4th of July Mix

Get ready for Fourth of July festivities with our salute to Independence Day themed country music songs.  Load up your iPod and listen to some of country music’s most patriotic songs as you head out to your barbeques or when you head down to Navy Pier for the Fireworks! 

• Rodney Atkins – It’s America
• Garth Brooks – We Shall Be Free
• Brooks & Dunn – Only In America
• Lee Greenwood – God Bless The USA
• Shooter Jennings – 4th Of July
• Toby Keith – American Soldier
• Toby Keith – Courtesy Of The Red, White & Blue
• Martina McBride – Independence Day
• Rascal Flatts – Mayberry
• LeAnn Rimes – God Bless America
• Kenny Rogers – Homeland
• Sugarland – Everyday America
• Aaron Tippin – Where The Stars And Stripes And The Eagle Fly
• Josh Turner – Firecracker
• Carrie Underwood – All-American Girl
• Phil Vassar – American Child
• Zac Brown Band – Chicken Fried

Country Thunder Mix

Get ready for Country Thunder 2009 with an exclusive 21-track playlist available in the iTunes Music Store. Starting July 15, some of today’s hottest country music stars, including headliners Taylor Swift, Tracy Lawrence, Alan Jackson and Tim McGraw, will descend on farm in rural Southern Wisconsin to perform at this year’s Country Thunder. The four day music festival/extravaganza features on-site camping, lots of great food and beverage vendors and did I mention the hottest in country music.

“Country Thunder 2009” is available exclusively through the iTunes Music Store and features artist performing at this year’s festival. Load up your iPod and get ready for one of the best concert/festivals of the summer.

Click here to download “Country Thunder 2009” from the iTunes Store: Download

Don’t have tickets yet? Visit countrythunder.com

Word on the Street Podcast Episode 1

[podcast]http://music.countrymusicchicago.com/podcast/wotseps1.mp3[/podcast]

Hot Country Downloads

Top iTunes Country Music Downloads.

• 1. Stuck Like Glue - Sugarland
  Stuck Like Glue by Sugarland from the album Stuck Like Glue - Single
• 2. Undo It - Carrie Underwood
  Undo It by Carrie Underwood from the album Play On
• 3. If I Die Young - The Band Perry
  If I Die Young by The Band Perry from the album The Band Perry - EP
• 4. Lover, Lover - Jerrod Niemann
  Lover, Lover by Jerrod Niemann from the album Lover, Lover - Single
• 5. Pretty Good At Drinkin' Beer - Billy Currington
  Pretty Good At Drinkin' Beer by Billy Currington from the album Pretty Good At Drinkin' Beer - Single
• 6. Free - Zac Brown Band
  Free by Zac Brown Band from the album The Foundation (Deluxe Version)
• 7. Pray for You - Jaron and the Long Road to Love
  Pray for You by Jaron and the Long Road to Love from the album Getting Dressed In the Dark
• 8. Love Like Crazy - Lee Brice
  Love Like Crazy by Lee Brice from the album Love Like Crazy
• 9. Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
  Need You Now by Lady Antebellum from the album Need You Now
• 10. The House That Built Me - Miranda Lambert
  The House That Built Me by Miranda Lambert from the album Revolution

Taylor Swift – You Belong With Me

Taylor Swift is rockin’ the iTunes Music Video charts at #1 with her current single, “You Belong With Me.” 

“You Belong With Me” from the album “Fearless” is a catchy High School heart-throb style song that will have you singing along no time. 

Download “You Belong With Me” Music video from iTunes: 

If I Could Do It All Again – Gretchen Wilson

While we just recently partied out with Gretchen Wilson at “Country’s Hottest Party 2009″, it’s been some time since we’ve heard some new music from her.  While we don’t have album news to share, Wilson did release a new single titled ”If I Could Do It All Again” to the iTunes Music Store.  

Download “If I Could Do It All Again” here: 

On the Web: gretchenwilson.com

Tracy Lawrence – The Rock

Tracy Lawrence’s smooth and easy voice has graced the country music charts over the years with hits like “Paint me a Birmingham” and “Find out who Your Friends are” but in his latest album, Lawrence looks towards a higher power for inspiration. “The Rock”, released today, features a 10-track, passionate collection of faith inspired songs.

“This project is really not a departure from the music I’ve always recorded,” said Lawrence in a prepared statement. “The music is still in the same vein but the messages are little more moving. It’s a powerful combination that I think will touch a piece of everyone’s heart.”

While “The Rock” might not contest with today’s typical chart movers, its spiritual undertone is what some would consider part of country music’s foundation.

The time was right artistically, emotionally and spiritually, Lawrence explained, his life and career experiences helped shape this album.

It’s not every day an artist produces and releases an album like “The Rock.” You might find a hidden track in an album or two but with Lawrence’s album, listeners have the opportunity to truly connect, in multiple ways, with the artist and hopefully be inspired. In the challenging times we face, most would agree we all could use a little faith and inspiration.

“The Rock” was co-produced by Lawrence and Julian King and features Lawrence’s road band. To find out where to purchase “The Rock”, visit tracylawrence.com.

Download “The Rock” bonus track verson on iTunes:  

Katie Quick – Something About the Rain

The road to Nashville notoriety is often long and difficult but local country music singer and songwriter Katie Quick is in it for the long haul. An Evergreen Park native, Quick has quit her job as a school teacher to concentrate on pursuing a full-time career in country music and on May 1, she released her debut Nashville recorded album “Be the Change.”

Quick’s hardwork and devotion to the craft is beautifully arranged in her 13 track album that covers all typical topics of love, loneliness and just plain fun. Among her songs like “Something About the Rain”, “Your Song” and “If Only I Could” show Quick’s natural ability to tell a story through music. Something we feel will prove her well on the road ahead.

Listen to “Something About the Rain” in the new music section of the Country Music Chicago iPhone Application.

[podcast format="video"]http://countrymusicchicago.com/music-content/katiequick/bethechange/katiequick.m4v[/podcast]

On the web:  KatieQuick.com

Download “Be the Change” on iTunes: 

Dierks Bentley – Live From SoHo

Dierks Bentley – Live From SoHo EP

Exclusively through the iTunes Music Store, Dierks Bentley released a six song EP as part of the iTunes’ “LIVE FROM SOHO” series. According to Bentley’s web site, the intimate performance was recorded at Apple’s flagship Soho store in January.

Bentley joins Taylor Swift as the only country artists to record an EP of this type.

 Track Listing:

1. Feel that Fire
2. Sideways
3. I Wanna Make You Close Your Eyes
4. Life On the Run
5. Trying to Stop Your Leaving
6. Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)

Download Dierks Bentley – Live From SoHo EP:  

Relive Bentley’s live performance on Friday, August 7, 2009 ,at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater. Brad Paisley and Jimmy Wayne accompany Bentley on the ticket. Purchase tickets on LiveNation.com