"Everybody wants to find that song that hits the sweet spot, that
is pretty much them, but everybody else, too. I think I finally found
that song!”
– Neal McCoy
In a world where every single is the biggest hit, every song the best
one ever, Neal McCoy has had his share of feel good radio records, a few
meaningful ballads, the BMI Song of the Year with “Wink” and “The Shake”
and a whole lot of fun. But he’s spent almost two decades chasing ‘that
song.’
With “A-OK, the song that co-producer Blake Shelton found the
Longview, Texan entertainer, McCoy’s quest may be over. With its
bouncing beat, bright melody and yes, pure Andy Griffith whistle, the
song about seeing the glass as half-full and the smile upside down in a
frown, along with the Barry Dean/Luke Laird/Brett Eldridge mid-tempo, is
the perfect distillation of McCoy’s always effervescent show.
“I think any song that says ‘It’s gonna be okay, it’s gonna be
alright…’ and feels like this one does, has got to be a winner. People
really wanna hear, and almost need to hear, that right now… Times being
the way they are, and something that makes people feel good? Well,
anyone who knows me knows I’m all about that,” McCoy explains.
Ask anyone about Neal McCoy, and they may not be able to name all of
the songs, but they’ll go on and on about his live concerts: full-tilt
celebrations of music, life, laughter, joy and yes, his five #1s. But
don’t make it about Neal McCoy, he sure wouldn’t.
“I think when people come to see you, sure they want to hear your
music,” he explains. “But they really wanna be somewhere that makes ’em
forget their troubles for a little bit; to have some fun, to laugh and
remember how good life can be. I always say, they’re not fans… they’re
friends and I want ’em to have a good time.”
Modesty aside, McCoy has sold over 6 million albums. His entrance
into the country music world was championed by Hall of Famer Charley
Pride, and his return is being orchestrated by CMA Entertainer of the
Year nominee and reigning Male Vocalist of the Year
Blake Shelton, and CMA/ACM Album, Single
and Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda
Lambert.
People like that know music – and performing. Those who came before
and those who’re now setting the standard both recognize how special
McCoy’s kind of country is.
Or as Blake Shelton himself says, “The only thing that blows me away
more than Neal McCoy in concert is the fact he asked me to be involved
in making his new album... I'm honored to work with a hero of mine.”
And the album helmed by Lambert, Shelton and guitar-slinger Brent
Rowan is no less special. Nashville’s very best writers – Song of the
Year winner Tom Douglas, Rivers Rutherford, Jamey Johnson, Allen
Shamblin, and new hitmakers Luke Laird, Brett Eldredge, George Terren &
Barry Dean – have all opened up their secret stash of songs saved for
the very few who deserve them to provide the songs for XII, McCoy’s
Blaster Records debut.
“It’s like my shows, a little bit of everything that makes music
special,” explains the man who’s done 15 USO tours, represented
President Bush at the inauguration of Phillipine President Arroyo,
established the East Texas Angel Network 17 years ago for children with
life threatening illnesses, helping over 400 families along the way, and
co-written the good natured “Lucky Enough,” an all street corner bravado
shuffle and bright-eyed look at life, dreams and love.
“There is so much great music… beyond the labels… we have a little
bit of church, a little bit of bar-room, a couple ballads that’ll
encourage, and a real Texas thing about finding your groove in the midst
of heartbreak with a cold beer and a good jukebox,” McCoy explains.
“It’s like me, but it’s better. Blake and Miranda had definite ideas
about what this should be. Blake had met me in ’95 when he’d first come
to town and was looking around. He walked in the front door of Atlantic
Records – and there I was in the lobby answering phones. I’d had a
couple hits by then, but I was goofy like that,” he adds.
“We met again years later, doing radio interviews – and he told me
about that. That he couldn’t believe it; but that’s the kinda guys we
both are. And Miranda, she’d grown up 30 miles away, playing talent
shows around the area and dreaming of doing what I was doing…so, they
came to this more invested than I would’ve ever imagined. Both of them
get who I am and what makes me, me, and that was what drove all their
decisions. That’s Blake playing a lot of the acoustic guitar – and you
can hear ’em singing all over the single. They had such good ideas, you
almost couldn’t hold ’em back.”
