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With music influences like Patsy Cline and Elvis, it’s obvious why Rustie Blue crosses so many barriers. No matter what Rustie sings, her true blue country vocals are very much apparent! Her energetic stage performance and charismatic personality makes Blue a refreshing experience and somebody you won’t forget!

Singer/songwriter Rustie Blue began her love affair with country music at a very early age, singing in county fairs around her native southeastern Ohio. Genetically predestined to the genre -- she’s related to Merle Travis through her grandmother Lila Jane Travis -- Blue released her debut record (That Oughta Do It) in 2001. The album won her a small but devoted following and opened her up to the mainstream, specifically Europe, as her second release, the bluesy Enter at Your Own Risk, charted overseas. Blue spent 2002 and 2003 a long way from her rural upbringing, touring Denmark, Belgium, Germany, Holland, and Australia. Her latest, Chip Chip, featuring a duet with legendary singer Whisperin’ Bill Anderson, was released in 2005.

Just days before traveling to Australia, Rustie was in Sony Studio’s, Nashville with Bill Anderson; Rustie and Bill teamed up to record the International smash hit, "Chip Chip.". This was a year in the making! The single, "Chip Chip" was released worldwide in August and won the "Vocal Collaboration Of The Year" in the E.C.M.A. Music Choice Awards 2005! Rustie also had the opportunity, last year during the CMA Fest, to appear on the Grand Ole Opry to accept the award along side of Bill Anderson! Following the win with the duet Chip Chip, Rustie was nominated in the Music Box France Awards 2005 for "Female Artist Of The Year" along with 6 other great artists, Reba, Shania, Gretchen Wilson, Martina McBride, Alison Kraus, and Mary Chapin Carpenter! Rustie’s next single, "Cloud Of Dust" appeared .. Midnite With Blair Garner’s "Pick it or Flick It" and was "picked." Cloud Of Dust also debuted on the R&R Panel Chart at ..64 in December. Rustie has traveled to Europe, New Zealand and Australia as well as opening for such well know acts as Aaron Tippin, Bill Anderson, Daryle Singletary, Rhett Atkins, Jeff Carson and David Lee Murphy to name a few. Rustie has graced the pages of Country Weekly, Music Row Magazine and in August 2005 was Music City News "Artist Of Interest." Blue is currently working on a new album "Stronger Than Steel" which is slated for release in early part of 2008!

So What Do All Those Terms Mean?

Back in the early '70s, I helped Tom T. Hall round up the information for his book, "How I Write Songs And Why You Can." One of the things we realized the book needed was a section on the Music Row Vocabulary; if one is going to learn, what the terminology means is pretty critical. A lot of that terminology has changed over the years and some stuff that couldn't even be imagined back then is pretty common, so it's not a bad idea to refresh the vocabulary from time to time.

For songwriter purposes, the bottom line item that has NOT changed is that anybody who talks about "selling" a song doesn't know beans about songwriting. UNLESS the discussion is about a singer: "Connie Smith really can sell a song!!!" Meaning: put it over in a believable manner; knock your socks off!!! "Oh, so you're a songwriter; have you sold any songs I would have heard?" is NOT the right question. "Have you had anything cut (or recorded) I would know?" is a good question. "How's your royalty base building?" is maybe more pertinent but might be considered personal.

You probably know this, but "sell" has a bad taste context today because there was a time when songwriters DID sell their rights to songs outright. It's much better to sign a publishing contract with a reputable publisher who will exploit (a good word) the song and share with you from the profits. Within that context, you "place" a song with a publisher or you "get it published," usually through the legal process of a "one-song contract." That makes you and the publisher partners on THAT song. Now, getting the song recorded by an artist who can generate some income becomes another hurdle. Don't feel like a failure if that doesn't happen; it just didn't happen, for any number of a vast complexity of reasons. Most songs "pitched" to producers and artists DON'T get cut, so understand the odds and keep putting your strongest material in front of those folks.

Oh, one thing before we leave publishers. You hear about "publishing deals." That's a contract situation wherein, during the term of the agreement, everything you write is automatically considered as published by the contracting publisher. There may be an advanced income involved; there may not be -- very few of those deals are ever quite the same, so don't feel like you're a failure if nobody offers you one. They're not as easy to come by as in day of yore, I understand; a semi-exclusive deal might be an agreement of first refusal -- in exchange for a writing room or some other consideration, a publisher might ask that you show him everything you write; if he thinks something will work with his company, he'll issue a one-song contract; if not, you can show the song to another publisher. I've seen that work well for some writers. It all comes down to relationships.

Okay, getting the cuts. In the music recording business, a "producer" is the guy who rounds up the songs, the players, the studio, and maybe even the pizza -- I love Lonnie's description of himself: "I'm the guy whose job it is to see that, five years from now, the artist is not embarrassed by the recording." For clarity, "producer" has different connotations in different creative areas: in television, he or she is mostly involved in the technical aspect while the director works very closely in the creative thing. In film, the producer essentially represents the investment, making sure the money is spent properly, although there are a variety of other roles: "line producer" works with the director on the actual set; the "executive producer" a title given to the star to indicate a hands-on involvement or it may be a person over a company with SEVERAL productions underway at one time.

A lot of terms remain the same but have different connotations: "a hit" could easily be something that charted in BILLBOARD but most people have never heard it, due to the fragmentation of today's markets. Once there were charts for "Country," Pop," "R&B," and maybe "Gospel." I haven't looked at BILLBOARD in a long time but it was way more complicated than that even then; a look of the "genres" list on MySpace is scary. I still don't know what "emo" is and I'm not sure I get it that "indie" is a STYLE, but, trust me, it's not the same music business it was twenty years ago. The major point of consistency is that you don't have a career without public involvement in your income. Whether they're buying CDs or downloads or DVDs or sweatshirts or posters or whatever, the public has got to be involved. Having a "backer" to finance the sessions can be a blessing, but it more often becomes a curse unless you REALLY know the backer and that person really knows you. There's nothing wrong with having a music hobby of putting out CDs and having fun seeing all the places around the world you're getting airplay, but unless SOMEBODY is buying SOMETHING, you don't have a career.

Oh, yeah, career. That's a good word to close with. "One's progress through life," Webster has as one meaning, along with "vocation or profession." The long haul. Take your time; if you're gonna do us any good, we need you to learn steadily and be patient. It IS a long haul.
Bill Littleton,
Nashville, Tennessee

Message from Lonnie about the GOSSIP SECTION - You can E Mail me your gossip anytime. (I just save it in a file until I make up the next NEWSLETTER)

Just send me an E Mail with 2 or 3 sentences and you can include your website and E Mail if you like. Try to make it interesting enough people will want to read it. Don't have to be about music just something that is happening to you. If it looks like you may have thought about what you wrote for at least 30 seconds I will probably include it in the next Newsletter which means your website LINK will go out to over 4,300 people that are in the country music business. If it looks like you are obviously just using the gossip section for free advertisment I probably will skip over it. Heck folks most of us claim to be writers so we should be able to write 2 or 3 sentences.

Make sure you put GOSSIP in the subject line of your E Mail when you send it so it don't get lost.

E Mail GOSSIP to: NashvilleShowcase@comcast.net

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Jean Stafford www.jeanstafford.com.au

Australia's Jean Stafford - 2006 US Western Swing Female Artist of the Year and dual nominee Western Swing Song of the Year 'Steelin' the 2 Step', received her country's highest honour recently when she was inducted into the prestigious Australian Country Music Roll of renown, equivalent to the US Hall of Fame.

No stranger to Nashville, the multi-award winning artist has recorded several albums in the US.

Crowned Australia’s Queen of Country Music in Sydney, Jean was appointed an Honorary Commission as Ambassador to the USA by the Tasmania Government, presented the Keys to the City of Nashville’ by the Mayor for Services to Country Music in the US, and inducted as an Honorary Citizen of the State of Tennessee by the Governor in the early ‘90’s.

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Kris Miller www.krismillermusic.com was chosen as 2008 Co-Songwriter of the Year, in the North American Country Music Awards International, Eyes of Mercy, adult New country. She also won 2008 Horizon Award Co-Songwriter of the Year Adult new Gospel, for the song "Light of the World", and 2008 Co-Songwriter of the Year Rising Star Award Co-Songwritter of the year, for the song, "Gotta Believe".

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RADIO WAVES INTERNATIONAL http://go.to/rwi Now listen to us on the net via http://www.pirateradionetwork.com/
Country music show, French service,Rock City & Pirate memories the sounds on short-waves around the world "on the highway to freedom"
Peter HILLS & Philippe " The terrible twins"

For review and airplay send your promos to :
RADIO WAVES INTERNATIONAL
BP 130
92504 RUEIL Cedex

FRANCE

...

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Kim McAbee kimmcabee@bak.rr.com Soigne' Recording Aritst and long time member of the Buck Owen's Buckaroos Kim McAbee, released her new Independent single, It Ain't Workin' On Me' in February 2008 and it is climbing the Independent Charts. April 13th is the kick off date to promote the single, 'It Ain't Workin' On Me' for the 'Fun & Funky Radio Tour' scheduled through Pennsylvania, North & South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. McAbee still performs with the famous Buckaroo Band at Buck Owens Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, California, and is seen as the March Spotlight Artist for KNAH 106.3 Merced on-line.

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Johnny Mears, Texican Music Co. writer of Janie Fricke's last #1 hit, Always Have Always Will in 1986 has had songs recorded by Ron Wayne Atwood, "Terlingua Sunset", Susie Hopman, "You Were Wearing White", Myra Pearce, "Drag Your Own Wagon", & "Tell Me Something New". Mariah Stanley, "Tell Me Something New", & Tim Chesney, "Somewhere North of Texas", & "The Veteran". Fellow Texas Troubador Houston Marchman immortalized Mears, better known as 'Ponytail Johnny' in his signature song "Viet-Nashville". Mears has his own CD out titled, 'Johnny Mears - ONE MORE TEXAS SONGWRITER, available by mail for $15.00. Please e-mail Johnny at : texicanmusic@worldnet.att.net

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Art Carter http://www.artcarter.com/

Hello Lonnie,
This is Art Carter. I am preparing to record the music to a New CD on May 3ird in Nashville. It should be released sometime in the fall :)
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Cathy Richardson Hi Guys and Gals Blue Angel Productions has passed their 23 year of booking Entertainment check that out www.bluangel.com they are looking for some corporate events looking for quality Entertainment. Also we just opened the hottest company
from a dream www.northamericastruckingnetwork.com tell all the Truckers in your life. Cathy:)
Making Musical Dreams Come True
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Mike And Marianne Anderson http://www.myspace.com/mikeandersonandthecountrydrifters have met new friends and are working on getting them to come back to Nashville and record with Lonnie. They are Bill and Roz Moyer. Bill's voice puts you in mind of Jim Reeves. Mike is busy at the Technical College due to Spring Break and speaking of Spring Break, The Wild Child (Grandson Tyler, age 14) is going to visit our youngest son Jimmy and his wife in Ft, Lauderdale. Whew-- a rest for Grandma and Grandpa! Jimmy and his wife survived the Tsunami in Thailand and if you'd like a copy if their story, email Marianne at mikenmaidy@aol.com. They clung in a tree on Kamala Beach for several hours and were featured in USA Today and local papers. Interesting read!

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I'm writing stories and compiling slideshows set to music.
C. D. Ratliff

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Did you know that while John Arthur Martinez lives in relative obscurity in the States, he’s signed to Universal Records affiliate AGR-TV Records (Hamburg, Germany) and regularly tours Europe with his band Tejas. He’s not one to sleep late in the hotel the morning after the gig he always catches the local sites and cuisine when he travels. Here are a few examples: climbing the tallest church steeple in the world in Ausburg, Germany; visiting the largest glacier in Europe in Switzerland; touring the oldest continuously inhabited community in the western hemisphere in Acoma, New Mexico at the Acoma pueblo atop an incredible mesa west of Albuquerque.

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Lynn Chisholm http://www.myspace.com/lynnchisholmmusic

Hello Everyone. I would like to go "clamper jumping" as they call it in Nova Scotia. I am too scared to fall in though. Lynn Chisholm, Canada.

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Hi everyone.

I am keeping real busy entertaining and writing new songs.I just wrote a song and sent it to Ar. about the tornado tragedy's.I have a big event coming soon.Ill be live on Radio at a Western Ranch ,Rodeo ,BBQ etc.I am booked heavy with county fairs,camping parks,and many other occasions.I am just keeping real country music alive.

Gary Jennings
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Judy Welden http://www.judywelden.com/

Judy Welden and her friend, Cathy Squires (in their new duo FIRESONG) ... will be performing at Smoky Springs Retirement Home, Gainesville, GA on March 28th.

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Ron Wayne Atwood http://www.myspace.com/ronwayneatwood

Hello out there in Country Music Land ! I've been pretty busy here on my little Ranchette in northeast Oklahoma still cleaning up from the December ice storm. The entire area still has many downed trees & limbs scattered about. There sure won't be any shortage of firewood around here next winter. I sold all the goats last year, they were just too much trouble to control. I have my new front gates finished and i'm kind of proud of them. (pic)

I've been spending a lot of time on my mini-strip mall this year. I have one of the four units rented out and two promised. That's a pretty good start for my first time as a landlord. I've done all the repairs by myself and it's starting to look good. In the process i have learned to do many thing i had no real desire to learn before. I have installed new Heating & air units, toilets , hot water heaters, doors & door frames, carpet and ceilings. This is the smartest thing i've done in years. I intend to take a break when the 3rd unit is rented and finish up that CD i started a while back before i begin to mature (Ha - Ha, never happen).

My dog "Bucky" and my horse 'Sarah" (pic) are doing just fine. The only real problem is that i've spoiled them. They have become very particular about their diets. I think that's a big part of having critters, watch them enjoy the simple things in life. Well i guess that's it for now. I hope to see ya'll down the road somewhere soon.

my very best regards, Ron Wayne Atwood

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New Zealand DJ Geoff Barkman - Country Radio 88.7 Dunedin. ATTN: Artists if you are sending me MP3s etc for airplay... make sure they are MP3 format of 128k or higher... and they are labeled correctly with both your artist name and the song title in the file name. Otherwise I have to keep referring back to your original email to tell me who is singing. :) Country Music to... geoff.barkman@gmail.com

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HELLO FROM

NORWAY -

Wish to send some warm thoughts to everyone who’s reading this message telling you about my songs. On www.myspace.com/audunnjerve, you may listen to some tracks from my newest CD. The very first one, “Love is no execuse”, is a duet with the Danish country queen, WENCHE HARTMANN. I’ll be singing around the area here in the most southern part of Norway. I hope for some trips abroad through this summer.Wish all a warm and sunny Spring. AUDUN NJERVE

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The Davidson Brothers performed to capacity crowds over easter at the National Folk Festival in Canberra, Australia. Their lastet film clip is at #7 on CMC charts this week, and recieving fantastic airplay on the new single.

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Larry Buck Bisbee is leaving Arizona and headed to the Nashville, Tennessee area this week.... If you were at Jamboree On The Mountain 2005 you may remember some of my Cowboy Poetry backed by Alex Whitmore... After directing my first feature film that features the song "The Circle", I'm hoping to have a chance to work on the movie, "Billy, The Early Years", the story of Billy Graham being filmed in Watertown, Tennessee and other sites in Wilson County, Tennessee.
Buck's headquarters will be Lulu's Cafe and Jim's Antiques while in Watertown. Please stop by and say hello.. I'll be offline, but you can call me at 615-237-1777 from April 4 - 27, 2008..... Stay in touch...
Buck's music website is www.soundclick.com/larrybuckbisbee

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Becky & I had a couple of guest from New Zealand from March 11th until the 19th . Mr. Ivan Posa & Paddy Long , a couple of excellant steel guitar players came to Dallas for the annual Steel Guitar Convention and stayed with us . They were down home country folks and we enjoyed their company. We went out to dinner several times and we cooked steaks on the Bar-B . Those folks did some serious shopping at the western stores and Bass Pro shop . They we're picking up a lot of gifts for their friends and family and we had a blast carrying them around from place to place . Paddy got stung with over weight luggage fees and Ivan was at all limits on their flights back home . I have a feeling they will be back and I'm looking forward to seeing them again during my tour in New Zealand with Joy Adams next month .David & Becky Cline
www.myspace.com/davidclinecirclewire .

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Howdy Lonnie, Well I'm still trying to get noticed as a Texas country music singer/songwriter, what's new! Is traditional country music as we know it really dying
or is it already dead? No doubt the music biz is the hardest business in the world! All my best to you Lonnie in 2008! I enjoy reading your e-mails and your updates! http://www.myspace.com/textronictroubadours or
http://www.soundclick.com/bradyredding Sincerely from a Texas friend and fan , Brady Redding

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Wayne Longtin Sr. www.waynelongtin.com is getting ready for a busy summer of bookings and completing his 4th Country CD of original songs. His record label name says somthing about Wayne. "Never Too Late Records." Wayne is a life-long musician with over 40 years of experience and now writes & records his own songs. He turned 65 years old March 21st.

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Hi, this is Diana Payne, from Oklahoma City. I am currently working, still painting houses, also been doing some studio work. Right now, we are re-doing, "In The Valley", off of my album. God Bless you all, and always make every day beautiful! Diana Payne

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Hey Lonnie,

Well...my latest cd came out about a year ago but the night after my cd release party I was in a life threatening auto accident on the way to another gig when a car hit us, I lost control of the vehicle and my keyboardist and I fell 40 ft. off the side of an overpass onto the road below. We should have died but God miraculously saved us and minus her broken back (which has since healed), we were only mildly injured. It took months to deal with the police, insurance and recovery but I am now trying to pick up where I left off and promote my new cd!! It's modern country with blugrass flavour and I wrote nine of the 14 cuts. We are talking to labels and investors currenly to get the project picked up so that more people will know about it. You can find it at www.kellyaspen.com, www.cdbaby/kellyaspen.com, www.digitalrodeo/kellyaspen.com & www.myspace.com/kellyaspen plus itunes, emusic and many more!

-Kelly Aspen

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Alicia Yust Hi Lonnie, Greetings from Texas!

I have recently won the title of Miss Southeast Texas 2008 in the Miss America pageant System. I have been preparing to compete for Miss Texas in July ( I will let you kow how that goes). I've flown all over the US to speak about my platform which is Musical Notes: Cancer Awareness, Education and Prevention and to perfrom. I've also received many opportunities to perform the National Anthem at various sporting events. I will be in New York this weekend March 28th-31st for some relaxation and pampering.

I have been working on some of the songs you sent me about a year ago. I am hoping to have a demo ready within the next few weeks...I'll send it to you when I'm finished. I may even have you do some touch ups on it before I start sending it to labels.

I am currently waiting for my accepatance letter to attend Belmont University in Nashville where I will Study Music Business at the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. I just finished my final steps yesterday so hopefully it wont be long before I have an answer. Regardless, I will be relocating to the great state of Tennessee toward the end of the summer.

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I have just had a great Easter spending time at the Paul McCloud Easter Country Music Festival with some of Australia great country artists. I am currently planning my trip to England Ireland & Nashville. USA which I will arrive on May 29th. I am looking forward to catching up with many friends,

Regards

Lorraine Pfitzner - DJ in Australia

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Country DJ - Cor Laponder (The Netherlands) We make a Radioshow INN FOR MORE for three local stations.The format of this Show is Country / R&R / Indorock. Every week three shows of 2 houres. Every week is the Playlist on the boards. http://members3.boardhost.com/NashvilleBoard/

My name is: Country DJ Cor Laponder -- BOTERSTRAAT 54 -- NL-5341 GK OSS -- HOLLAND.

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My new album is basically a come back for Don Allen http://www.myspace.com/donallenband as I pulled out of music about ten or so years ago, due to an overnight complete hearing loss in one ear. This hearing loss meant that I lost all frequencies and of course just could not comprehend music at all making it
impossible to hear pitching and making any music in general sound out of tune. Very frustrating.!!! Anyway, finally decided after about five years to get a hearing aid which fits right down inside the ear, so it is hidden. It was amazing the new lease of life it gave me. I started writing again and decided to get back into the music scene,, and here I am !!!! The Don is Back.

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Hey, all! Ann-Marita, singer/songwriter here. The past year has been very exciting, with the release of my second album "Intuition", and performances around Australia, Europe and the U.S. "Intuition" earned me nominations for Album of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year in the Victorian Country Music Awards here in Australia, and one of the songs on the album; "State Line", made me a Top 20 Finalist in the Unisong International Songwriting Contest.

To get in touch with me, visit me online at www.annmarita.com, e-mail me at annmarita@annmarita.com, or become my friend on Myspace: www.myspace.com/annmarita. Hope all is well on all corners of the world!

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"Click Yellow Speaker" below Billy McCoy singing I Always Dream In Color

Tested on Real Player & Media Player. Works on both players

You may have to "Click" the yellow speaker a couple of times to get it to play but it does work.

If you have problems getting the songs to play go to this SoundClick website (link below) and they are the first 2 songs and you can play them there or download them.

http://www.soundclick.com/pro/view/02/default.cfm?bandID=392838&content=music

I Always Dream In Color
.
.
" I Always Dream In Color " started out from the age old question "Do we dream in color"? Thanks to cowriter Billy McCoy he was able to pull it from a simple question to the point where it ended up as a pretty romantic love song and we all know you can't get too many love songs in your catalog .
.
.
"I ALWAYS DREAM IN COLOR"
WRITERS: BILLY A. MCCOY/LONNIE RATLIFF
OKIE ACRES/SILVER STREAM MUSIC

"1ST VERSE"
I DON'T THINK ABOUT THE DAYS TO COME...
OR ALL THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS THEY MAY BRING.
WHEN I'M WITH YOU IN DREAMLAND...
THE WORLD IS OURS AND I DON'T WORRY ABOUT A THING.
JUST THE TWO OF US WITHOUT A CARE...
SURROUNDED BY THE BEAUTY OF OUR PRECIOUS LOVE.
I ALWAYS DREAM IN COLOR...
'CAUSE YOU ARE THE ONE I'M ALWAYS DREAMING OF.

"CHORUS"
I ALWAYS DREAM IN COLOR...
'CAUSE NIGHT AND DAY IN EVERY WAY YOU ARE MY LIFE.
YOU'RE ALWAYS THERE BESIDE ME...
SNUGGLED UP TO ME WHEN I TURN OUT THE LIGHTS.
AND I JUST BET YOU ANYTHING...
YOU'LL BE THERE WITH ME IN MY DREAMS AGAIN TONIGHT.
I ALWAYS DREAM IN COLOR...
I COULD NEVER DREAM OF YOU IN BLACK AND WHITE.

"INSTRUMENTAL BREAK"

"REPEAT CHORUS"
.
.
If you are interested in recording any of my songs
just E Mail me for info and a mechanical license
I have another website with over 80 demos you can
listen to.
E Mail Lonnie = NashvilleShowcase@comcast.net

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I Wanna Do What We Did

The double entrendre in the title of "I Wanna Do What We Did" takes this song to a slightly risque place which never hurts as long as you don't cross the line. The little "Hiccup Harmony" production in the chorus is pretty catchy also. I have always thought this song might even be a little stronger if it was recorded by a male artist.

"Click Yellow Speaker" Sharon Beavers singing I Wanna Do What We Did

You may have to "Click" the yellow speaker a couple of times to get it to play but it does work.

Tested on Real Player & Media Player. Works on both players

If you have problems getting the songs to play go to this SoundClick website (link below) and they are the first 2 songs and you can play them there or download them.

http://www.soundclick.com/pro/view/02/default.cfm?bandID=392838&content=music

"I Wanna Do What We Did"

It's been another wasted day but lately that ain't news
Leavin' sure looked easier from the other side of these blues
I remember thinking freedom would open a lot of doors
Now I'm free to do what I want but I wanna do what we did before

I wanna do what we did
Before we didn't do it anymore
I wanna go back to the good times that
I didn't think were so good before
Now I went runnin' for greener pastures
And I wound up walkin' the floor
Now I wanna do what we did
Before we didn't do it anymore

They say you never miss the water til the well runs dry
You never know what a good thing is until it says goodbye
Well I know I am guilty of tearing our world apart
I can put the pieces back if you can find forgiveness in your heart

(Repeat Chorus 2X)
Tag: Yeah I wanna do what we did before we didn't do it anymore

Lonnie Ratliff / Lindy Gravelle
Copr. Okie Acres Music (BMI) Lorelle Music (BMI)

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Buying a house in Nashville ?

If you are thinking of moving to Nashville and need to buy a house I recommend you get in touch with my buddy Craig Stahl.

Some of you will know Craig from his 13 years working with Alan Jackson and also as my partner in Okie Acres Music & Studio.

Give him a call when you need property in Nashville or sign up for his Newsletter

I hope you enjoyed our first issue of Roadie Real Estate.com. Please email me your thoughts and suggestions. If you liked it

please hit the forward e-mail button at the bottom of the page. Please visit my website at www.RoadieRealEstate.com I would love t

o help you buy or sell your next home or help you with any of your Real Estate needs. If you are not moving anytime soon,

please keep me in mind to be of service to friends and family. I really appreciate your referals.

Craig Stahl "The Roadie Realtor"

615-578-9175

rocksolidproperties@gmail.com

Artists looking for someone to help you with your CD Cover artwork, printing and pressing your CD ? Check with Karen Bruno at Amazon Audio

Hi Lonnie -

I started CD Baby 10 years ago this week - in March 1998.

You probably know that I'm just a musician-geek, not a business-man.
Never meant to start a company. I was just selling my own CD, then helped
some friends do it, then it accidently turned into CD Baby. (Ooops!)

Now CD Baby has paid over $70 million dollars(!!) directly to musicians.
And despite the moaning you hear from the majors, independent artists are
selling better than ever. Even physical CD sales are up 30% over last year!

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Friends will tell you that for the past 10 years I've spent most waking
hours, 7 days a week, doing nothing but CD Baby. Last year I just slept on
the couch at the office for 6 months, usually working from 7am to midnight.

So today seems like a good day to tell you that I don't work at CD Baby
anymore, and haven't in months.

I'm still the owner, but haven't been to the office since May. The crew
there is running things better than I ever could. They know more than I
do, and do a better job.

I've made that transition from self-employed to business-owner. (You know
you're a true business-owner when you can leave your business for a year,
and come back to find it's doing much better than when you left.)

WHY AM I TELLING YOU THIS?

Because the reason I freed-up my time is to find more ways to help you.

Helping you develop, create, promote, and sell your music makes me happier
than anything. It's still why I bounce out of bed in the morning.

I love it even more than making my own music. (Weird, huh?) By helping
you get your music out to the world, and helping you make a living doing
it, I feel that in a way I'm making more music than ever.

There are many ways I can help, but I'll email you about those next week.

Today was just a CD Baby birthday announcement. Still, I wanted to let
you know there are exciting things to come.

--
Derek Sivers, founder, CD Baby, HostBaby
http://sivers.org <-- bookmark or subscribe for insider news

If you are planning on recording in Nashville in the future I would appreciate you checking out my website and listening to some of the artists I have worked with. Remember when you are planning to work with a record producer, if it is me or someone else, be sure to check them out and contact some of the former artists they have produced before you write them a check.