Jewel Out-Countrying John Rich On New Album

So Pure · 05-23-2007, 03:12 PM

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/..._id=1003589106

Nobody's accusing John Rich of being lazy. He's got a new Big & Rich album, "Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace," coming out June 5. He co-produced Gretchen Wilson's new set, "One of the Boys," and helmed John Anderson's "Easy Money." His next trick? Jewel's new album.

"It's freakin' awesome, man -- she is probably one of the greatest American singer/songwriters we've ever had, in my opinion," Rich tells Billboard.com about the project, which they're "finishing up right now. I'd say you'll hear new music from Jewel by the end of the year. Every label in Nashville is talking to her now."

Rich says Jewel approached him about working together, telling him that she wanted "to make an album geared more towards country, 'cause I just love country. I said, 'Like what?' and she played me 15 songs in a day. I said, 'Yep, I would say that's Jewel country right there.' So we went in and made an album."

What makes the Jewel project distinct for Rich, however, is that he's serving solely as a producer rather than collaborating on the songs. "I tried to write with her," he explains, "and I couldn't even get to that spot in my head. She is such an intricately detailed, deep, multi-layered lyricist. It's mind-boggling, some of the stuff she writes. And her voice is just alien; nobody sounds like Jewel."

Rich's other major project is also due June 5 -- a book, "Big & Rich: All Access," which comes with a companion DVD. Rich and Big Kenny worked on the photo-heavy 256-page tome with country music journalist Allen Rucker, and Rich says it's a nice adjunct to the duo's body of work.

"It explains how this whole thing works," he says. "People see Kenny, they see me, then they hear it and say 'What the hell is going on here? How does that work?' When you get through reading the book, seeing the pictures, watching the DVD part of it, you will understand better how this all came together."

Big & Rich play Country Thunder USA tomorrow (May 24) in Waxahachie, Texas, and start a summer tour June 8 in Pryor, Oklahoma.

Little Bird · 05-23-2007, 04:14 PM

Cool. thanks for that!

last_dance_rodeo · 05-23-2007, 06:55 PM

Fantabulous I cannot wait to hear this. I hope it gets her the well deserved attention.

JewelWiki · 05-23-2007, 08:31 PM

I wish it slipped a few songs that had been laid down...I suppose they're just demo's if she's shopping around for a label as the article mentions. I'd love it if Jewel got on a non-RIAA label! That'd be amazing! She'd finally be indie.

Even if it's country-indie

wackyoverkhaki · 05-23-2007, 09:59 PM

He's just saying what I've agreed all along. Nice to see she's finally getting some well-deserved if not overdue recognition.

DreamsLast · 05-24-2007, 04:28 AM

YAYYYYYYYY!!!!! Exactly, wacky. (hey that rhymed!) I agree that he said nothing we already know!!! John Rich is a big guy in Nashville, his compliments to Jewel are going to be taken VERY seriously!!! I bet all the labels are drooling over getting her signed. She can take her pick, I'm sure!

Little Bird · 05-24-2007, 12:46 PM

Found this today at 411mania.com

Quote:

Jewel Recording New Album In Nashville
Posted by Mitch Michaels on 05.23.2007

Big & Rich's John Rich producing...

John Rich, one half of country super duo Big & Rich, recently revealed to the press that he was working behind the boards on singer/songwriter Jewel's latest album. Rich said Jewel approached him to produce the album because she wanted to work on something a little more country than her previous records. Rich said he is hopeful that the CD will be released by the end of the year. Jewel is currently in negotiations with several Nashville labels.

Jewel's last album, Goodbye Alice In Wonderland, was her final with Atlantic Records. It debuted at #8 on the Billboard charts and has since only sold around 330,000 copies (thanks to issues between Jewel and Atlantic on how the album should be promoted).

Big & Rich are gearing up for a summer tour which will begin on June 8 in Pryor, OK. A book by Rich, Big & Rich: All Access, will hit stores three days earlier.

Out at the end of the year then! That will be nice and hopefully in time for Christmas.

JewelJK · 05-24-2007, 09:47 PM

omg! yay!!! how awesome i am so excited!

"It debuted at #8 on the Billboard charts and has since only sold around 330,000 copies (thanks to issues between Jewel and Atlantic on how the album should be promoted)."

thats no surprise! but i wonder why?

colorfulhorses · 05-25-2007, 03:17 PM

John Rich is producing the album so of coarse he is going to say nothing but praises, and that is great but the country fans are going to have to like Jewel's songs for them to hit radio and Stephenville has been played over and over on wide open country and it never took off, and remember Big and Rich have never had a # 1 single (unless there current one goes there) some country people like them some don't. John Rich is a song writer and it surprises me that he couldn't write with Jewel. Gretchen Wilson who is the one person that John Rich helped, most of her songs were co-wrote by John RIch. Gretchen also has faded big time. First CD sold aprox 268,000 first week her cd released this week only sold aprox 75,000. I do think it is good news but Jewel has got to get a song that takes off with the country fans. Country Radio is not easy to break into. It will be interesting who signs her, that could make a huge differance.
I am sure there will be major differances of opinions of what I just said but it all boils down to if Jewel can get a song that catches country fans and radio attention.
What would help Jewel more than anything is if Jason Michael Carrol ( hit song Alyssia lies) next single was the one Jewel does a duet with him. If that became a hit it would really help Jewel a lot.

05-23-2007, 03:12 PM	#1
So Pure JKF Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 69 Rep Power: 239	Jewel Out-Countrying John Rich On New Album http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/..._id=1003589106 Nobody's accusing John Rich of being lazy. He's got a new Big & Rich album, "Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace," coming out June 5. He co-produced Gretchen Wilson's new set, "One of the Boys," and helmed John Anderson's "Easy Money." His next trick? Jewel's new album. "It's freakin' awesome, man -- she is probably one of the greatest American singer/songwriters we've ever had, in my opinion," Rich tells Billboard.com about the project, which they're "finishing up right now. I'd say you'll hear new music from Jewel by the end of the year. Every label in Nashville is talking to her now." Rich says Jewel approached him about working together, telling him that she wanted "to make an album geared more towards country, 'cause I just love country. I said, 'Like what?' and she played me 15 songs in a day. I said, 'Yep, I would say that's Jewel country right there.' So we went in and made an album." What makes the Jewel project distinct for Rich, however, is that he's serving solely as a producer rather than collaborating on the songs. "I tried to write with her," he explains, "and I couldn't even get to that spot in my head. She is such an intricately detailed, deep, multi-layered lyricist. It's mind-boggling, some of the stuff she writes. And her voice is just alien; nobody sounds like Jewel." Rich's other major project is also due June 5 -- a book, "Big & Rich: All Access," which comes with a companion DVD. Rich and Big Kenny worked on the photo-heavy 256-page tome with country music journalist Allen Rucker, and Rich says it's a nice adjunct to the duo's body of work. "It explains how this whole thing works," he says. "People see Kenny, they see me, then they hear it and say 'What the hell is going on here? How does that work?' When you get through reading the book, seeing the pictures, watching the DVD part of it, you will understand better how this all came together." Big & Rich play Country Thunder USA tomorrow (May 24) in Waxahachie, Texas, and start a summer tour June 8 in Pryor, Oklahoma. __________________ I know some artists prefer not to comment, but I've followed the US administration and I genuinely believe they've emotionally blackmailed and manipulated the American people. We're living in a frightening time... - Tori Amos

05-23-2007, 04:14 PM	#2
Little Bird Administrator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wicklow, Ireland Posts: 6,178 Rep Power: 10	Cool. thanks for that! __________________ In the end...only kindness matters MysteriousWisdom

05-23-2007, 06:55 PM	#3
last_dance_rodeo Temporarily Absent Mod Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South Dakota Posts: 2,212 Rep Power: 262	Fantabulous I cannot wait to hear this. I hope it gets her the well deserved attention. __________________ Her face is moonworn and thin, she's been wishing on too many stars again.

05-23-2007, 08:31 PM	#4
JewelWiki JKF Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Charlottesville, VA, USA Posts: 805 Rep Power: 0	I wish it slipped a few songs that had been laid down...I suppose they're just demo's if she's shopping around for a label as the article mentions. I'd love it if Jewel got on a non-RIAA label! That'd be amazing! She'd finally be indie. Even if it's country-indie __________________ JewelWiki!

05-23-2007, 09:59 PM	#5
wackyoverkhaki Super JKF Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: fishin'...or a-wishin' Posts: 473 Rep Power: 0	He's just saying what I've agreed all along. Nice to see she's finally getting some well-deserved if not overdue recognition. __________________ Rock your cares away, worries for another day...

05-24-2007, 04:28 AM	#6
DreamsLast ~~Moderator~~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 1,635 Rep Power: 243	YAYYYYYYYY!!!!! Exactly, wacky. (hey that rhymed!) I agree that he said nothing we already know!!! John Rich is a big guy in Nashville, his compliments to Jewel are going to be taken VERY seriously!!! I bet all the labels are drooling over getting her signed. She can take her pick, I'm sure! __________________ "We are loved beyond our capacity to comprehend..." -Jewel Kilcher, Acoustic Goddess Of Song & Modern Day Troubador

05-24-2007, 09:47 PM	#8
JewelJK JKF Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Lake Arrowhead CA Posts: 183 Rep Power: 226	omg! yay!!! how awesome i am so excited! "It debuted at #8 on the Billboard charts and has since only sold around 330,000 copies (thanks to issues between Jewel and Atlantic on how the album should be promoted)." thats no surprise! but i wonder why? __________________ Darkness surrounds me... I scratch, I struggle, I breathe ...

05-25-2007, 03:17 PM	#9
colorfulhorses JKF Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 140 Rep Power: 227	John Rich is producing the album so of coarse he is going to say nothing but praises, and that is great but the country fans are going to have to like Jewel's songs for them to hit radio and Stephenville has been played over and over on wide open country and it never took off, and remember Big and Rich have never had a # 1 single (unless there current one goes there) some country people like them some don't. John Rich is a song writer and it surprises me that he couldn't write with Jewel. Gretchen Wilson who is the one person that John Rich helped, most of her songs were co-wrote by John RIch. Gretchen also has faded big time. First CD sold aprox 268,000 first week her cd released this week only sold aprox 75,000. I do think it is good news but Jewel has got to get a song that takes off with the country fans. Country Radio is not easy to break into. It will be interesting who signs her, that could make a huge differance. I am sure there will be major differances of opinions of what I just said but it all boils down to if Jewel can get a song that catches country fans and radio attention. What would help Jewel more than anything is if Jason Michael Carrol ( hit song Alyssia lies) next single was the one Jewel does a duet with him. If that became a hit it would really help Jewel a lot. Last edited by colorfulhorses; 05-25-2007 at 03:23 PM. Reason: added to it