ERIN HAY: Honky Tonk Heaven

Erin Hay

Honky Tonk Heaven

© 2000 Westwood Int'l. Records (696449200424)

CD permanently out of stock. Sorry!

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

Traditional Honky Tonk in the Texas, Oklahoma style somewhat similar to Tammy Wynette, Ray Price & Jack Greene.

tracks

1 You're A Lesson I've Already Learned
2 There Goes My Everything
3 Bad Luck
4 Honky Tonk Heaven
5 Poison Of Your Kiss
6 I Got The Blues Again
7 Alone With You
8 Honky Tonk Girl
9 Autumn's Not That Cold
10 My Hands Are Full
11 If The Phone Don't Ring
12 Mirror! Mirror! (On The Wall)
13 Cheater's Moon
14 Your Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad

notes

Erin was born and raised in Southern California. Born to Edward (who sadly passed away from Cancer when Erin was only six years old) and Patricia Hay on November 25, 1970, she has always been a performer and has always loved music. In fact, if you listen to her mom, she'll tell you Erin "sang" her first song at 3 months old. She was exposed to all kinds of music growing up, from her mother's Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney and Judy Garland albums to her two older brothers (Joe and Ken) playing Rock and Roll to her Dad's favorite, Marty Robbins. But at age seven, when Erin heard Dolly Parton sing for the first time, her love and admiration for traditional Country Music began to grow. She discovered Loretta Lynn after the film Coal Miner's Daughter came out and soon after discovered Tammy Wynette. These great ladies, along with the likes of George Jones, Jack Greene and Roy Acuff, became her influences, and it was through them that Erin was introduced to stories of Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry. She quickly took to the music and to the tradition. This is what she loves to sing.

Although singing was a great love of hers, it seemed acting was more of a calling throughout school. In 1987, Erin entered the Fountain Valley Jr. Miss Pageant and won the Performing Arts Award for performing a comedic monologue from Lily Tomlin's one woman show, "The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe." Erin had plans of attending UCLA as a Theatre Arts major. She had aspirations of following in the footsteps of her two other idols, Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett. This, of course, never happened. While attending college in California, Erin realized she did not take the acting craft as seriously as everyone else did. What she did take seriously was her music. Erin knew in her heart that Nashville was where she wanted to be. The real turning point came after a visit backstage at the Grand Ole Opry and a meeting with Mr. Roy Acuff. That was the environment she longed for. She wanted to sing on that stage and knew she had some dues to pay.

Erin moved to Nashville in 1991 with her mother to attend Belmont University as a Music Business major. Since the move, she has interned at RCA Records and Sony Music, recorded many demos for Nashville songwriters and performed at many Nashville clubs. Erin recorded her first independent album in 1992 with the help of producer and songwriter, Lonnie Ratliff. It was a cassette tape compiled mostly of demo recordings and included a song called "Somebody's Angel," which she recently re-recorded. Erin graduated from Belmont in 1995 and was hired by a film production company in Nashville, working with such artists as Garth Brooks, Faith Hill and Janet Jackson in the behind the scenes aspects of live concert TV production and music videos for almost 7 years, but Erin's first love is still her music. She completed her second independent album, Honky Tonk Heaven, in October of 2000. It received great reviews around the world and was a #6 import CD in the UK in April of 2000. Erin released her third independent album, The Circle, in 2001-fourteen cuts of the music she loves, music she hopes would have made Mr. Acuff proud. She is proud to have two duets on that album with Grand Ole Opry stars Ernie Ashworth ("Gotta Travel On") and Jack Greene ( Tommy Collins' song, "High On A Hilltop.") Erin is also very proud of the liner note her idol, Loretta Lynn, graced her with for the project-"Erin is a great singer. Maybe the Opry will find that out someday. I love her singing." This album became a #3 import CD in the UK in February 2002. She has just released her fourth independent album titled Somebody's Angel and is hoping it will be as well received as the others. One of the singles off the album, a song written by Bill Jackson called "The Tree," has already given Erin her biggest overseas chart success to date. A great start for a true Country album!
Erin has also enjoyed a lot of success on mp3.com, a website devoted to independent artists, and has obtained a wide following in the European/overseas market (largely due to the mp3.com exposure,) being dubbed the "New Queen of the Honky Tonk Angels." Erin's song, "I Got the Blues Again," is one of the most downloaded Country songs to date on mp3.com, and it was featured in the Robert Altman/Alan Rudolph film, Trixie, in 2000. She is very grateful to the people of mp3.com and to the overseas and US disc jockeys playing her music. Erin is definitely having fun on her road to the Grand Ole Opry, and if she is destined to sing on that great stage some day, it will be the pinnacle in her singing career not just a stepping stone.






"When it's too Country for everyone else, it's JUST RIGHT for me!" - Erin Hay



-----------------


Press reviews
Country Music People Magazine....March 2001....Erin Hay-Honky Tonk Heaven....Review by: Craig Baguley***4 1/2 stars***.....It's an apt title, for sure. If you like dyed-in-the-wool honky tonk, plastered with sizzling steel and fiddle, you'll love this. With a touch of Connie Smith in her vocals, Erin Hay proves she's right at home in the world of shuffles, twosteps and barroom ballads. California-born, Erin's been in Nashville a few years now - she cut her first album, Somebody's Angel, way back in 1992 - but her obvious dedication to hardcore country music, shining through on her bright, glowing vocals, probably doesn't gain her any favors on Music Row. The choice of material is well thought out, from classic songs like "There Goes My Everything" and Loretta's "Honky Tonk Girl" to lesser-known gems such as Skip Ewing and Max D. Barnes' achingly beautiful "Autumn's Not That Cold." The production and playing exhibit a spirit that you rarely find on major label projects these days where ProTools, sampling and technical accuracy take precedence over feel - not that a simple country album like this would be considered by heavyweight label in Music City. I loved the kickoff cut, "You're A Lesson I've Already Learned," with its extended fiddle intro. I loved the animated two-step, "Bad Luck." I loved the torchy Patsy Cline-ish "I Got The Blues Again." I loved the midtempo shuffle "If The Phone Don't Ring." I loved the slow, self-exploratory "Mirror Mirror (On The Wall)." Darn it, I just loved everything on this album. At every listen, the star rating goes up and up, so I think I'd better stop here. It's not world-beating. It's not making history. It's not breaking new ground. It's just REAL country music.

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

  • my hands are full
    author: terese evans

    iv only been able to listen to your songs online and what ive heard are fantastic, i cant get your albums over here in tasmania,australia do you think they will in the near future youre great and love your voice terese

  • author: Juanita Ford Publishing

    the best female country singer since tammy wynette

  • I love this CD
    author: Wolf Gottfried

    I'd been looking for this CD for YEARS! I heard a couple cuts from it a long time ago when the original MP3.COM had it for sale - it was the first NEW recording of real country music I'd heard in a decade. When I finally found it on CD Baby I ordered it plus her other two CD's sight unseen/unheard. No dissapointment at all - its fantastic pure country. If you like real country music, buy this disc. The production quality is good, Erin's voice is clear as a bell and the music will turn your living room into a Texas dance hall. Heck buy two copies - send one to your local country station and tell them they need to play this.

  • Great to hear another TRUE COUNTRY voice on the scene!!!
    author: Ruthie Steele

    I have not yet met Erin, but I love her voice and her choice of real country songs. As a songwriter, I hope to hear her sing one of MY songs someday!! Ruthie Steele Kelli Steele Music BMI

  • YES
    author: Paul W. Dennis

    I purchased this CD after buying her second and third CDs. This disc is not quite as good as her two latter discs but it is still fine. It's official - Erin Hay is my favorite female country singer of the last 25 years

  • The Greatest Female Artist Recording Today
    author: Ken Ebsen

    I have all 3 of Erin's C D's She is great I can't see why we are not hearing her on the radio. Ken Ebsen

  • From the time I first heard Erin's songs on MP3.com, I knew she was destined for
    author: Frank Blackston

    This album is just another example of Erin's great talent. I believe she can do almost any song a great justice. Love her.

  • Back to the roots country music
    author: Jonas Öhman - ginza.se

    This album doesn't break any new ground, but rather serves as a reminder off country music as it used to be. With a good mixture of songs you remember and some new tracks, loads of steel and fiddle, and stellar vocals it's bound to please any traditional country music fan.

  • Very good songs and singing

  • Pure Country
    author: Doug Morris

    Erin Hay is first and foremost, a singer, a country singer. There's no pretense of being anything else. But folks, she's a great country singer! Why she hasn't been added to a major label yet is a real mystery to me. If you enjoy good ol' traditional country singin', you are going to love Erin Hay!! Fans of Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, and all the other major stars, will all like Erin's style and voice. My favorite tracks are "You're A Lesson I've Already Learned", "Honky Tonk Heaven", & "Autumn's Not That Cold." But in reality, the whole album is just one winner after another.

  • Erin Hay-the anti Faith!!
    author: Yesterday and Today Records (Australia)

    Review from Yesterday and Today Records (Australia) May 2001 "Erin Hay-the anti Faith!! Honky Tonk Heaven-Sensational 14 track CD of true country music that exudes class and quality from go to whoa. Heavy on the steel and fiddle and excellent honky tonk songs that stand up with anything that charts. As a matter of fact, "Autumn's Not That Cold" would be/should be a number one. We get a lot of great indies from the fellows but few from the females. Never one as good as this. Justin & Roger have great female company."

  • Classic Country! Great Songs!
    author: david fiorenza

    Erin is not afraid to sing real country music in a time when others are looking to see what the next flavor of the month is for country music. Erin has a knack for picking and singing quality country and she will excel in this niche of traditional country music. This CD demonstrates her ability to move through slow and up tempo songs with grace and ease. I look forward to more music from her.

  • Great Traditional Country Music
    author: Steve L. Butts

    CD contains some older lyrics as well as new and is capable of maintaining the Traditional Country Sound. CD is bound to become a classic.

email

Please log in to email this artist.