Today, “Playing the Part,” the lead single from Jamey Johnson’s forthcoming 25-song Double Album The Guitar Song, will be available for download at iTunes as part of their weekly countdown program to the album release on September 14th. Starting today, a new track from the album will be available for purchase through iTunes each Tuesday leading up to street date. By purchasing countdown tracks from The Guitar Song through September 14th, consumers will have the total amount spent deducted from the album price on street date.

iTunes will also have a series of weekly podcasts featuring Johnson talking about select tracks from the album beginning August 24th. Go to www.jameyjohnson.com/countdown to see all tracks included in the countdown program.

Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale? Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com

On of our readers, Janelle, recently took in a Jamey Johnson show in Michigan. It sounds like she had a great time, and she was kind enough to share her experience with us…Take a read.

It might only have been an hour and twenty minute show…but when you think about the amount of incredible music that was played, it was another amazing concert by Jamey Johnson tonight in Mt. Pleasant, MI.

Jamey took the stage shortly after 8pm in the midst of “Cowboy” Eddie Long’s steel guitar intro to “High Cost of Living” and the show took off from there. Jamey went right into a trio of songs from the eagerly awaited (9/14 release) double album, “The Guitar Song”, including a cover of the Keith Whitley tune “Lonely at the Top”, “Poor Man Blues”, and “Write Your Own Songs”. From there it was a couple songs the crowd found more familiar and they could be heard singing along to “That Lonesome Song” and “Between Jennings and Jones”. After a drink from his infamous red Solo cup and raising it to the crowd, which unfortunately was his only interaction with the fans in attendance all night, Jamey slowed the show down with another new song, “Thankful for the Rain”, and a great cover of Vern Gosdin’s “Do You Believe Me Now”. Then segued into another cover, this time it was George Jones’ “Still Doing Time”. Jamey then did a Willie Nelson song I’d never heard before, “Can I Sleep In Your Arms Tonight” – a heartbreakingly sad song! Next came Jamey’s rendition of “I Fall to Pieces” and “Can’t Cash My Checks”, the song Jamey and “Rowdy” Jason Cope co-wrote and performed at Farm Aid. Finally, came the new single “Playing the Part” and then another cover, “The Way I Am”. The show continued with his hit single, “In Color”, which he started and in usual fashion, let the fans finish singing it back to him. The set list rounded out with an amazing version of “For the Good Times”, “Mowing Down the Roses”, a rocking version of “Tulsa Time” spotlighting the members of Jamey’s band. Jamey ended the night with “Are you Sure Hank Done it This Way”, sat down “Ole Maple”, blew a kiss to the crowd and walked off stage.

It was a short concert in comparison to the other shows we’ve been fortunate to see…but I believe its the Soaring Eagle Casino that set the time limits tonight. We used to go to quite a few shows up there, but stopped a while back because we felt they weren’t worth the ticket cost. Tonight our front row, almost center, seats cost us $32. A pretty good deal for a concert, however this show didn’t include an opening act and the concert wasn’t even an hour and a half long.

It was great to see Jamey and the guys again tonight, including Wayd Battle, who hasn’t been with them the last three shows we’ve seen!

Thanks so much Janelle!!!

Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale? Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com

The lead single from Jamey Johnson’s forthcoming album (due in stores September 14) is “Playing the Part.” The song will be available to country radio stations across the country TODAY at 3pm ET  and available for download on iTunes on August 24.   

The Guitar Song is a 25-song double album with thematically linked sets of songs dubbed the Black Album and the White Album. “The original idea was always to do a double album,” says Johnson. “It is an album that is a tale. The first part is a very dark and sordid story. Then everything after that is progressively more positive, reassuring and redemptive.”

The Guitar Song will also be available as a limited-edition, black and white triple LP vinyl set that includes a deluxe lyric book.

Country Girl wants you to be a Tattle Tale! Have you been to a country concert lately? Run into a country artist while out on the town? We want to hear all about your country music news and entertainment. Email me at countrygirl@countrymusictattletale.com

The CMA Songwriters Series returns to New York City’s Joe’s Pub, on Wednesday, Sept. 8th. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, July 14. Jamey Johnson will be joined by Buddy Cannon, Bobby Pinson, and host Bob DiPiero.

Tickets are $25 each at www.joespub.com or call (212) 967-7555 between the hours of 10:00 AM and 9:00 PM/ET. Joe’s Pub is located at 425 Lafayette St. in New York City.

Got some country music gossip and don’t wanna be a tattle tale? Email me, Tawny Tucker, Tawny@countrymusictattletale.com