Rick Alan Carpenter: Press Reviews

IN A NUTSHELL: THIS IS SUPERB COUNTRY FOR ALL AGES...

It looks like you listened to an ol' time friend's hits you haven't been playing for years and you just wonder how that could happen.
Reading Rick Alan Carpenter's bio I was amazed at his long career with so many different bands and that explains how he can now manage to be a top artist in Country music. With such a long training, it's no wonder he can steal anybody's heart away with just a few notes of one of his songs.
That's the wonder of music and that's the mystery of the human soul.
We must be thankful to artists like Rick, their music is too beautiful to miss and their texts are so real you can't but live what they're singing about.
Real good.

Interview with
Rick Alan Carpenter
By Laurie Megan

CIO (Laurie Megan): For anyone who hasn’t heard your music, describe your sound.
Rick Alan Carpenter: Alan Jackson meets Merle Haggard at a Dwight Yoakam concert after spending the weekend hangin’ out with Keith Richards and Gram Parsons. (I know he’s dead)

CIO: How did you react the first time you heard yourself on the radio?
RAC: Wow, so that’s what I sound like!

CIO: What song do you consider to be your hit song?
RAC: I’ve got a little toe-tapper called “Same Old Heartache” which has gotten a fair amount of airplay. It’s one of TOSSM Radio’s most requested songs of all time. The EP "Outside of Nashville" is currently # 23 on the Roots Music Report's "True Country" chart.

CIO: Who wrote it? Where did the idea come from, & how long did it take to write?
RAC: I wrote it, but I was channeling Buck Owens. It took a few beers as I recall!

CIO: What song do you wish you had written?
RAC: One song, God there are so many. I wish that I’d written “You Were Always On My Mind.” Simple yet beautiful, great melody. Elvis loved it!

CIO: What are you most proud of when it comes to your album?
RAC: That it’s done so well with virtually no outside promo, no label support, no major tour or major radio boost. Only through college/indie/internet stations, local gigs, myspace, word-of-mouth, and of course Country Interviews Online! I call it the “PT Barnum/ Jesse James” approach to promotion.

CIO: What setbacks or downfalls have you encountered?
RAC: I was in meetings with Doug Johnson and John Burns of Giant Records/ Nashville in 2000 right before they fell apart! I’ve gone through many personal trials and tribulations that have caused me to quit playing music but somehow I always come back stronger than before.

CIO: Who is your dream duet partner?
RAC: Danni Leigh, she’s the best! In a perfect world she’d be bigger than Faith Hill.

CIO: Who is your musical hero?
RAC: I liked Warren Zevon, God rest his soul. He was never afraid, and he didn’t give a damn who cared. Waylon is a close second.

CIO: What was the worst gig you've ever had?
RAC: A Halloween gig at CalArts about a million years ago! It turned into a drunken brawl; we’ll save it for another interview!

CIO: What is the largest crowd you’ve played for?
RAC: Probably three thousand people at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. It was fun.

CIO: What is unique about your live performances?
RAC: It's me, baby!

CIO: What do you sing in the shower?
RAC: This morning I was singing “I Fought The Law,” the other day it was “Suspicious Minds,” fun to sing. Maybe I’ll call my next album “Songs For the Shower.”

CIO: What is your pet peeve?
RAC: Greedy, pushy, impolite people. Guess that’s why I haven’t made it really big in the business!

CIO: If you could have only 1 possession, what would it be?
RAC: Guitar; didn't even have to think about it.

CIO: What actor would portray you in a movie about your life?
RAC: I think Johnny Depp could handle it, but he’d have to wear lifts!

CIO: What moment in your life would you relive if you could?
RAC: Probably when I hit my first little league home run - just to see the look on daddy’s face one more time.

CIO: There’s always something an artist would like to talk about that the interviewer doesn’t know to ask. Here’s your chance to answer the question you wish I’d ask:
RAC: Yes, I really am as tall, handsome, talented and humble as I appear to be! Thank you, Laurie

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Rick Alan Carpenter's "Outside of Nashville" by Bernard Boyat

"The singer's look on the cover could let us fear another "hot new country" clone. But far from it and Rick stands true to the title of the CD : musically outside of Nashville even though he lives there. Furthermore, he is no tenderfoot : he's been avoiding success for 20 years as he confesses in self-derision. There are only (unfortunately) 6 tracks on the CD, but all are real medium or uptempo honky tonk, with the undispensable ballad (Not Again) to cry in your bourbon."

Honky tonk music more Bakersfield than Nashville. Rick Alan Carpenter writes songs that are the essence of REAL country, loss and regret mixed with humor and irony.

Rick Alan Carpenter - Outside of Nashville
By: Kenita Vanderslice

An impressive new cd that is gloomy and a little bit depressing as Rick sings about lost loves on his new cd, Outside of Nashville. He begins with “Same Old Heartache” which has a traditional country sound about a broken heart. Splendid love song that really showcases Rick’s superb voice, exquisite song! Next is a beautiful ballad named “Heaven Knows Why.” Excellent lyrics on another broken heart ballad …“I’ll try to find an answer somewhere up above to tell me why my heart keeps hanging on”….”friends laugh behind my back”… “I shake my head and sigh, still I can’t leave you.”… “Heaven Knows Why.” After that is a lovely sad slow hymn about lost love called “Nothin Left to Lose (but the Blues)!” Rick’s voice is very clear and really shines on this number. To showcase, how this man can perform is a wonderful track, “When the Big Money Comes.” It is a great upbeat ditty that shows some hope. Last number, on this fabulous cd is “Don’t Get Me Started.” This tune contains the sounds of yesteryear as he belts out “Don’t get me started, you don’t really know”…. “Cause I may never stop.” This cd is full of beautiful traditional sounds of yesteryear. It is like picking up a cd that was made in the fifties or sixties before we had all the computers to make everything sound perfect. A wonderful addition to any collection of music! I love it! It is fantastic!!!