Nashville Song a Hit in Hungary
Sandy Madaris Hey Hector," written by Luke Powers and featuring the Prophet Omega, is now available for free download at www.phoebeclaire.com.
(PRWEB) February 9, 2005 -- Luke Powers noticed something strange in his website statistics. He was getting hundreds of hits from Hungary. His website, Phoebe Claire Publishing, includes the Vanderbilt-educated university professors scholarly work as well as original poems, songs and recordings.
What was getting all the downloads from Hungary?
After some digging, he discovered that the culprit is a 1-minute sound-clip of his song Hey Hector," performed by Nashville singer Sandy Madaris.
Since theyre downloading the clip," Powers figures, they might as well download the whole thing for free. Its not like Im starving. Not yet." He pauses. Maybe I should move to Hungary."
Powers admits that he is better at writing music than selling music.
I guess I could try to get on ITunes or something," he muses philosophically, but I like that quote from Captain Beefheart: 'I dont want to sell my music. Id like to give it away, because where I got it you didnt have to pay for it."
Fortunately, Sandy Madaris, who is releasing her second album this Spring, agreed to the free download. Her new album features a number of recent collaborations with Powers.
"I love Luke's songs," she says, "especially Hector."
Powers is known for his quirky takes on popular culture including songs such as "I Saw John Kennedy Today" and "Cover Song" (about the Sergeant Pepper album cover), which have been widely distributed on the internet.
Madaris recorded Hey Hector" and other of Powers songs on a CD entitled Way Back Home, released in 2002. The album was produced by Tommy Spurlock and mastered by Donivan Cowart and Brian Ahern (the legendary production team behind Emmylou Harris).
Upon initial release the CD received wide airplay on folk/Americana radio stations in the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Australia.
The critical reception was warm. Mike Westerfield of Sisyphustracks.com wrote: This independent production blends elements of Americana, alt country and rock into a heady brew, and features seductive singing that brings to mind Emmylou Harris, well-written songs with decidedly anti-Nashville attitude, and marvelous production from Tommy Spurlock (David Olney, Chip Taylor)."
Belgiums Roots Revival Radio lauded the albums beautiful strong songs."
Nikki Rossiter of www.rambles.net wrote: This CD contains songs, that with time and exposure, could become the folk music of tomorrow."
Even hard-to-please critic Norman Famous labeled Hey Hector," the albums dark masterpiece."
Powers had been inspired to write the song after seeing a NBC News story about dead-end kids in East Los Angeles who were stealing high-end cars for kicks.
The song opens:
Hey, Hector, lets sneak out tonight,
we can steal an automobile;
well take a drive to the edge of night,
might even wind up with sirens and flashing lights."
The refrain concludes: I got no future/I got no past/But I know how to make each moment last."
The song features samples of the Prophet Omega (deceased, born Omega Townsend), a radio evangelist famous for broadcasting out of his Nashville apartment. Samples of his preaching have been included on the CDs of Adrian Belew, Melissa Etheridge and others. He was the subject of a documentary film Friends Seen and Unseen" (2001) co-produced by Nashville broadcaster Demetria Kalodimos.
Tommy Spurlock, who produced Hey Hector," first became aware of the Prophet Omega as a member of Rodney Crowells touring band in the early 1990s. He decided to incorporate samples of the Prophet during mix-down of the song.
Spurlock explains: It was spooky-the Prophet came in right on time. He was even preaching in the right key!"
Sandy sang the hell out of that song," Powers says, and the Prophet Omega adds a certain magic. Im sure it started working on the Hungarians."
About the internet he says: You dont know whos out there listening to your stuff, but at least you know theyre out there. Its sorta like eternity--where nothing ever really disappears."
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