Looks Like Rain: The Songwriting Legacy of Mickey Newbury

Mickey Newbury was a songwriter from Houston who moved to Nashville in the 1960s and wrote top hits for many well-known artists. He is best known for being name-checked in the song Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love) by Waylon Jennings. Newbury helped to loosen the grip maintained for decades by the Nashville studio system, paving the way for later innovators like Willie Nelson, David Allan Coe, and others. He is still the only songwriter to produce hits on four different charts in the same year in 1968.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2021
Publisher: Texas A & M University Press

Mickey Newbury, a talented musician who left an indelible mark on the music industry, was born in Houston in 1940 and later relocated to Nashville in the early 1960s, driven by his unwavering muse. His songwriting prowess resulted in numerous chart-topping hits for renowned artists such as Don Gibson, Andy Williams, Kenny Rogers, Tom Jones, and many others. While he is widely recognized for his contributions to the music world, his name gained particular fame through the song "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" by Waylon Jennings. Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Townes Van Zandt, and numerous other esteemed singer-songwriters have acknowledged Newbury as a significant influence on their craft.

In his distinctive manner, Newbury played a pivotal role in loosening the tight grip that the Nashville studio system had held for decades. This groundbreaking move paved the way for subsequent innovators like Willie Nelson, David Allan Coe, and others to emerge and make their mark on the music industry. Remarkably, in 1968, Newbury achieved a remarkable feat by producing hits on four different charts in the same year. These hits included "Just Dropped In (to See What Condition My Condition was In)" on the pop/rock charts, "Sweet Memories" on the easy listening charts, "Time Is a Thief" on the R&B charts, and "Here Comes the Rain, Baby" in the country genre.

To delve deeper into the enduring influence of Mickey Newbury, veteran music journalist Brian T. Atkinson has conducted extensive interviews with a diverse range of artists, including Kris Kristofferson, Bobby Bare, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, and many others. These conversations provide valuable insights into how Newbury's songwriting and musical approach continue to shape the artistic endeavors of both seasoned musicians and emerging talents.

Forewords by Larry Gatlin and Don McLean serve as a prelude to this captivating exploration, setting the stage for a retrospective journey into the life and legacy of one of the most revered songwriters and musicians of recent decades. Mickey Newbury's impact on the music world is undeniable, and his influence continues to resonate through the generations of artists who have been inspired by his remarkable talent and creativity.

Weight: 520g
Dimension: 163 x 241 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781623499266