Here's four early reviews of the new Gretchen Peters CD "One To The Heart, One To The Head", currently climbing the Americana charts. It includes my song, "North Platte".

From The El Paso Times:

http://elpasotimes.typepad.com/pullen/2009/04/gretchen-peters-eps-tom-russell-evoke-old-new-west-on-new-cd.html

From Americana UK:
http://www.americana-uk.com/auk/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=4479

From Pop Matters:
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/71632-gretchen-peters-with-tom-russell-one-to-the-heart-one-to-the-head/

And finally this one from TwangNation:
http://www.twangnation.com/2009/04/03/album-review-gretchen-peters-with-tom-russell-one-to-the-heart-one-to-the-head-scarlet-letter-recordsbuddy-and-julie-miller-written-in-chalk-new-west/

One To The Heart, One To The Head CD release party

The official release party for the new Gretchen Peters album that includes my song "North Platte" will take place at Swallow Hill Music Association on Saturday, February 28 in Denver, CO- so if you're in the area don't miss it. We'll be giving away a Cadillac. OK, maybe not, but the music will be great and you can meet Gretchen's mom, Ann, to whom the CD is dedicated. It's a family thing. We would love to see lots of our Colorado friends there.

By the way, Tom Russell's fabulous painting of the blue horse that's the cover of the CD is now also available on a T-shirt.

The address for Swallow Hill in Denver is:
71 E Yale Ave, Denver, CO, 80210

Here's some of the highlights of the past year:

Starting the year out in San Diego on Jan 1 by visiting with journalist Kenny Weisberg and going to the San Diego Zoo after playing New Years Eve with the Box Tops.

Getting lost after leaving a gig in Sautee Nacoochee, GA, in mid-January and winding up in North Carolina-knowing we had to leave for the UK the very next day.

Wandering The Lanes in Brighton, UK at the end of January, in what would turn out to be the first of two trips to the coast of the English Channel in one year and five trips to Europe in 13 months.

Hearing Gretchen sing "On A Bus To St. Cloud" in St. Cloud, Minnesota for the very first time in April. Not a dry eye in the room-onstage or off.

Recording "One to the Heart" in Austin in May at Mark Hallman's studio with Tom Russell, and getting to play a beautiful old upright piano-perfect for this project about the West-and an antique pump organ tuned down a half-step. Whenever I played it the tracks had to be slowed down to be in tune with the pump organ

Recording Mickey Clark's record in June with legendary producer Jim Rooney, to be released in March, '09. Mickey swapped vocals on one soon-to-be barroom classic- "Don't Piss On My Boots (and Tell Me It's Rainin')" with John Prine, Jerry Jeff Walker and Kinky Friedman. Needless to say, a good time was had by all.

Driving across Switzerland on the way to Tom and Nadine Russell's wedding in Gstaad, listening to the Sound Of Music. And yes, the hills really were alive....

Singing "Love Me Tender" along with a roomful of people led by a French accordion player in a restaurant in a small town nestled in the Alps, the night of Tom and Nadine Russell's wedding rehearsal dinner.

Stumbling on the National Yodeling Festival of Switzerland while staying overnight in Lucerne on the way back to Zurich.

Recording the Christmas album at home in April.... And May..... And June.........

Playing the Wolfeboro, New Hampshire Folk Festival in a tent next to Lake Winnipesaukee while the sun was setting on a cool night in late July.

Playing the Gosport, UK Festival in a tent five days later on the banks of the Solent, looking out at the Isle of Wight. Our second time this year to see the English Channel.

Touring the Napa/Sonoma wineries in mid-September while playing dates in Northern California. No earthquakes or wildfires this time but some damn fine wine....

Seeing Gretchen's name in lights on the marquee in front of the Crystal Bay Casino, on the north shore of Lake Tahoe; right next to the famed Cal-Neva lodge where Frank, Dean and Sammy hung out with Ava in the Rat Pack days.

Playing at the Bowman House Concert series in a beautiful barn outside of Atlanta in mid-October, with strands of white lights in the roof beams; and falling leaves and acorns tapping on the tin roof during the quiet last verse of "On A Bus To St. Cloud".

Ending the touring year in Amsterdam on December 8, in a beautiful city made even more striking when it's lit up with beautiful lights for the Holidays. We stayed (and performed) with old friend and songwriter/bassist John Lester, and his beautiful family. We had SRO audiences on all three gigs in Holland.

Starting Nanci Griffith's new album (the working title is "The Loving Kind") the morning after getting in from our return from Amsterdam. I had no time for jet lag as I worked on the record for the next three days. I did take a few 10 minute power naps slumped over the piano but I don't think anyone got hurt.

Performing the entire Christmas album live on radio Lightning 100 in Nashville on December 21st, with a band composed of myself, Doug Lancio, Dave Francis, and our Highway 101 buddy Cactus Moser.

What a year!

Peace and Love to all for 2009.

In Kerry Dexter's Best of 2008 column that came out today, THE CROSSING made the list. Also making the list is Gretchen Peter's NORTHERN LIGHTS, which Barry Walsh co-produced along with Gretchen. NORTHERN LIGHTS is a Holiday/Winter/Christmas album, light on the Christmas songs but heavy on the Winter/Snowy/Introspective songs.

Check it out at:
http://musicroad.blogspot.com/2008/12/best-music-2008.html

Sorry I was offline, but I was phished a week or so ago, and it's taken me this long to fix it. My advice to all myspacers is to make sure you log out, and watch out for unwanted spam.
BW

Donation made in the name of Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin

When Sean Hannity began using Gretchen Peters' song "Independence Day" as the theme song for his Citadel Broadcasting radio talk show, Peters quietly stepped up her donations to causes including the ACLU, PFLAG, and Moveon.org.

But when the GOP used "Independence Day" to usher Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin to the stage after the debate in St. Louis, Peters realized the party was truly perverting the chorus of her composition to suit their agenda and it was high time for Peters to make her feelings known.

"Independence Day," written by Peters, was a hit for country singer Martina McBride in 1994. The lyrics tell the story of a woman's response to domestic abuse from the point of view of her daughter.

"The fact that the McCain/Palin campaign is using a song about an abused woman as a rallying cry for their Vice Presidential candidate, a woman who would ban abortion even in cases of rape and incest, is beyond irony," Peters says. "They are co-opting the song, completely overlooking the context and message, and using it to promote a candidate who would set women's rights back decades. I've decided to donate the royalties from 'Independence Day' during this election cycle to Planned Parenthood, in Sarah Palin's name. I hope with the additional income provided by the McCain/Palin campaign, Planned Parenthood will be able to help many more women in need."

To join Gretchen in donating to Planned Parenthood on behalf of Sarah Palin log on to:

https://secure.ga0.org/02/pp10000_inhonor

Ask that the donation be made in the name of Sarah Palin and send the card to:

McCain for President

1235 S. Clark Street
1st Floor

Arlington , VA 22202

For more information about Gretchen Peters, log on to gretchenpeters.com or contact Tamara Saviano attamara@ellis-creative.com