Rural Rhythm Records is proud to announce they have picked up Dwight McCall's new album and will release the first single, Blue Eyed Boston Boy, on The Prime Cuts of Bluegrass, Volume 86 March 15, 2007. The album, Never Say Never Again will be released April 24, 2007 and includes guests, Alan Bibey, Steve Gulley, Lou Reid, Rickey Wasson, Ron Stewart, Harold Nixon, Randy Kohrs, Brian Stephens and Missy Werner. McCall said, "I am absolutely thrilled to have been asked to join the family at Rural Rhythm Records and to be involved with a label who has such a great history in Bluegrass Music."
"Dwight's powerful tenor vocals have placed him in an elite group of today's top bluegrass singers and landed him in one of today's top bluegrass groups, J. D. Crowe and The New South! His first solo album turned a lot of heads and we are very excited about being a part of his new and future albums," said Sam Passamano, President of Rural Rhythm.
McCall is the son of bluegrass veteran and Rural Rhythm artist, Jim McCall of famed Earl Taylor & Jim McCall with the Stoney Mountain Boys. Taylor & McCall recorded three albums for Rural Rhythm in the mid-to-late 60's. Many of those songs are represented in Rural Rhythm's Sound Traditions Collection packages. Passamano also said, "Dwight is a perfect fit for Rural Rhythm bridging our rich past history, Earl Taylor & Jim McCall, with our present. He delivers a fresh contemporary new tradition bluegrass sound as a new generation artist that appeals to all ages."
Never Say Never Again has several original tunes by McCall including, Don't Break My Heart Again, a gospel tune, He Never Turned Away, and also the touching Goodbye My Friend, that pays tribute to McCall's brother who died in a car wreck in 2000. McCall has compiled a great mix of songwriters including but not limited to, Mike Evans, Jon Weisberger, Brink Brinkman, Michael Martin Murphey and the title track written by Wayne Winkle and Craig Market. The most interesting selection is Time of Our Lives written by the techno dance DJ Paul Van Dyk from Germany . McCall explains, "I heard this song playing on HBO one night while I was sleeping and it woke me up. It was real slow so I just sped it up and tried to keep it as close to the melody as I could. It's just about living in the present and enjoying life and living it."
McCall first drew attention as a member of Union Springs, releasing three well-received CDs and touring regionally between 1992 and 1995. He stepped onto the national stage as a member of Charlie Waller's Country Gentlemen before joining the New South in 1996. He can be heard on the latest J. D. Crowe and The New South recording, Lefty's Old Guitar where he penned the country flavored ballad I Only Wish You Knew. His powerful tenor has been paired with the Lost & Found's Scottie Sparks on his self-titled debut of 1999, and with two-time IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year Dan Tyminski, both on the latter's solo album and the award-winning Stanley Gospel Tradition. McCall stepped away from his role in The New South in 2003 to record his first solo recording, Kentucky Peace of Mind with members of The New South along with friend Josh Williams.
Track Listening 1.Poor Old Man 2. Never Say Never Again 3. West Virginia Ground 4. Goodbye My Friend 5. Blue Eyed Boston Boy 6. Logan's Crossroads 7. Pathway of My Savior 8. Lost River 9. Time of Our Lives 10. Don't Break My Heart Again 11. He Never Turned Away 12. Little Bessie 13. My Heart Loves You More 14. Goin' Across the Sea
Artist Highlights
- "Blue Eyed Boston Boy" - #2 Ranked PRIME CUTS OF BLUEGRASS, Volume 86 National Radio Programmers
-"Never Say Never Again" - #8 on Cashbox Magazine - BLUEGRASS ALBUM CHART (July2007)
