Nashville legend Connie Smith returns in late August with The Cry Of The Heart FAT POSSUM, her first album in a decade. Produced by husband Marty Stuart – and arriving on the heels of her classic “Once A Day” being added to the National Recording Registry – it includes covers of Merle Haggard’s “Jesus Takes A Hold” and Dallas Frazier’s “I Don’t Believe Me Anymore”. There’s also a brace of Smith and Stuart co-writes: “Here Comes My Baby Back Again” and “Spare Me No Truth Tonight”. And look out for a forthcoming TV documentary about the trailblazing singer, Connie: The Cry Of The Heart. The ever-dependable Jim Lauderdale offers up Hope YEP ROC, co-produced with longtime collaborator Jay Weaver, at the back end of July. Backed by a crack team that includes guitarists Chris Scruggs and Kenny Vaughan, with harmonies courtesy of Lillie Mae and Frank Rische, the album features “Memory”, one of Lauderdale’s final co-writes with the late Robert Hunter of Grateful Dead fame. The spacious arrangements are styled after the Dead, Neil Young and Little Feat. And the nominations for this year’s Americana Honours & Awards show, taking place in Nashville on 20 September, are in. Margo Price, Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, Kathleen Edwards and Billy Strings are up for Artist Of The Year, while The Highwomen and Our Native Daughters are among those toughing it out for Best Group.
ROB HUGHES