Country Weekly magazine (August 14, 2014, Brooks & Dunn cover) has a 4 page spread on Jim Reeves.
There's nothing new in the article in fact there are several inaccuracies in the text. It's such a shame that there is at least 1 good reference to, just about everything, Jim Reeves that was not referenced.
Might I suggest that Bob Paxman read "Jim Reeves: His Untold Story" prior to writing another article on Jim Reeves.
Anyway even with it's errors it was good to see Jim in print once again.
Re: Country Weekly
Posted by Larry Jordan on July 30, 2014, 9:58 am, in reply to "Country Weekly"
Having been involved in journalism professionally since I was 15, I have seen a truly sickening decline in journalistic standards. It used to be that reporters eagerly made themselves accessible to the public; they WANTED news tips and scoops and leads. Now the media insulate their reporters from contact with the public by making it difficult to even reach them. I asked all my musician friends around Nashville and others who live there HOW one gets in touch with Country Weekly and nobody knew, even though they have an office there.
Inept reporters who lack ambition to do real research repeat the same errors as others have made. Some lazy and dishonest reporters, like Joe Cushnan -- whose byline appeared on an article recently published in the Irish Post -- misappropriate the work of others and claim it as their own. The first time this man sold a story to an editor a couple of years ago and used information from me without full attribution, he blamed the omission on the editors. But it has repeatedly happened.
In his latest article he DID mention another book which happens to contain an anecdote about Jim's tour that is factually wrong. But he FAILED to mention my book. I sent him private emails asking why.
He's now written a blog portraying himself as the victim and denies he used any information gleaned from a book he claims not to have read, even though I know he DID. Furthermore, even if one accepted his premise that he didn't use anything gleaned from me, wouldn't you imagine that the mere existence of a 672-page book on the man he was writing about would be worth mentioning to his readers? The fact that he did NOT suggests that Cushnan was afraid if people read my book, they would realize how his Irish story parallels my investigative reporting (which, by the way, took years to complete).
Such are the times in which we live.
I was surprised to hear a radio interview on the BBC today featuring two people who were repeatedly referred to as a "Jim Reeves soundalike and a Jim Reeves expert," with only ONE song played from the 8 CD set and the rest of the time devoted to a discussion of the amateur performer and his live performance of Jim Reeves songs. The announcer repeatedly got the date of Jim's death wrong, and no mention was made of the producer, the existence of a booklet, or that 30 of the 31 musicians who worked on this massive CD project live in AMERICA.
This has emerged as part of a pattern and sad to say some people's egos apparently are running such a deficit that they need to fill them by misappropriating credit for other people's work and claiming it as their own.
Re: Country Weekly
Posted by Bob Chudicek on July 30, 2014, 7:25 pm, in reply to "Re: Country Weekly"
Larry,
Here is what is was able to find for you. Letters to the editor can be mailed to:
letters@countryweekly.com
Or by snail mail:
Letters, Country Weekly 506 2nd Avenue South Suite 200 Nashville, TN 37210
I encourage everyone the write to Country Weekly...I have.
Bob
Re: Country Weekly
Posted by Tony Wall on July 31, 2014, 5:15 am, in reply to "Re: Country Weekly"
Hi Larry, Having been a supporter of your work and especially this 8 cd set, I take offense at you calling me an amateur!! (Not by name) No one will ever replace Jim’s voice in this world, we know that. Take the time to listen to my music….www.tonywallmusic.com With regards to yesterdays broadcast, we only got into the BBC on the strength of supporting a local artist, and being involved with radio, you will be aware of how difficult it is to perform to a backing track under radio studio conditions. Steve Brink is currently undertaking 20 radio interviews to promote the 8 cd set, since yesterday afternoon he has appeared on three radio stations! You will have seen a comment by one of my friends on face book, “having heard I’ll Fly Away” I am off to buy it……I rest my case. The recordings are exceptional, some bad publicity on Amazon is in my opinion is unjustified because the recordings are amazing. Anyone who purchases the set will read the booklet and learn of how the recording were produced and who took time out to go to such lengths to find top notch producers and arrangers, not to mention who paid the bill. Perhaps more emphasis should be placed on promoting The Jim Reeves Way web site with these radio visits, that would not only increase your awareness to new Jim Reeves fans but also some additional direct sales also? I have made my contribution to the cause over the years, my show’s not only have my cd’s available but also display the new 8cd set and how they can obtain it. So was it that bad that I had a few moments to promote what I love doing, promote the music of Jim Reeves on a local radio station? After all it was not an interview during a break in the Superbowl! And to put it into prospective, today the 50th Anniversary of his passing all the world can look forward to by way of anything new is this 8 cd set and DVD, that you and Steve have produced and the Bear set (For the hard core collector) and whatever radio tributes we can share. Sony/BMG have made a considerable amount of money over the years from Jim Reeves, how sad they could have put some back for the 50th……….I bet they do with Elvis…..
Re: Country Weekly
Posted by Larry Jordan on July 31, 2014, 6:47 am, in reply to "Re: Country Weekly" Edited by board administrator July 31, 2014, 6:52 am
I know you have been singing Jim's music for a long time Tony and you have gotten many promotions on this website for your music while the Holland webmaster boycotts you because you are friends with me. But I was not aware you were earning a living as a professional singer.
Many people were involved in the production of the new 8 CD set. I should know. I produced it. Not Steve (though radio listeners would never have known that). Not a note got played without my approval. I chose the repertoire, decided on the treatment, hired the musicians and arrangers and background singers and engineers. I worked with my longtime engineer David Lawrence to clean up the masters, assembled the photos, wrote with my daughter Sara the liners, supervised every aspect of the layout and produced a collection which I think will be treasured by fans for years to come.
NONE of this was mentioned yesterday. It was all about my esteemed UK partner and you. Something is wrong with this picture. Only ONE Jim Reeves song was played from the new set. Despite the marketing efforts you cite, I have made no secret of my view that JIM is the star. Not you nor anybody else.
I am privy to other interviews that have been done over the years and the talented people I've recruited to help me on these CDs -- of whom I'm very proud -- are NEVER given any credit and I think that's inexcusable. I remember one Thanksgiving when some of my singers came back from out of town trips with their families just so they could re-do a vocal backing on a track that I wasn't satisfied with.
Scott Graham, who has a degree in studio engineering and has worked in the big leagues, is also a talented musician. On the day that he proposed to his girlfriend, after she accepted his proposal, he dropped her off at her residence to rush back to the studio to stay up all night finishing some tracks I needed done!
Scott Barnett, one of the nation's top mastering engineers, called me up when he heard through one of my orchestrators, Danny Crawford, that my usual engineer had been called away. Scott said he heard I needed help and although he was booked for several months in advance, he said "I'm willing to work nights and weekends to get this project done for you." And he did. Mr. Barnett gave this 8 CD set its final polish.
I could go on and on. I'm not expecting all these stories to get told in a half hour interview, but even a brief acknowledgment that other people were involved in this project would have been nice. But I heard nothing from you or Steve along those lines.
You did not play on the new overdubs. Arne Benoni did, as did his band members. But of course none of them were mentioned on the radio either.
I believe in giving credit where credit is due and so far I haven't seen that happen -- with only one exception.
Re: Country Weekly
Posted by Tony Wall on July 31, 2014, 8:08 am, in reply to "Re: Country Weekly"
Larry, This interview according to Steve was only given if we featured a local artist, so I am told. There is no doubt the work in the production of this cd collection involved many professional people, all round, it is clear in the finished product. We have spoken several times and your own personal excitement along the way inspired you along. I’m not sure how interested the general public place on knowing every detail in a radio audience, the booklet included goes a long way, with interesting reading to explain all this. I make a point of commenting that if you had not dedicated your heart felt commitment to this project we would not have such a wonderful “hours of listening pleasure” if not for you and the team. I have sent to you a copy of my Jim Reeves tribute 3 cd set and one to Arie in Holland. I will be amazed if I get a good review from Arie, if he plays it, could be surprised if you listen to it. I have never asked you or Arie to promote my music or even mention my web site, although every other Jim Reeves tribute singer somewhere along the line has had some exposure this side of the pond in particular. I’m sitting here feeling why do I bother,I have the utmost respect for Arni Benoni, so I have been featured in one radio interview out of approx 40 that Steve is involved with promoting Jim and the 8 cd set and DVD. Have I not done my part to help the cause all these years, and I will add, I have had two phone calls this morning asking how they can obtain the 8 cd set!
Re: Country Weekly
Posted by Larry Jordan on July 31, 2014, 8:32 am, in reply to "Re: Country Weekly" Edited by board administrator July 31, 2014, 8:49 am
This public forum is not the appropriate place to discuss marketing strategy but it is my view that Jim Reeves' talent should be sufficient to command the attention of a radio audience and nobody else is needed. It's nothing against you Tony. I certainly salute the many hours and thousands of dollars you have personally spent helping keep Jim's music alive -- even picking up the tab for Mr. Bussey to visit America, and then being falsely accused and pilloried by him just because he was upset you got more credit than him when my book came out. But that's because you helped me; he didn't.
Anyway, I have a different perspective on marketing than my partner. But he's a big boy and he can make his own mistakes if he chooses to do so. And it is a mistake to divert the public's attention when the Number One objective should be to focus on this 8 CD set. It may seem a contradiction to then say I think some of the musicians should have been given credit, but what I mean is that ONLY Jim's songs should have been played, and then brief descriptions could have been given of who was playing on a particular track. Because I don't think most listeners would realize just how major these performers are. Saxophonist Craig Swift played for the Pope. Steve Patrick played trumpet for Aretha Franklin. Terry Franklin sang with the Gaither Vocal Band. David Johnson has played on many hits by major Southern Gospel artists. A brief mention of their names would help people understand just how SPECIAL this 8 CD set is.
Incidentally, lest anybody think I'm a publicity hound, I specifically requested that my name and my book NOT be mentioned during the TV special that Steve Brink has prepared on Jim. I understand he has respected my wishes.