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Dear IFS Readers

I hope this email finds you well
I found some great information to share with you in this issue.

Enjoy!

Ande

Congratulations to IFS reader Georgia Middleman for her latest cut on
Faith Hill's Fire Flies CD

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As songwriters, one of the best things we can do to improve our craft
is study the work of other songwriters. Especially those who write
the kind of songs we strive to write and those who've had the kind of
success we dream of having.

So I went on a HIT writer hunt and found several for you to study and
enjoy.


Hit Writers


Jim Weatherly
Jim Weatherly has written such hits as
"Midnight Train to Georgia",
"Neither One Of Us Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye", and
"You're The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me",
all pop and r&b hits for Gladys Knight & The Pips, who recorded 12 of
Weatherly's songs.
http://cdbaby.com/cd/jimweatherly/from/ande
http://cdbaby.com/cd/jimweatherly2/from/ande


Chip Taylor
was born James Voight (brother of actor Jon Voight),
Chip wrote "Wild Thing" for the trogs and angel of the morning
http://cdbaby.com/cd/gadfly220/from/ande


Tia Sillers
cowrote "I hope you dance" with Mark D Sanders
http://cdbaby.com/cd/tiasillers/from/ande


Steve Seskin Live
features Steve's live performances of Life's A Dance, Wrong, Don't
Laugh At Me, I Think About You, Pictures, and Grown Men Don't Cry
http://cdbaby.com/cd/seskin6/from/ande

Steve Seskin
Studio recordings of Dont Laugh at Me and "Cactus In A Coffee Can"
http://cdbaby.com/cd/seskin2/from/ande

Along the Way + Steve Seskin
Grown Men Dont Cry that he wrote for Tim McGraw
http://cdbaby.com/cd/seskin3/from/ande

Lifes a Dance + Steve Seskin
Lifes a Dance recorded by John Michael Montgomery
http://cdbaby.com/cd/seskin4//from/ande


Stephen Dorff
I Cross My Heart and other songs performed by by
Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, George Strait, Whitney Houston, and
many others....
http://cdbaby.com/cd/dorff2/from/ande

Darrell Scott
You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive was cut in the same year by both
Patty Loveless and Brad Paisley
http://cdbaby.com/cd/dsdtkm/from/ande


Russell Smith
lead singer of the Amazing Rhythm aces
"Old School," originally performed by John Connelly,
Look Heart, No Hands by Randy Travis,
Dont Go To Strangers by T. Graham Brown,
Heartbeat in the Darkness by Don Williams,
Keep It Between The Lines by Ricky Van Shelton as well as the grammy
winning
The End Is Not In Sight,"
Third Rate Romance and
What I Learned From Loving You," all hits for the Aces.
http://cdbaby.com/cd/russellsmith/from/ande


Billy Yates
My Infinite Love George Strait
http://cdbaby.com/cd/billyyates//from/ande


Marcus Hummon is
one of the cowriters of "Bless the Broken Road" Rascal Flatts
http://cdbaby.com/cd/hummon6/from/ande


Gloria Loring
She co-wrote the theme songs for the hit series, "Diff'rent Strokes"
and "Facts of Life."
http://cdbaby.com/cd/loring/from/ande


Lori McKenna
wote Fireflies, if you ask and stealing kisses which were recorded by
Faith Hill
http://cdbaby.com/cd/mckenna/from/ande
http://cdbaby.com/cd/mckenna2/from/ande


Thom Shepherd
wrote "Redneck Yacht Club" for Craig Morgan
http://cdbaby.com/cd/thomshepherd3/from/ande


Bertie Higgins
The recording artist/singer songwriter who brought you such great
hits as "Key Largo", "Just Another Day in Paradise" and the double
Platinum smash, "Casablanca" proudly presents his second album. It is
filled with tropical love songs and adventures.
http://cdbaby.com/cd/bertie2/from/ande
http://cdbaby.com/cd/bertie1/from/ande


Bobby Gosh
Bobby played and sang a selection of his songs, from the Dr. Hook
classic, worldwide hit, "A Little Bit More", to a medley of his
commercial hits
http://cdbaby.com/cd/gosh2/from/ande


Johnny Lee
"Lookin' For Love,"
"Pickin' Up Strangers,"
"Cherokee Fiddle,"
"Yellow Rose of Texas,"
"Hey Bartender,"
http://cdbaby.com/cd/leejohnny1/from/ande


Kimmie Rhodes
Kimmie's songs have been recorded by such stellar acts as Willie
Nelson, Wynonna Judd, Trisha Yearwood, Amy Grant, CeCe Winans, Joe
Ely, John Farnham, Waylon Jennings and Peter Frampton.
http://cdbaby.com/cd/kimmie4/from/ande


Templeton Thompson
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/templetont2//from/ande

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

music marketing tip

Sometimes a great band name can get a band much more media attention
than if the musicians went by their own names or some lame name.
Not many people have heard of Mark Stuart, but many more have heard
of

the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash (BSOJC).

Johnny Cash's own advisors told him that BSOJC infringed on his
trademark and Mr Cash should force BSOJC to change their names.
Johnny checked them out, he liked the name and liked them so he gave
the BSOJC permission to use it.

BSOJC have gotten write-ups in many newspapers and magazines
including Rolling Stone, Washington Post and New York Post. because
their bands name and their talent. I believe there are many equally
talented songwriters and musicians that haven't received near the
attention of BSOJC. Johnny Cash's son helped BSOJC produce their
first album.

Carefully and intelligently choose your band's name and your band's
CD titles

Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash
http://cdbaby.com/cd/bsojc/from/ande

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Embezzlement scandal hits songwriters' guild

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050903/music_nm/scandal_dc

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

ANNOUNCING DALLAS SONGWRITERS
2005 SONG CONTEST SEMI-FINALISTS

Wow! This record year brought amazing talent! What a great selection
to choose from! Our judges have a very tough job picking the winners,
but we are confident they will pick the best because we picked an
impressive group of people to judge the contest.

Friday evening, September 30, we will host a Meet N Greet
At the Sons of Herman Hall
Guest Speaker: Roy Elkins
Founder and CEO of Broadjam,
Roy will also be our Master of Ceremony at the Awards Banquet

Song Category Winners will be announced on
Saturday, October 1st, 2005 at
DSA 2005 Awards Ceremony & Silent Auction in Dallas, Texas

Winners from the Semi-Finalists and Finalists will perform. Tickets
to the banquet including lunch and a double CD of the top 3 winners
in each category

DSA 2005 SONG CONTEST SEMI-FINALISTS

http://www.dallassongwriters.org/songcontest/2005/2005semi.htm

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cut by Cut Interviews

I love artist interviews, it gives me a chance to get to know the
artist better. I especially love to read Cut by Cut interviews. Cut
by Cut Interviews are where the artist talks about each cut on their
CDs. why they like it, the story behind it, why they chose it. These
interviews help you get into the psychology of why an artist chose to
cut particular songs.

Faith Hill
http://countrymusic.about.com/od/faithhill/a/blfireflies_cbc.htm

Blake Shelton
http://countrymusic.about.com/library/blthedreamer-cutbycut.htm

Shelly Fairchild
http://countrymusic.about.com/od/shellyfairchild/a/blride_cbc.htm

Dolly Parton Halos and Horns
http://www.dollyon-line.com/archives/ts/int_halos.shtml

Craig Morgan
http://www.brokenbowrecords.com/craigmorgan/iloveit-cutbycut.html
http://www.brokenbowrecords.com/craigmorgan/mykindoflivin-
cutbycut.html

Michelle Wright
http://www.michelle-wright.com/~cutbycut.html

Keith Urban
http://www.keithurbanfans.com/cutbycut.html

Carolyn Dawn Johnson
http://www.carolyndawnjohnson.com/music/room_with_view/cuts/
http://www.carolyndawnjohnson.com/music/dress_rehearsal/


Chely Wright Cut By Cut

The Metropolitan Hotel

1. It's The Song---I love this song so much because I feel like it's
my life. Folks still ask me…"Why do you keep doing this? You keep
getting knocked down in this industry, yet you keep trying." Now,
instead of giving a lengthy explanation of why I am still writing and
making records…..I can just play them "It's The Song".

2. Back Of The Bottom Drawer---This is an example of how most women I
know, including me, are "emotional packrats". Just because we keep
things like birthday cards and love letters from our past
relationships, doesn't necessarily mean that we yearn to be back with
those old loves. I really think that I keep them as a reminder of
some of the innocence youth that, at one time in my life, allowed me
to get into certain relationships or "situations". I just figured
when I got the idea for the song, that I was not the only woman who
had a secret "box of stuff".

3. I Got Him Ready For You-- I had recently been "dumped' by a guy I
really cared for and it got me thinking about being on that end of
the "dumping", if you will. I started thinking about how many of my
girlfriends and I had been "let go" by guys only to have them marry
the VERY next girl that they dated. Of course, a girl lacking in self-
confidence would possibly surmise…"Maybe it's ME that is the
problem". I, however, refuse to believe that I am ever the problem in
a relationship. Sooooo, I created this scenario upon which this song
is based. Here it is in a nutshell: While these guys dated me….I did
such a great job of training them. For example, I taught them to put
the lid down, pick up their socks, talk, show emotion, clean up after
themselves in the kitchen, do a reasonable amount of exercise, do not
rely on fast food for a proper diet….hence, "I Got Him Ready For You.

4. The River---- After writing a song that I don't remember, I called
my sister, Jeny, as I often do and played it for her over the phone.
After I sang it for her, she said this…"Chel, I love it when you
write what you know". We chatted about "sister stuff" then hung up.
The next day, as I headed with my cup of coffee to my writing room,
Jeny's words were still resonating in my head. "Write what you know,
write what you know". I picked up the guitar and I swear, God as my
witness, The River poured out of me. It is a true story.

5. Just The Way We Do It--- I wrote this one with Jim Beavers and I
remember it being a really fun song to work on. We were just
referencing "couples" that seem to never fight. That's always funny
to me when couples say that they ALWAYS get along. It makes me
curious about how they are at home. We continued to talk about
relationships and how some of the strongest ones have ups and downs.
I think it's a grown-up love song with a cool groove.

6. The Bumper Of My S.U.V---This song is true from beginning to end.
The first time I ever performed this song was in the Middle East, 16
months after I wrote it about a true incident that happened to me
while driving in Nashville. I recorded it only because so many of the
troops asked me to. So…I did. The Marine Corps sticker that I have on
my SUV was given to me by my brother, Chris, just days before he was
shipped off for duty in Iraq. Chris is a 14 year Gunnery Sergeant.

7. Your Shirt---- I don't know of one woman who doesn't have an old
shirt of her husband, boyfriend, or ex-boyfriend that she still holds
on to. It has always just felt comfortable for me to sing this song.
It reminds me of Shut Up And Drive, my first hit record. The lyric is
in no way similar…..but Your Shirt fits my voice in many of the same
ways.

8. Between A Mother And A Child----My mom knows that it is on the
album and she is not happy about it. I love my mother and she loves
me, I know that. Remember, though…….love IS a 4 letter word. Very
complicated.

9. Southside Of Lonesome---- As I was writing it, I remember making a
conscious effort to try to "turn a phase", if you will, like Rodney
Crowell or Harlan Howard might do. I've always admired the writing of
these two guys for various reasons…..but really wanted to write a
true country song. It had to have the vernacular of "country", needed
to be simplistic on a musical level, demanded to speak of love and
that love being lost, and most of all….the hook had to "pay off". I
did my best to "rip off" a couple of my songwriting heroes.

10. Wheels--- I went to Stephony's writing room and we stared at one
another for a few hours with no ideas and no inspiration. We called
it quits and decided on where to go for lunch. We were deep into a
personal conversation when I made the remark to her…."Sometimes when
that happens…it's difficult to get the wheels back on the road". We
looked at one another with "that look", paid the check and headed
back to try again. We grabbed our guitars and she started chunking
away and sang what was then the opening line of the song, which later
became the first line of the second verse…"Why do I do what I do when
I don't know what I'm doing?". Yikes

10. C'est La Vie--- I have been singing this song since I was a
little girl. I was first introduced to it when my mom played me the
Emmylou Harris version. I am very pleased to put this song on my
record as a bit of a tribute to my mother. She was, in large part,
responsible for my falling in love with country music. She loved
music of Elvis, Loretta, Buck, Conway, Webb Pierce and all of the
Greats.

12. What If I Can't Say No Again--- I really love the melody of this
song. The lyric speaks of weaknesses that we all have from time to
time when our hearts are involved. When singing this one…I feel like
I'm in an episode of "As The World Turns". Drama!!!!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Write On,
Ande