After all, part of the boom in contemporary country is because older rock fans can hear a stylistic link to the singer-songwriters and country-rock of the early 70's. It makes sense that singer-songwriters would find a market for their tunes in Nashville. Carpenter's 'Girls With Guitars,' for instance, appears on 'Tell Me Why.' At the same time, such hip recording artists as Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Lucinda Williams and Mary-Chapin Carpenter are increasingly finding their tunes included on more mainstream country albums Ms. Performers like Janis Ian and Wendy Waldman are also discovering that writing songs can be a career in itself. Brown was not interested in the group, but the songwriters agreed to give the song to Wynonna. Cobb and Buddy Buie to try to win a deal for their veteran Southern rock band, the Atlanta Rhythm Section. Brown heard the song 'Rock Bottom' on a tape submitted by the writers J. Jesse Winchester, a critical favorite in the 70's who has not been heard from in years, has two cuts on 'Tell Me Why.' Mr. The title song and first single is by Karla Bonoff, one of a number of 40-something singer-songwriters who have lately landed material on country albums. 'Tell Me Why' is a high-profile example of country music's hospitality to pop performers whose recording careers have fallen by the wayside. A cut on a million-selling album could mean as much as $60,000 for the songwriter - more if the song is a single and begets performance royalties from radio play. Judd's second solo album (her debut had sold three million copies), so everybody in Nashville had a song for her. A princely sum awaited any songwriter getting a cut on Ms. Brown says he and the singer listened to about 100 tunes for every one that made the record. In preparing for Wynonna Judd's new album, 'Tell Me Why,' Mr.

'The thing about Nashville,' he says, 'is that people will tell you they're going to write you a hit, and sometimes they do.' That's why it's not unusual for him to take home a plastic bag full of cassettes. Somebody even handed him a tape on his way back to his seat after accepting a Grammy Award. He gets back to his office and newly arrived recordings are piled on his desk. Tony Brown, the President of MCA Records' country-music division in Nashville and a prolific producer, can't go anywhere without somebody slipping him a cassette of original songs.

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