.

Forty-five years later the vaults have been opened and the recording sessions that would have led to the storied release are now a reality. Although Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine participated in the compilation, it is hard to say that the release reflects what could have been all those years ago. Nonetheless, it is a stunning view into the band’s creative process at a pivotal moment in their careers. To say that it is mind-blowing just doesn’t do it justice.

Want to hear it for yourself? Twangville is giving away a copy of the double disc of the sessions, filled with completed tracks, alternate versions and studio explorations. The give-away also includes this nifty t-shirt. To win, post a comment with your favorite Beach Boys song. A winner will be selected at random when the contest ends on Saturday, 12 November 2011 at midnight ET.**

For more information on the Beach Boys SMiLE Sessions, click here.

**By participating in Twangville contests you agree to allow Twangville to post the winner’s name and city on our web site. We pass along the winning addresses to the record company or pr agency for fulfillment. Twangville will not use your address for any other reason. Contest open to US residents.

Fast forward twelve years and the band has just released Sooner or Later, an 18-track compilation. Depending on your point of view, it is hard to imagine a better introduction to or reminder of a band that coulda, shoulda been huge.

These are perfect little pop songs, raised on sour mash and grits. With multiple singer-songwriters, each song had a different personality. Scott Miller could sing about the backwoods of his native West Virginia one minute and a rocker the next, oftentimes with tongue firmly in cheek. Mic Harrison seemed perpetually ready to rock. Throw in the ace rhythm section of bassist Paxton Sellers and and drummer Jeff Bills and this was a band that pulsed with electricity.

And here is the best part. The band is offering one lucky Twangville citizen an autographed copy of this release. To win, post a comment with your favorite artist from the band’s home state of Tennessee. A winner will be selected at random when the contest ends on Saturday, 8 October 2011 at midnight ET.**

As a special bonus, here is a track (man, those horns!) plus a vintage live performance video.

Audio Download: The V-Roys, “Amy 88″

**By participating in Twangville contests you agree to allow Twangville to post the winner’s name and city on our web site. We pass along the winning addresses to the record company or pr agency for fulfillment. Twangville will not use your address for any other reason. Contest open to US and Canadian residents.

And then there’s Paul Kelly. Kelly himself best described his career when he sang, “I’m a legend not a star.” Amen to the first, ’tis a shame about the second. The depth of his canon rivals most any artist of the modern era. From blues to folk to country to rock, Kelly can do it all.

What better way to be introduced to this exceptional artist than to win a copy of Songs from the South, a new 2-cd collection of his shoulda-been monster hits.

To win, simply post a comment with the name of your favorite artist from Down Under. A winner will be selected at random when the contest ends on Saturday, 24 September 2011 at midnight ET.**

Additional Twangville coverage of Kelly can be found here. We’ve also got a couple of mp3s available here.

And if that weren’t enough, here is a short collection of Kelly performances, starting with (mostly) acoustic versions of two classics, “Dumb Things” and “How to Make Gravy.” Next up are full band performances of “To Her Door” and the brilliant “Deeper Water.” We close out with special guest Neil Finn chiming in on Kelly’s “Leaps and Bounds” (check those harmonies!).

Each, in their own way, recalls the musical spirit and individuality of Loretta Lynn. Jewell is the more traditional of the two, breathing fresh air into a classic country sound, while Loveless gives a feisty rock edge to her music.

Now here’s the best part. We’ve got signed cds from both these remarkable artists for one lucky Twangville reader. To win, just post a comment with your favorite release so far this year. A winner will be selected at random when the contest ends on Saturday, 17 September 2011 at midnight ET.**

While you consider your selection, here are a couple of videos from Jewell and Loveless. And look close at Jewell’s guitar and you’ll see that it is signed by, you guessed it, Loretta Lynn.

LYDIA LOVELESS – Learn to Say No from Kitchen Sessions on Vimeo.

Eilen Jewell – Queen of the Minor Key from Here Comes The Flood on Vimeo.

Eilen Jewell photo courtesy of Erik Jacobs. Lydia Loveless photo courtesy of Paula Masters Travis.

A few months ago, we took an initial look at the latest record from Hayes Carll, KMAG YOYO (And Other American Stories), and decided that yes, it was worth having and was indeed a good record, but wasn’t the greatest record of Carll’s young career.

Well, a few months later, those feelings haven’t necessarily changed, but, what is interesting is the way that the record seems better now that the year is closer to its end than to its beginning, as was the case when the album saw its release. The fact is, there aren’t many storytellers like Carll out there. Plain and simple. Perhaps (for me, at least), this record wasn’t meant to explode in my speakers upon the first few listens, but to slowly burn itself into the soundtrack of my 2011. If in fact that’s the case, then consider that mission accomplished.

For the uninitiated, Carll is also becoming quite the video star. His new video for “Another Like You” is as funny and well-concieved a clip as your likely to view all year (See below).

Also, let’s do this. Our friends at Filter Magazine and Lost Highway records have been kind enough to offer Twangville resdents a shot at winning a VINYL COPY of KMAG YOYO. All you have to do is leave a comment below and we’ll draw names on Thursday morning. Good luck!

UPDATE: A winner has been chosen and contacted. Congrats and enjoy your album!

To win, simply comment below with your pick and tell us why you picked that band or video. We’ll randomly pick two winners – one winner for each band- and contact our two winners by email. Contest promotion ends Thursday, May 12 at midnight EST so don’t delay and be sure to tell a friend.**

TRUTH & SALVAGE CO., “Call Back”

THE DUSTIN BENTALL OUTFIT, “3000 Miles”

http://www.truthandsalvageco.com/
http://www.dustinbentall.com/

I’ll say it again… comment to win!

**By participating in Twangville contests you agree to allow Twangville to post the winner’s name and city on our web site. We pass along the winning addresses to the record company for fulfillment. Twangville will not use your address for any other reason. Contest open to US and Canadian residents.

Cash had a voice that commanded authority. The demos captured here – more than 15 from early in his career – provide ample evidence to support the point. Whereas contemporaries like Elvis emphasized the emotion in their performances, Cash leaned more towards authenticity. One can hear it in the confident quiver in his voice on tracks like The confident quiver in Cash’s voice on songs like “Come Along and Ride This Train” and “Get Rhythm.”

The seven rarities from legendary Sun Studios are especially compelling. Not surprisingly, Sam Phillips recognized the distinctive quality in Cash’s voice and put it front and center in tracks like “Brakeman’s Blues.”

The collection also includes some radio performances from 1955. Between songs like “Wide Open Road” and “Luther’s Boogie” there are some entertaining clips of Cash reading commercials. Even better is this request, “…write us a card and letter and we’ll try our best to get the song on that you want to hear, if we don’t know it we’ll learn it.”

To celebrate this new release, Twangville is partnering with Sony Records to offer an unbelievable prize package that includes:

• Johnny Cash From Memphis To Hollywood : Bootleg Vol. 2
• Limited Edition Bootleg Vol. 2 poster
• Limited Edition Bootleg Vol. 2 tee
• Johnny Cash American IV: The Man Comes Around
• Johnny Cash American V: A Hundred Highways

Heck, I want to win this! Alas, no dice for me, but it could be yours. To win, post a comment with your favorite Johnny Cash lyric. A winner will be selected at random when the contest ends on Monday, 21 February 2011 at midnight ET.**

From Memphis To Hollywood: Bootleg Vol. 2 by Johnny Cash

Track Listing:
CD ONE: THE 1950s
A. On The Air
1. KWEM Announcements and Advertisements
2. Johnny Cash Show Intro and Theme
3. Wide Open Road
4. Home Equipment Company Advertisement
5. One More Ride
6. Home Equipment Company Advertisement/Luther Perkins Intro
7. Luther’s Boogie
8. Belshazzar Intro
9. Belshazzar
10. Closing Comments and Theme
11. Overton Park Shell “Country Music Jamboree” Advertisement by “Texas” Bill Strength, broadcast August 4, 1955. (Tracks 1-10 recorded May 21, 1955 in West Memphis, Arkansas. Tracks 1-11 previously released as bonus CD in limited edition of The Legend boxed set, 2005.)

B. Early Demos
12. I Walk The Line (demo)
13. Get Rhythm (demo)
14. Train Of Love (demo)
15. Country Boy (demo)
16. My Treasure (demo)
17. Belshazzar (demo)
18. He’ll Be A Friend (demo)
19. When I Think Of You (demo)
20. I Just Don’t Care Enough (To Carry On) (demo)
21. I’ll Cry For You (demo)
22. You’re My Baby (demo)
23. Rock And Roll Ruby (demo, recorded probably late 1955; West Memphis, Arkansas, courtesy of Sun Entertainment Corporation.)

(Tracks 12-22 previously unreleased, recording dates and locations unknown.)

C. Sun Rarities
24. Wide Open Road (recorded late 1954; produced by Sam Phillips)
25. Leave That Junk Alone (recorded August 4, 1957; produced by Jack Clement)
26. Brakeman’s Blues (incomplete) (recorded April 2, 1956; produced by Sam Phillips)
27. Big River (recorded November 12, 1957; produced by Jack Clement)
28. I Couldn’t Keep From Crying (recorded probably 1955; produced by Sam Phillips)
29. New Mexico (recorded probably 1955; produced by Sam Phillips)
30. Goodnight Irene (recorded November 12, 1957; produced by Jack Clement)

(Tracks 24-30 recorded in Memphis, courtesy of Sun Entertainment Corporation.)

D. More Demos
31. Restless Kid (demo)
32 It’s All Over (demo).

(Tracks 31-32 previously unreleased, recording dates and locations unknown.)

CD TWO: THE 1960s
1. All Over Again
2. You Dreamer You
3. I’ll Remember You
4. Johnny Yuma Theme (previously unreleased in the U.S.)
5. Five Minutes To Live (previously unreleased in the U.S.)
6. The Losing Kind (previously unreleased in the U.S.)
7. Locomotive Man
8. Girl In Saskatoon
9. There’s A Mother Always Waiting (previously unreleased in the U.S.)
10. Johnny Reb (previously unreleased in the U.S.)
11. Shifting, Whispering Sands-with Lorne Greene (previously unreleased in the U.S.)
12. Send A Picture Of Mother
13. Hardin Wouldn’t Run (demo)
14. Thunderball (previously unreleased in the U.S.)
15. One Too Many Mornings (previously unreleased in the U.S.)
16. The Frozen Logger (previously unreleased in the U.S.)
17. Foolish Questions (previously unreleased in the U.S.)
18. Bottom Of The Mountain
19. Put The Sugar To Bed
20. You Beat All I Ever Saw
21. On The Line (previously unreleased in the U.S.)
22. Roll Call
23. The Folk Singer
24. Six White Horses (demo) (previously unreleased)
25. Come Along And Ride This Train (demo) (previously unreleased).

(Tracks 1-6 recorded in Nashville, produced by Don Law.) (Tracks 7-12, 14-21 recorded in Nashville, produced by Don Law and Frank Jones.) (Tracks 22-23 recorded in Nashville, produced by Bob Johnston.)