It took me a while to get through this one, but for no particular reason. I would read it for a while, then forget about it for a couple of weeks, then get back to it.
It's sort of an oral history about the influence Mickey Newbury had on many, many other songwriters. The only thing I knew about Newbury prior to this was the mention of his name in Waylon and Willie's "Luckenbach, Texas." Newbury was a prolific songwriter who really didn't a crap about Nashville. He wanted to write songs his way and his way only. He could have been a much bigger name had he decided to go along with the Nashville establishment, but he didn't.
After I finished reading this earlier today, I went on a listening binge to stuff that Newbury recorded, and he was really good. A few minutes ago, I was driving with my son and I had him play "She Even Woke Me Up To Say Good-bye," which is just an awesome song.
Joe Bob says definitely check this one out.
33rd of August is an all timer.
I was listening to the "One By Willie" podcast with Steve Earle, who mentions Newbury as the bridge between country and coffee house music.
