Big Dreams & High Hopes Tracklisting

My apologies for the lack of real updates. Truthfully, I’m finding it difficult to put my thoughts on paper lately.

The following note was imported on Jack Ingram’s Facebook page about his upcoming album Big Dreams & High Hopes to be released on August 25.  Despite my general dislike of “Barefoot And Crazy,” I’m still fairly excited about this album so here’s the press release:

When accepting his 2008 Academy of Country Music Award for “Top New Male Vocalist,” singer/songwriter Jack Ingram dedicated the honor to “anyone who who has ever dared to dream big dreams and have high hopes.” After years grinding his way onto an elite list of country music’s most hardworking and respected touring acts, Ingram will release his third Big Machine studio project BIG DREAMS & HIGH HOPES on Tues., Aug. 25 . Eleven tracks that further his “keep on, keepin’ on” message that hard work and determination pave the only path he knows.

“I’m proud of this album like crazy,” says Ingram. “We started to put it out a few times earlier this year, but then I’d hold everything up and go back to the studio and tweak this or mess with that, but now I’m finally ready. There are a few rowdy barroom sing-a-longs on there and also a few songs that are meant to be listened to when you’re all alone…lots of long days and fun nights were spent making this one.”

Off like a rocket, the lead single “Barefoot and Crazy” is rocking its way towards Billboard’s Top 10, jumping four places to No. 13 this week with USA TODAY proclaiming it “…one of country music’s hottest summertime singles.”

Ingram’s robust list of top-notch co-writers, producers and collaborators for the new project includes Americana heroine Patty Griffin on the Ingram-penned “Seeing Stars,” and mainstream country music chart-topper Dierks Bentley on the honky tonk party anthem “Barbie Doll” with Little Big Town, Randy Houser, James Otto and The Lost Trailers (also known as The Little Big Lost Beat-Up Ford Funky Times Freedom Choir) contributing gang vocals. Jay Joyce, Jeremy Stover, Doug Lancio and Radney Foster all get production credits, and Ingram’s stellar cast of co-writers includes Jeffrey Steele, Darrell Brown, Dallas Davidson, Gary Burr and Tom Shapiro.

BIG DREAMS & HIGH HOPES Track List:

1. Free (Jay Knowles, Trent Summar)
2. Barefoot And Crazy (Ben Hayslip, Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson)
3. That’s A Man (Ed Hill, Steven Dale Jones, Mark D. Sanders)
4. Seeing Stars, Featuring Patty Griffin (Jack Ingram, Chris Tompkins)
5. Not Giving Up On Me (Jack Ingram, Jeffrey Steele, Tom Hambridge)
6. Barbie Doll, Featuring Dierks Bentley (Jack Ingram, Todd Snider)
7. Big Dreams & High Hopes (Gary Burr, Jack Ingram)
8. Heartache (Jack Ingram, Radney Foster, Darrell Brown)
9. Man In Your Life (Jack Ingram, Radney Foster)
10. King Of Wasted Time (Tom Shapiro, Tony Martin, Jim Collins)
11. In The Corner (Jack Ingram)

Recently dubbed “The Marathon Man” in PEOPLE’s “Hottest Guys In Country Music” issue, Ingram will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for “Most Consecutive Radio Interviews In A 24 Hour Period,” beginning in the early hours of Aug. 25, a record currently held by Pete Wentz’ Fall Out Boy. Until then, Ingram is burning up the highway with a schedule packed full of concert dates through the end of the year.

Unfortunately, it looks like the Ellis Paul cut “The World Ain’t Slowin’ Down” was bumped. Hopefully it’ll pop up somewhere else along the line.

Preview album clips.

Stats & Stuff

It’s always difficult to get back into the swing of things after a hiatus. A recent visit from my nieces and nephew (they just departed this past Saturday) basically drained all of my energy (wonderful kids, but exhausting), so I’m easing myself back into blogging, but I freely admit that I am a terrible procrastinator at times.

Looking at the blog stats, I’m really surprised and pleased that Melodic Sunburst seems to be drawing a decent cross section of lurkers, from people looking for information on Blue Eyed Grass, Sam & Ruby, Craig Jackson, Chris King, Lindsay Wells, and Jeff Allen, to name a few. (Glance through the archives for more information.) Thanks to all of the other blogs who have been directing traffic in this direction – you can visit many of them via the side panel. And to Trailer at Farce the Music  – Happy Annifarcery!

Raised on Gettin’ By – Jeff Allen

“I come from a long line of fighters,”  Jeff Allen declares on the title cut from his debut disc  Raised on Gettin’ By.  It’s  a claim that’s easy to believe on this  high-energy compilation of country-rock ruminations on life, love, and (oftentimes) lack thereof that finds the young Texan staking his claim as a poster child for rolling with the punches. 

While not a sunny record by any means, Raised on Gettin’ By  boasts an irrepressible spirit. Punchy instrumentation bolsters Allen’s honky tonky-ready twang. He’s not a crooner, but he has a soulful bent that is put to good use on slower numbers.  Lyrically plainspoken, the album is virtually devoid of whining and even as Allen grapples with a frequent Achille’s heel (women) he demonstrates a likable sense of self-awareness. Raised on Gettin’ By is not a unique record, but it offers favorable glimpses of a man who’s not averse to hard work, good times, or a broken heart. 

The inclination toward  hard work began with Allen’s own humble beginnings which are referenced in the aforementioned “Raised on Gettin’ By.”  The timeliness of the message on the title track, which recently entered the Texas music charts at #53,  owes as much to the current economic climate as Allen’s own upbringing, but rather than lay the blame at the feet of Wall Street or Washington, Allen simply suggests that people readjust their priorities. It’s a prideful anthem that works because it’s rooted in making the most of current circumstances instead of simply focusing on outrage.