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LATEST NEWS...
CD News
The latest reviews of "I Wouldn't Trade America For The World" are now coming in from the U.K.; Jon Philibert of the U.K.'s Country Music People Magazine rates the album 4½ out of 5 stars; Freddie's effort even edged out several of his modern day contemporaries in country music. Mr. Philibert's review is reprinted here courtesy of the author:
"Well this is something to gladden the heart (no pun intended), a new album from one of country's most distinctive and well respected artists, Freddie Hart."
"Hart is now an amazing 83 years old yet his vocal performance on I Wouldn't Trade America for the World is still rock solid. If you've never heard Freddie Heart - and some younger readers of country neophyte fans might not have - then you have not encountered his unique style. It's vibrato rich, fluttery, sometimes anguished sounding, always warm performance that is unlike any other country singer. True, there are echos of Bill Anderson's light timbre and at other times one hears a Slim Whitman like yodel, but Hart is, and always has been, his own man."
"The album's title, it's cover art and it's opening salvo I Wouldn't Trade America For The World might lead one to imagine that this is a collection of patriotic songs but only this and the following track Purple Heart are in any way patriotically themed. The former is a leisurely paced, keyboard-led item with one of those globe trotting lyrics name checking famous places around the world but with Hart always returning to his beloved America. Purple Heart is a live version of a song Hart first cut on the 1998 album Purple Heart: These Colors Won't Run, a various artists veterans tribute."
"The song reveals the story of a returned soldier who is now wheelchair bound yet his stand-by-your-man wife stands four square behind him and the song has the pay off "he's got a purple heart, she's got a heart of gold."
"There are quite a few revisits from Hart's illustrious past with reprise versions of the lilting Why Should I Cry Over You, the part narrated Hank Williams Guitar, the bluesy and emotional ballad Born a Fool, penned by the great Alex Zanetis, the touching tribute to love in all it's manifestations, Togetherness, and his take on Eddy Arnold's I'll Hold You In My Heart and the Platter's Only You - each and every one a chart record from the 60's. Interestingly the melancholy Brother Bluebird shows up too; this was the flip of Hart's monster uber-smash Easy Lovin' from 1971 (a #17 pop hit too) which is a very good track in it's own right, although is absent from this collection."
"The brief liner notes ends..."radio would have never been the same without Freddie Hart" and I say amen to that, and this release brought back happy memories of the days when artists of Hart's calibre ruled the radio roost. If you don't know Freddie Hart's work, this is not a bad place to start. If you do, you might want to check this album out."
Jon Philibert, Country Music People Magazine
Thanks in part to phenominal reviews such as Mr. Philibert's, radio stations here in the U.S. continue to request the C.D. “I Wouldn’t Trade America for the World” is available under the store button on this web site.
Talla(dega), HO!
On Friday night Oct. 30th and Saturday afternoon the 31st, Freddie Hart returned to Talladega, Alabama to the Historical Ritz Theater with the Home Grown Country Band, where they performed two great concerts that will never be forgotten by those who attended.
Both concerts were filled with a lot of his well known songs including country, pop, and gospel hits, plus two very emotional patriotic selections from his latest CD. Near the end of his performance of “I Wouldn’t Trade America for the World,” (which relates to his worldwide travels and his feelings for America), veterans walked down the isle with the American Flag and stopped in front of the stage. This was followed by the song “Purple Heart,” a very touching narrative about a vet who had received the award and how his wife stood by his side. These songs, combined with the actions of the veterans brought tears to many fans in the audience.
During a break in the show the band performed several great songs along with vocalist Arlene Gentry.
The band was under the direction of Billy Morgan. The show was emceed by air personality Don Edwards and produced by Meverly Hurst.
After the show Freddie met one on one with fans for well over two hours, signing autographs and giving a lot of hugs. One lady said “Freddie is a real down to earth person both on stage and face to face”.
Freddie and company sincerely thank the Historic Ritz Theater staff, their stage hands and sound crew for all they did to accommodate and assist all involved.
Travelin' Man
Freddie was in Talledega, Alabama last year where they hold an annual county market. He was there promoting his newest project at a couple of local radio stations, and signing over 300 autographs from 11:15 to about 1:45. Freddie met one of his biggest fans, Ann Walkup, whom according to news reports had "...been a fan...since before he was actually a country music superstar."
Freddie was sincerely moved when he was presented with a “gift tub” containing presents from dozens of local businesses. “He said it was like Christmas,” noted an observer.
Where The Rubber Meets The Road
One of the events that deeply touched Freddie in his professional life occurred In Phenix City, Alabama in February. 2006 as a section of 13th Street and Crawford Road was renamed "Freddie Hart Parkway;"a great tribute to his success.
As pointed out earlier, Freddie travels quite a bit...when he's in the area, he can't resist stopping by to see friends and family.
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