Rick Bayles

Classic Americana Compilations: “Tulare Dust – A Songwriter’s Tribute to Merle Haggard” (Hightown Records, 1994)

March 27, 2020 Rick Bayles 1

Merle Haggard has always been categorised as one of the great American Country Singers but, when it comes to songwriting, his talents are often overlooked. So, when a bunch of top Americana singers and songwriters came […]

Forgotten Artists – Darden Smith

March 16, 2020 Rick Bayles 0

Darden Smith should’ve been a big star. Blessed with an ability to write great songs and being a rangy, good looking Texan it’s hard to believe that his future as a top singer songwriter wasn’t assured. […]

Kirsty Almeida “Moonbird” (All Made Up Records, 2020)

March 9, 2020 Rick Bayles 0

This is quite a lovely record. Gibraltarian singer/songwriter Kirsty Almeida has crafted some very interesting songs for this, her first studio album in nearly six years (since 2014’s ‘Dejavoodu’). She had taken a creative sabbatical following […]

Forgotten Artists – Shelby Lynne

February 26, 2020 Rick Bayles 2

Shelby Lynne, or to give her the name she was christened with, Shelby Lynn Moorer is, as many will know, the (slightly) older sister of Allison Moorer. Yet while Allison seems to go from strength to […]

Ruark “When You Coming Home” (Bird Drop Records, 2020)

February 19, 2020 Rick Bayles 0

There’s something refreshingly low key about Ruark Inman and his band. Apparently, he grew up as a Skater Punk in his native South Arkansas and you can still hear some of that punk attitude on this […]