The Jay Franze Show: Country Music - News | Reviews | Interviews

Top 25 Songs of 2025, Best Album Cover, and Country Music News

• Jay Franze / Tiffany Mason • Episode 184

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A viral “Top 26 Songs of 2025” list is only the start—we put every pick under the microscope to see what truly earns replay value. From Bailey Zimmerman and Luke Combs to Morgan Wallen’s double presence and Laney Wilson’s anchor tracks, we dig into the hooks, arrangements, and performances that separate a fleeting hit from a keeper. Expect honest takes, a few friendly disagreements, and a closer look at the production moves—floor tom hits, 70s textures, harmony blends—that make a chorus land.

The conversation widens as we ask what makes album art timeless. Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon becomes a benchmark for clarity and concept, while modern country sleeves split between glossy trends and striking, cinematic restraint. We swap community favorites—Genesis, Journey, Led Zeppelin, Kiss, King Crimson—and talk recognizability, narrative, and how a cover can hint at sound before the first note plays. You’ll hear why certain designs elevate the music’s myth, and where visual nostalgia actually works.

News brings heart and history: Willie Nelson and Lukas Nelson competing for Best Traditional Country Album is a rare, moving moment of legacy in real time. Riley Green’s back-to-back solo-written No. 1s reset the conversation on authorship, Ella Langley’s UK airplay run shows country’s global reach, and Laney Wilson stepping into ESPN’s Monday Night Football booth underlines how presence travels across mediums.

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Jay Franze:

And we are coming at you live. I am Jay Franzi, and with me tonight the Gronk to my Brady, my beautiful co-host, Miss Tiffany Mason.

SPEAKER_05:

Good evening, crew members.

Jay Franze:

If you are new to the show, this is your source for the latest news, reviews, and interviews. And if you would like to join in, comment, or fire off any questions, please head over to jfranzie.com. All right, my friend. Before we get started, let me tell you about the question of the day. The question of the day comes from Jim. Thank you, Jim. Jim says, What is the best album cover of all time? Miss Tiffany. You know what that means.

Tiffany Mason:

Tell you now.

Jay Franze:

It's competition time. Do not tell me now. No. Do not tell me now. Save it till a little later in the show. That way anybody else that would like to participate in our shenanigans can go ahead and put their responses in the comments section, and we'll read those off a little later in the show as well.

SPEAKER_05:

Great.

Jay Franze:

Alright, let's jump right in. True to form. There is an article that I came across.

SPEAKER_03:

Now.

Jay Franze:

And I would like to discuss it with you. And be surprised together because of course I did not read it. I come across them. I don't read them.

Tiffany Mason:

Headline Schmedlines. Yeah.

Jay Franze:

This is the top 26 songs of 2025.

Tiffany Mason:

We will be the judge of that.

Jay Franze:

The top 26 songs of 2025.

Tiffany Mason:

Wouldn't it have made more sense to do the top 25 songs of 2025?

Jay Franze:

Yeah, that would have made more sense, right? Huh. I like it. Should we just throw away 26? Let's do that. Goodbye, 26. You don't count. Moving on to 25. I like it. 25. We make the rules. Bailey Zimmerman. Featuring Luke Gombs. Backup plan.

SPEAKER_05:

Oh, you know we both love that one.

Jay Franze:

We do like that one. That's a good one. That one's on the one. If that's number 25, I want to know what the rest is.

Tiffany Mason:

Well, if that was 25 and we revere it as one of the tops.

Jay Franze:

That's what I'm saying.

Tiffany Mason:

You may be disappointed.

Jay Franze:

I have a feeling we might be. Let's find out though. Oh, up, up, up, 24. Scotty McCreary. Featuring Hootie and the Blowfish.

SPEAKER_03:

Bottle Rockets.

Jay Franze:

Not just Hootie. It's Hootie and the Blowfish. Bottle Rockets.

Tiffany Mason:

Love it. See?

Jay Franze:

That's another one we both really like.

Tiffany Mason:

I don't remember you really liking it. Oh, I do though.

Jay Franze:

I like Scotty.

Tiffany Mason:

Well, you like Scotty, but I don't remember you liking. Well, you just said it had some bot some cheesy lines. No.

Jay Franze:

I think that was your beef. No, that wasn't this song. But thank you for paying attention. At least you've got the quote. That was the Blake Shelton song. But you know, hey.

Tiffany Mason:

Well, I know that. I know that. But when the bottle rocket one first came out.

Jay Franze:

No, I like bottle rockets.

Tiffany Mason:

You know how often I've been right.

Jay Franze:

No, never. I think it was maybe once. Scotty McCreary song. I said I like the way that they hit the floor, Tom, as the song kicks in. It's like right at the beginning of the song. Yes, you did say that. Big floor Tom hit.

Tiffany Mason:

I do remember that.

Jay Franze:

See? I like that song. I like Scotty. I'm okay with it. So so far. Good. Now let's just analyze for a second. 25 and 24. Would you have reversed them? Or do you think Scotty's is better?

Tiffany Mason:

No. I like a backup plan better.

Jay Franze:

Do you? Okay, that's surprising to me.

Tiffany Mason:

Okay. Like the message.

Jay Franze:

23. Trisha Yearwood. The mirror.

Tiffany Mason:

I l I did go listen to this one and I liked it actually, so I'm okay with that.

Jay Franze:

You think it's better than the other two? Or do you even think these are ranked?

Tiffany Mason:

I do not think they're ranked. Wait, did it say top 25?

Jay Franze:

It said top 25 songs.

Tiffany Mason:

Well, top 26, really.

Jay Franze:

Well, for us it's 25. That's alright. I like Trisha.

Tiffany Mason:

That song's pretty good.

Jay Franze:

Oh, speaking of Blake Shelton coming in at number 22, Texas.

Tiffany Mason:

Not ringing a bell.

Jay Franze:

And you know what? We talk about album covers tonight. It's not a bad album cover.

unknown:

Okay.

Jay Franze:

He looks like a cowboy.

SPEAKER_04:

Very cool.

Jay Franze:

Alright. Well, so far we're doing good. 21. I agree. Zach Top. Good times and tan lines.

Tiffany Mason:

Love it. Great.

Jay Franze:

Feel as if they might be running out. Alright. Moving on. Number 20. Megan Patrick. Golden Child.

Tiffany Mason:

I do not know this song.

Jay Franze:

Whoop, whoop, bup, number 19. This list might be getting better with Morgan Wallen at number 19 with I Got Better.

Tiffany Mason:

Oh, I do like that song. I thought it was gonna be 20 cigarettes. I don't know. I'm really a fan of that song. God, I'm so such a fan.

Jay Franze:

That's a little new, but still released in 2025.

Tiffany Mason:

Mm-hmm.

Jay Franze:

Ella Langley coming in at number 18 with Weren't for the wind.

Tiffany Mason:

If it weren't for the wind.

Jay Franze:

I found a little tidbit out about her today. She wears those calf-length cowboy boots all the time. It's like a fashion statement. They say she chooses at a fashion statement. Apparently, it wasn't because of the fashion statement. She wore high heels on stage once and fell, slipped and fell. So she chose to wear the boots because it kept her from falling. Oh and then in addition to it becoming part of her image, it also because of her height, it shapes her legs.

Tiffany Mason:

Better.

Jay Franze:

Yeah.

Tiffany Mason:

Got it.

Jay Franze:

I thought that was very interesting.

Tiffany Mason:

I'll tell you what, I am really becoming a huge Ella Lingley fan.

unknown:

Yeah.

Tiffany Mason:

I I judged a book by its cover, and I incorrectly judged, and I keep getting set straight. And that makes me think of one of the artists on The Road, the show, The Road, wanted to wear heels, and Gretchen Wilson said, you know, you can wear them, but if you're gonna come out on stage and you're gonna be nervous that you're gonna fall the entire time. And so she too switched to cowboy boots.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah.

Tiffany Mason:

Makes sense to me. I don't want to go out there and fall. I put sandpaper on the bottom of my my cowboy boots.

Jay Franze:

Well, probably too much information, but I used to work at a shoe store and we used to sell those sandpaper-like pads you put on the bottom of the shoes.

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah, I've done it on the bottom of my high heels before.

Jay Franze:

I used to be Al Bundy.

Tiffany Mason:

Is that right?

Jay Franze:

Yeah, that TV show is you know written about me. Number 17, Jelly Roll with Liar.

Tiffany Mason:

Mmm. I like that song.

Jay Franze:

Moving on. Number 16, Cody Johnson, The Fall.

Tiffany Mason:

Oh, I'm a big fan of his too. I found out about him two years ago. And then all of a sudden, I was like, this guy's everywhere. I was like, wait, I just thought he was like some Texas homeboy that like a couple people knew in Nashville because a song had come on that he had sung. And they were talking about it, and I thought, oh, that's cool. You know, they're spotlighting artists from other areas, but no, he was like coming up on the radar, but I did not know it.

Jay Franze:

Yeah, I mean, according to this article, they put this in contention for number one. Came in number 16, so I don't know.

Tiffany Mason:

Well, they're probably really did, but you know. So maybe that is a heads up to us that these are ranked.

Jay Franze:

Yes, that would be a good thing. Number 15, Mackenzie Carpenter, featuring Midland. I wish you would.

Tiffany Mason:

Hmm. I probably know this song, but I can't think of it in my right now. I'm not recalling. Do you hear it in your head because you're bobbling your head back and forth? Are you hearing that song?

Jay Franze:

It's not my favorite. Moving on. Number 14, Miranda Lambert. Run.

Tiffany Mason:

Oh, well, I don't know it, but I do love me some Miranda. So I remember there was one that I went and listened to, though, and I was like, eh, I would never listen to it again. I don't think that was the one.

Jay Franze:

She's a pretty girl.

Tiffany Mason:

She's a pretty girl.

Jay Franze:

Oh, look at she's also part of number 13. So part of 14 and 13. Number 13, Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton. A song to sing.

Tiffany Mason:

The song was on the radio tonight, and I feel like the first time I heard it was on the CMA awards, and I was like, huh. And the outfits ruined it for me. I told you that. They ruined it for me. But listening to it on the radio tonight, I was like, dang, their voices are really well matched for each other. So I don't know. I think I like it.

Jay Franze:

Well, we mentioned it. Your mother says loves me some Midland. Nice. We mentioned that song being having a 70s vibe and being very disco-like and not really being part of their typical brand. The artwork actually takes it a step further. It is 70s artwork with 70s fonts, and it has a heart-shaped disco ball.

Tiffany Mason:

Yes, and I think that we reported on it actually saying that there was artwork that was released that was hinting towards a collaboration and something about a disco heart shape. That's what it is, right? A heart-shaped disco ball. I'm pretty sure we reported on that. So I was like, oh my gosh. Literally driving home. I was like, all these dots were connecting. I was like, whoa, whoa, whoa.

Jay Franze:

All right, coming in at number 12. It's a collab. Imagine that.

Tiffany Mason:

No. No, seriously it is. Country music?

Jay Franze:

Yeah.

Tiffany Mason:

Huh.

Jay Franze:

Shaboozy and Jelly Roll. Amen.

Tiffany Mason:

Like that song.

Jay Franze:

I don't mind it. It's not my favorite country song.

Tiffany Mason:

No, it's not my favorite. And I think that the other ones all were better than that one. It could have been 26.

Jay Franze:

Number 11. Good old Russ.

Tiffany Mason:

Happened to me.

Jay Franze:

Happened to me. You got it. Russell Dickerson.

Tiffany Mason:

I love that song.

Jay Franze:

Gotta be very careful saying his name. Sorry, Miss Kathy. Don't want to offend you.

Tiffany Mason:

Russ?

Jay Franze:

Yeah. Russ.

Tiffany Mason:

Should we be careful saying Russ?

Jay Franze:

Russell comes out funny.

SPEAKER_05:

Oh, it's the accent. I think so.

Jay Franze:

Number 10. Sam Barber. Featuring Avery Anna. I have not heard of either of these people. Song called Indigo. And I don't know the song yet. I mean, if I do, I do.

Tiffany Mason:

I definitely went and looked the song up, but I can't remember what how it goes. But I think I looked it up for one of our headlines one time.

Jay Franze:

Okay. Moving on. Number nine, Elainey Wilson, somewhere over Cincinnati.

Tiffany Mason:

Oh, yeah, I like that song.

Jay Franze:

What's a Laredo?

SPEAKER_05:

That was so cute. What's a Laredo?

Jay Franze:

It's like a taco. Taco, burrito, something. I don't know.

Tiffany Mason:

Chalupa.

Jay Franze:

Once again, it's not a bad-looking album cover.

Tiffany Mason:

Is it the one her looking off into the distance? Yeah. I like that one.

Jay Franze:

And people say that the mark of a good album cover is it stands the test of time. This would stand the test of time.

Tiffany Mason:

Yes, it would. Yep.

Jay Franze:

Moving on. Ooh, Morgan Wall and comes back again at Numero Ucho.

Tiffany Mason:

Numero.

Jay Franze:

Numero Ucho.

Tiffany Mason:

Ocho.

Jay Franze:

Featuring Tate McRae. What I want.

Tiffany Mason:

That's what I want. That's what I want. That's what I want. I like it.

Jay Franze:

Alright, number seven. Tyler Childers. Bitting list. Number six, Megan Moroni. Am I okay?

SPEAKER_05:

Oh my god, am I okay? It was seriously so cool to hear all those girls screaming that.

Jay Franze:

Number five. Well, let's just say this is good news. Oh shaboozy came in at number five with good news. Number four. Brandon Lake featuring Jelly Roll.

Tiffany Mason:

Yes.

Jay Franze:

Hard fought. Hallelujah.

Tiffany Mason:

Hallelujah. Oh, I love that song. So much emotion in that song.

Jay Franze:

Brandon Lake looks like he's kind of a toughie in this picture, too.

Tiffany Mason:

I don't know if he is. I don't know if he is, but he's got more of a hippie vibe than a tough guy vibe.

Jay Franze:

The pitcher does justice for him. I'm sure they were trying to roughen it all up.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah.

Jay Franze:

Him next to Jelly Roll. It kind of looks looks like a tough vibe. Okay. Moving on. Number three. We're top three now. So far, list isn't that bad.

Tiffany Mason:

No, I would not. I don't have beef with most of it.

Jay Franze:

No, I'm okay. Number three, Jackson Dean. Heavens to Betsy.

Tiffany Mason:

Heavens to Betsy.

Jay Franze:

It's pretty. I mean, the album cover, it's not bad.

Tiffany Mason:

It's not about the album cover.

Jay Franze:

No, I'm just album covers tonight. Thank you, Jim. Jim's got me focused on album covers. Normally, these articles just throw in pictures of the artists. These people are actually throwing in the album covers. I like that. So it's it ties into the night.

Tiffany Mason:

It does. It does. Fair enough.

Jay Franze:

Yeah.

Tiffany Mason:

I'll let it slide this time. It's cool. It's a night.

Jay Franze:

It's a wintery scene. As there's a cowboy walking away in the distance. You see his silhouette on this dirt road as he's facing this mountain.

SPEAKER_03:

Oh wow.

Jay Franze:

Yes.

SPEAKER_03:

Wow.

Jay Franze:

Let's stop doing that. Number two. You know what? I would never lie to you. Number two is Zach Top. I never lie.

SPEAKER_05:

I like that song.

Jay Franze:

Alright. I'm okay with this one being number one, but I don't think it would be number one. But they say it's number one. Riley Green featuring Ella Langley. Ella Langley. Don't mind if I do.

SPEAKER_05:

If I do.

Jay Franze:

I like that song.

SPEAKER_05:

I do too. I like it.

Jay Franze:

I don't know if it's number one. Let's move on to the news.

Tiffany Mason:

All right. Well, the headlines read Country Legend versus Legacy. Mr. Willie Nelson himself and his son Lucas are both nominated for Best Traditional Country Album Grammy. Meaning Country Royalty will be literally competing against family at the 2026 Grammy Awards. This marks a rare moment where two generations, one of country's most iconic families, are up for the same major award. How freaking cool.

Jay Franze:

I have a couple questions.

Tiffany Mason:

Okay.

Jay Franze:

For one, let's not forget that he's 92 years old. Literally. 92. Doesn't come across as 92.

SPEAKER_05:

No.

Jay Franze:

But good for him. He's still being nominated for Grammys at 92. If you are the 92-year-old Willie Nelson, do you really want to win that award or do you want to see your son win it?

Tiffany Mason:

You want to see your son win it because he's had tons of success.

Jay Franze:

Well, screw his success. I'd still want my son to win.

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah, I would too. Yeah. Yeah. Yep, hands down. Regardless of, yeah, I want my kid to win.

Jay Franze:

You know, he's he's also played the same guitar since 1970.

Tiffany Mason:

Lucas?

Jay Franze:

No. I'm guessing Lucas was nothing but a glimmer at that time. But Willie played his guitar, I think he calls it trigger. Guitar, it's beat to all hell at this point. It's just worn.

SPEAKER_05:

Well, oh, I mean, well, poop. He's been he's been playing it for a lot of years.

Jay Franze:

A little late. Sorry, let's move on to the next one.

Tiffany Mason:

Okay. Well, this New Year's Eve, Miss Laney Wilson and Mr. Jason Aldean are one of the first people that they've announced so far as being the headliners of Music City's biggest New Year's Eve celebration. They're part of the star-studded cast for New Year's Eve in Nashville. I feel like uh I don't know. I'm kind of torn. Do you like watching the ball drop in New York City? Are you okay with the Nashville? It's like time for somebody else to take it over, but also it's hard to let a tradition die.

Jay Franze:

Yeah, no. I appreciate Nashville doing their thing, but no, it's a New York thing.

Tiffany Mason:

Right? I kind of understand.

Jay Franze:

And you know my feelings about New York, so okay. As I sit here wearing a Boston hat.

Tiffany Mason:

Oh, I know you're very proud of your Boston heritage. I am.

Jay Franze:

I like Boston.

Tiffany Mason:

Like is an understatement, but yes. All right. Well, something that is really cool.

Jay Franze:

Tell me something cool.

Tiffany Mason:

Tell me something cool. Riley Green, artist. Since Taylor Swift to have back to back, solo written, number one hits on the Billboard's country airplay charts. So the ones that he had were Worst Way and Don't Mind If I Do, Taylor Swift's, when she achieved this milestone in 2011-2012, it was with Sparksfly and Ours. That is really cool.

Jay Franze:

I like it when that happens. I do understand co-writers and I do understand the importance of it, and I've participated in quite a bit of them. But I still like when one person can do something from start to finish.

Tiffany Mason:

Pretty cool. Pretty cool that all that creativity comes out of one person.

Jay Franze:

Right.

Tiffany Mason:

Because it's it sounds like it's very much a group effort. And so when one person can do all of it, and then it hits number one, yeah.

Jay Franze:

That's a different story. Because I've written plenty of songs, but I'm just saying. No, I've I've written songs by myself and I can do it. But like when I work with somebody like Jim Cristaldi, he can write a song, play the song, sing the song. I mean, so he can truly do an entire song by himself, record it, perform it, do everything. So I'm always impressed with that. Just because I can write a song by myself, I mean he's knocking it out of the park.

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah. Okay. I'm pretty pumped about this. Next story Texas rising star Ella Langley dominates UK radio charts again. Her song, Choosing Texas. I think two or three days ago, I had this on repeat. I just love this song so much. But it has topped the UK radio country airplay chart for the fourth non-consecutive week. I don't like that. Proving countries music's global reach. I want it to be consecutive.

Jay Franze:

Yeah. I can understand that, but I think we'll see in our charts things aren't always consecutive.

Tiffany Mason:

It's true. Okay. Grammy winning icon Clint Black reveals Killin' Time, his memoir set for May 2026. Promising stories from rise to fame, collaborations with legends, and personal highs and lows.

Jay Franze:

I like Clint Black. I like the fact that Andy Hull is his drummer right now.

SPEAKER_04:

Oh, very cool.

Jay Franze:

Yeah, Andy Hall's out playing drums with Clint Black. Ever since he left Lee Greenwood, he's been out with Clint Black.

SPEAKER_04:

Cool.

Jay Franze:

Andy, if you're listening, please, you know, come by in this area. I'd love to go see a play. Yeah. You know, tell Clint, you know, start booking something on the East Coast.

SPEAKER_04:

Yeah, for real. Florida.

Jay Franze:

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04:

It's not too cold down here. We've got some complaints. You're in the six weeks. We've got some complaints. Yeah. We'll take it.

Jay Franze:

You know, if you want to come back on the show and discuss the complaints, feel free. Uh-huh. JakeFrenzi.com. He was one of the originals. Just throwing that out there too. I think he was within the top five or six episodes.

Tiffany Mason:

Aww. Gave you your start.

Jay Franze:

No, I wouldn't say that.

Tiffany Mason:

You gave them your start.

Jay Franze:

Yeah, no, I broke him. If it wasn't for him coming on the show, he would have never gone out with Clint Black for sure. Um he was number one, two, three, four, five, six, seven. He was number seven. Sorry.

Tiffany Mason:

Is that your attempt at trying to get to Ocho?

unknown:

No.

Jay Franze:

I was just saying, no, that Ocho goes to Pink Tastic Plastics.

Tiffany Mason:

Oh, dang.

Jay Franze:

Yes, we haven't talked about them in a while. We should have her back on.

Tiffany Mason:

God, I remember when your Instagram was blowing up with everything. Oh, God.

Jay Franze:

It's hard for me to promote them because everything's pink. Yeah. Everything is pink. But no, I like that. We should have her back on the show.

Tiffany Mason:

Well, someone that I would love to have on the show is Laney Wilson.

Jay Franze:

Oh, yeah, let's do that too. Oh, we come back to your news. Is that your attempt to get back to the news? All right. I see. Jay.

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, I was not expecting this, but country's reigning star Laney Wilson adds sports media to her resume, joining commentary for ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcast next week. I can't wait.

Jay Franze:

Where did you say she was from?

Tiffany Mason:

Louisiana.

Jay Franze:

There you go. Football country.

Tiffany Mason:

Love it. I'm so excited. I just, I just like all the stuff that she posts on Instagram. I could just like scroll through just hers. It's silly and authentic and real. And like some of it you can tell is gussied up, but some of it's just raw. And I feel like that's who we're gonna see on Monday night. She's not gonna know a play or something, she's just gonna laugh at herself.

Jay Franze:

I don't know. I think she'll know what's going on. I think she's probably got as much football knowledge as anybody else.

SPEAKER_05:

Well, if she has as much as me, then she's not gonna do it right.

Jay Franze:

You weren't born and raised in football country.

SPEAKER_05:

I was born in Iowa, Jay.

Jay Franze:

You have to say it like that.

SPEAKER_05:

I don't know.

Tiffany Mason:

I think so.

Jay Franze:

Miss Kathy, help me, please.

Tiffany Mason:

Well, Mr. Songwriter Cooper Allen and his wife Hallie welcomed their baby girl Coley Francis, a big moment for the rising country artist and his family. So I am going to keep my eyes and ears open. Cooper Allen, I am not familiar with his music yet. Everybody put it on your radar, and he is now a daddy.

Jay Franze:

What is his kid's name? Something Francis.

Tiffany Mason:

Coley.

Jay Franze:

Coley. My middle name is Francis. That's why I asked you. My wife made Bella, my eldest, have Francis as her middle name.

Tiffany Mason:

I love that.

Jay Franze:

I didn't want that, but she fine.

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah. Did you do it with an I instead of an E for Bella?

Jay Franze:

Girl version.

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah.

Jay Franze:

Actually, the girl version is the E.

Tiffany Mason:

Oh. Oh, right, because this is a girl we're talking about. So Coley Francis with an E. Well, when I named my children, I did a Yel test. So when we came up with the name, and then I was like, Preston Everett Mason. And I was like, Oh, yeah, that's got some good consonants in there for when you're yelling at them. Yeah. But I don't know. I couldn't get all four of those names out if I was mad at you and you needed to have some discipline.

Jay Franze:

And I love the fact that your mother's here. She says it's cold here. Yeah. Cold here too, Miss Kathy. Come here, we'll cuddle. Oh you gotta be the big spoon, though. Remember last week we were talking. I like to be ill. I like to be the little me.

Tiffany Mason:

No, he's not.

Jay Franze:

Yeah.

Tiffany Mason:

Okay. We have Justin Andrews. Anders. Andrews. Sorry. Justin Andrews.

Jay Franze:

Who do we have?

Tiffany Mason:

He's chasing hearts on Silverado Sunset, a song that he sings. While Robert Bacon delivers holiday vibes in what Christmas Means to Me, part of this week's roundup of new country releases. So we'll have to go search those out. Or like Hannah says, search them up. Search them up. Silverado Sunset and what Christmas Means to Me.

Jay Franze:

He's got a very laid-back feel to him. So more of that traditional style as well. I'm I'm more into the edgier stuff these days.

Tiffany Mason:

I know. I think you're pulling me onto your side. Because now when I listen to country music, if they've got like a little rock edge to them, I'm like, oh yeah.

Jay Franze:

I like this better.

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah.

Jay Franze:

I don't know. I I like that.

Tiffany Mason:

I feel like I must have always felt that way, but you just pointed it out and put it.

Jay Franze:

Well, you said you like Metallica.

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah, I do. I do.

Jay Franze:

I don't know. I think country's better with edge.

Tiffany Mason:

I agree. Little growl in it.

Jay Franze:

A little bell growl.

Tiffany Mason:

Okay, now this was a fun little rabbit hole I got to go down. Okay.

Jay Franze:

Uh oh. Is this a left?

Tiffany Mason:

No, it's not a left.

Jay Franze:

Who is the girl who said she likes when you go off track?

unknown:

I don't remember.

Tiffany Mason:

Well, it might be a little bit. Okay. Australian country artist Larry Kahn or Larry Kahn. I don't know.

SPEAKER_03:

Let's go with Khan to sound better.

Tiffany Mason:

I know. Like the Khan Fest. Oh, that's the Cannes Festival. Okay. What's the Australian Country Artist Larry Kahn? Just won Western Country Single of the Year at the Academy of Western Artists Awards for his tune Only a Cowgirl. Now, I was interested and I Googled, does Australian have different styles of country music? Yes, they do. They have indigenous country music, contemporary modern country, folk country fusion, outback and stockman music, and the one I thought you would be most interested in is the Bush ballads.

Jay Franze:

I love the Bush ballads.

SPEAKER_05:

So you can look these types up. There are power ballads.

Jay Franze:

The Bush Power Ballads. Well these are wave broker pelvis.

Tiffany Mason:

Singing a bush ballad. It says the foundation focusing on Australian folklore, life on the frontier, droughts, floods, and characters like drovers with a narrative style often more direct and less syncovated than American country. So there is a difference. So yeah, that's that. I just thought it was interesting. That's it.

Jay Franze:

That's it for the end of the news, too.

Tiffany Mason:

No, no, sir. No, sir.

Jay Franze:

Sorry.

Tiffany Mason:

I have one last thing to tell you. I'm very excited about this too. I'm very excited about all the news, I guess. The CMAs.

Jay Franze:

CMAs.

Tiffany Mason:

CMA Awards this year. Gonna be hosted by Tell me.

Jay Franze:

Tell me.

Tiffany Mason:

Lady Wilson. I'm very excited. So she is set to return as the host of the CMA Awards next year, cementing her role as one of country music's leading figures. I wonder how difficult it is to win all those awards and be the MC. And I think like at the end, when she was accepting one of the awards, she's like, Oh, I'm hosting. She was like, Oops, I gotta go. Yeah. I would think it would be difficult though to get like all wrapped up in winning the awards and thanking people and just the whirlwind of it all. And then to be like, oh crap, and I'm the host right now. But that'll be good. I'm looking forward to it. She did a great job.

Jay Franze:

I like her. Can't say enough good about her.

Tiffany Mason:

I would tune in again because she's gonna be the host.

Jay Franze:

Yes, I would do the same.

Tiffany Mason:

Yep, that would be an attraction for me. Because I'm attracted to her.

Jay Franze:

Whoa.

Tiffany Mason:

Not like that.

unknown:

Whoa.

Jay Franze:

Show's taking a turn. All right, let's talk a little bit about that. Let's talk a little slower, okay? Tell me more about it. Slower. Alright, are we moving on now? Can we?

SPEAKER_04:

Let's move on.

Jay Franze:

Jim would like to know what is the best album cover of all time.

Tiffany Mason:

I want to know.

Jay Franze:

What is the best album cover of all time? Let's find out. We're gonna start here with Epic Roxy. Epic Roxy says, she says Billy Joel, River of Time, and then she mentions the artwork is by Christy Brinkley.

SPEAKER_04:

Wow, that's cool.

Jay Franze:

So Billy Joel, River of Dreams, designed and sketched out or painted by Christy Brinkley.

Tiffany Mason:

Who knew?

Jay Franze:

Apparently, Epic Roxy.

Tiffany Mason:

I meant who knew that she could paint. Wait, again, Epic Roxy. Epic Roxy. Yeah. Touche.

Jay Franze:

Alright. Of course, it's gotta be these people mess with me with these names. R-O-N-I-N-G-U-E R-R-A.

Tiffany Mason:

Well, you got me. I stopped after Ronning.

Jay Franze:

I don't know. Sorry, I'm just gonna go with the spelling in this particular case because I know I will butcher it. But Pink Floyd.

unknown:

Yeah.

Jay Franze:

Dark Side of the Moon.

Tiffany Mason:

I don't know if it's the best, but it's probably the most iconic.

Jay Franze:

Yes, I would agree with that for sure. People seem to like that one. Alright. Hey people. Q U E S O T A N I.

Tiffany Mason:

Quesot.

Jay Franze:

Don't know. Don't want to butcher it.

Tiffany Mason:

K is what in Spanish.

Jay Franze:

Well, this is Italian, so. Yes, but this is Italian.

Tiffany Mason:

How do you know? Does it say Botana? I'm sorry. Does it say rigatoni?

Jay Franze:

Coast of Tiffany. Alright. Q U E S O T A N I.

Tiffany Mason:

K-S something. How do you know it's Italian?

Jay Franze:

I just know.

Tiffany Mason:

No, it's Spanish.

Jay Franze:

I'm Italian. I know. That's Spanish.

Tiffany Mason:

I'm Spanish. It's Spanish.

Jay Franze:

Alright. This person says Blue Valentine by Tom Waits. I don't know if you know Tom Waits. Tom Waits is kind of cool. Gravelly son and singer.

Tiffany Mason:

I do not.

Jay Franze:

Okay. People are killing me tonight. I'm gonna go with Neil. P-N-E-A-L G-R-I-N-D S-T-O-N-E.

Tiffany Mason:

Neil Girlstone.

Jay Franze:

Grindstone.

Tiffany Mason:

Neil Grindstone. P Neil Grindstone.

Jay Franze:

Alright. Says, what do you mean by best?

SPEAKER_05:

Neil.

Tiffany Mason:

The best. The top. The pinnacle. What do you mean? We're mostest favoritists.

Jay Franze:

That's why I wrote back and said, your favorite. Kyle says, any album with the artist's face staring into my soul is automatically disqualified.

SPEAKER_05:

I like him.

Jay Franze:

Oh, Maya Project Music. Thank you, Miss Maya Project Music. As always, I appreciate you being here. She says, Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd. Yep. She's a Pink Floyd fan, for sure. All right. Tony says, Kiss Alive. Well, it's a cool album cover. I don't know if I would call it the best. And it's one of those things too, where we mentioned earlier about being timeless.

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah.

Jay Franze:

That doesn't seem timeless to me.

Tiffany Mason:

No. That's time warp.

Jay Franze:

Dave Jackson, previous guest of the show. Dave, I like your humor. Dave says, Spinal tap, smell the glove.

SPEAKER_04:

Yikes.

Jay Franze:

Do you know who spinal tap is?

Tiffany Mason:

Nope. I'm stuck on smell the glove.

SPEAKER_05:

Yikes. Is this a doctor's glove? Is this a leather glove? Where's the glove been?

Jay Franze:

Yes, it is kind of like a rubber glove going under woman's nose. Lord knows where it's been.

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah.

Jay Franze:

Keith. Keith Sensing. I will say his name because, well, I don't really care. Keith Sensing, 342 Main Street, Las Vegas, Nevada.

SPEAKER_05:

Nevada.

Jay Franze:

He says Genesis. A trick of the tale.

Tiffany Mason:

I like that one a lot.

Jay Franze:

You do, huh?

Tiffany Mason:

Mm-hmm.

Jay Franze:

It's his favorite. He's mentioned it several times before, but it's not my favorite.

Tiffany Mason:

No, I'm a pretty big fan of that.

Jay Franze:

Oh.

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah.

Jay Franze:

John. John says kiss creatures of the night.

Tiffany Mason:

That looks cool too.

Jay Franze:

Really?

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah, I like the eyes glowing.

Jay Franze:

Oh man. Not my thing.

Tiffany Mason:

Not my thing, but it's definitely creative.

Jay Franze:

Oh, it's not my thing. I said it's not my thing.

Tiffany Mason:

Dang. Although our friend wouldn't like it because they are kind of staring into my soul, but it's all four of them.

Jay Franze:

Who said that? Kyle? Was that Kyle?

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah.

Jay Franze:

Kathy. Miss Kathy says Leonard Skinard.

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah. Like it. Pretty creative. I'm going to screw up the order. I'm going to pull rank and I'm going to say though.

Jay Franze:

Whose rank?

Tiffany Mason:

I am over-ranking you.

Jay Franze:

Why are you pulling?

Tiffany Mason:

I was going to say Luke Combs because I like that it looks kind of like stained glass. And that is kind of the vibe that this is giving off is stained glass.

Jay Franze:

Okay. If you say so.

Tiffany Mason:

I say so. And I'm the authority right now.

Jay Franze:

So Michael, thank you for being here yet again. Here every week. I appreciate it. He says this is another very tough question. But stumping him. He has got a couple suggestions.

Tiffany Mason:

Okay.

Jay Franze:

One, he said, Kiss Destroyer.

Tiffany Mason:

Okay.

Jay Franze:

I don't know if you're a fan of Kiss Destroyer or not. Again, to me, it's a dated thing.

Tiffany Mason:

I like that all the dudes have abs and platform heels.

Jay Franze:

And then the other one he says is Journey's Escape.

Tiffany Mason:

Huh.

Jay Franze:

Now, I don't know if you are aware of this, but all of their album covers kind of tie together. That's what they're all kind of like this spaceship that is designed after a Beatle. As much as I love Journey, I don't think it's the best album cover ever.

Tiffany Mason:

No. I do think though it would provoke me to search it up and ask if there's a story behind there.

Jay Franze:

Yeah, it's in their documentary.

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah, I think that like if I had bought their albums and I noticed, like, oh, this thing's always on there, I'd be like, okay, what's going on here? And I like a through line in the fan.

Jay Franze:

Yeah. Alright, Scott says, Rush, Grace Under Pressure. Mandy. Thank you for being here, Mandy. You've been here once or twice before, but I do appreciate you being here. She says, Led Zeppelin, Houses of the Holy. Now, technically, she just said House of the Holy, but we know what she meant.

Tiffany Mason:

We know what she meant.

Jay Franze:

They got in trouble for that album cover.

Tiffany Mason:

Is that right?

Jay Franze:

Yeah.

Tiffany Mason:

We got some naked chicks, make naked blondes.

Jay Franze:

Yeah.

Tiffany Mason:

Not like voluptuous, like maybe pedic pedophilia.

Jay Franze:

Three or four years old.

Tiffany Mason:

Art is in the eye of the beholder.

Jay Franze:

In this case, art is in the eye of the beholder. June, thank you for joining us again. She says, hmm, this is hard.

SPEAKER_05:

That's what she said.

Jay Franze:

It is what she said. James. I love James. He says, dark side of the moon.

Tiffany Mason:

Yep. I got a lot of votes for Pink Floyd.

Jay Franze:

Yeah. Gary says King Crimson.

Tiffany Mason:

You were close.

Jay Franze:

Not even close.

Tiffany Mason:

Oh. Yeah, he's got a red glow to him, so crimsony.

Jay Franze:

Yeah.

Tiffany Mason:

But I don't like that we can see up the nostrils.

Jay Franze:

I think we can see the brain.

Tiffany Mason:

That bothers me.

Jay Franze:

You would think I'd be able to say crimson since that was the school colors.

Tiffany Mason:

I always think, you know, because Hannah was in cheer or is in cheer. And I would think, like, you know, gold and crimson. Well, I guess it's not too hard to say. We have a school down here that has maroon. Ain't no consonants in that word, hardly. You know, just bulk up on the M. Maroon. Like, no, you can't. It's tough. And you can't understand what the girls are saying initially. Thank God they got the little card, you know, so they're like gold and maroon. Too many syllables, not enough strong confidence.

SPEAKER_05:

Yeah.

Jay Franze:

No, I will say the first car I ever owned was maroon.

SPEAKER_05:

Is that right?

Jay Franze:

1983 maroon Nissan Central.

SPEAKER_05:

Dang. It was not crimson.

Jay Franze:

I like crimson.

Tiffany Mason:

Did you feel like crimson was gonna feel bad? You had to wrap up the conversation, like, oh no, no, but I like crimson.

Jay Franze:

I do, I love it. It's my favorite.

Tiffany Mason:

You just wanted to feel bad. Oh, now you love it.

Jay Franze:

It's my favorite. It's the pinnacle. I like red and black are my two favorite colors.

SPEAKER_05:

No. Seriously? I'm not lying. I could not tell. I couldn't tell.

Jay Franze:

Anthony, thank you for being here. I do appreciate you being here. You are the best. You are the pinnacle. You are something.

SPEAKER_05:

The goat.

Jay Franze:

He says, Well, best is very subjective.

SPEAKER_05:

I saw a power washing company today. And it was called Goat Power Washing. And goat, for whatever reason, I still I always have to pause and be like, oh yeah, greatest of all time.

Tiffany Mason:

And then I was like, Yeah. I was like, wait, that's kind of impressive or amazing that somebody was like kind of thinking outside the box. I mean, not too far, but you know, to call it the goat power washing company, I was like, okay, kudos. Well played.

Jay Franze:

No, I will say the goat made it into the dictionary. Stop. Okay, and now they're trying to get it removed from the dictionary. Dumbest thing ever.

Tiffany Mason:

Tella.

Jay Franze:

Anyways, Anthony says ghost.

Tiffany Mason:

Ghost, not goat, ghost. Well, it looks very intricate.

Jay Franze:

It looks kind of like this one looks industrial, the other one looks like it's out of a Harry Potter movie.

Tiffany Mason:

Yes. Oh my god. Nailed it.

Jay Franze:

I like that. That's how you break a pelvis. Yeah. By nailing it.

Tiffany Mason:

You already told me that's not how it happened. So I can't try to explain that.

Jay Franze:

Trust me, it's not how it happened. Jess says Pink Floyd wins because no one can explain the cover. But everybody agrees it's brilliant.

Tiffany Mason:

I think it's like such a simple concept. You know, sometimes it's those really simple things, but it's it's bending light. Like it's just such a cool concept that is so hard to wrap your brain around.

Jay Franze:

Ben says if you can recognize it from 50 feet away, it wins. We got a pause for a minute because your mother says I'm smart. I don't know why she's saying it, but we have to pause to mention it for sure.

Tiffany Mason:

You are smart. You graduated from Harvard, so and University of Queensland.

Jay Franze:

I did not graduate from Harvard, let's be clear.

Tiffany Mason:

You attended.

Jay Franze:

It was Harvard Business School. I went through their core program.

Tiffany Mason:

And you were a professor at the audio engineering school.

Jay Franze:

That's right. I'm Wicked Smart.

Tiffany Mason:

You are Wicked Smot.

Jay Franze:

Wicked Smart. Thank you, Kathy.

Tiffany Mason:

Yes.

Jay Franze:

All right. I'm going to stop there because I thought that was funny. And then I'm going to ask you to provide your choice.

Tiffany Mason:

Well, I thought we were going to stay country. And if we stayed country, then I was going to say Luke Combs. This one's for you. The one that looks like stained glass. Because I think that's kind of cool. Even though I don't love it, I love the idea that it's like supposed to be stained glass.

Jay Franze:

Hold on, I got Rockalooch bitching at me.

SPEAKER_04:

Oh, oh.

Jay Franze:

She says you did not say mine.

SPEAKER_04:

Come on, Jay.

Jay Franze:

I did not say hers. She pressed. Because she said mine. And I thought that was a joke.

Tiffany Mason:

Oh.

Jay Franze:

Rocalooch says, Franzi, those were the days. And she says she likes it because it looks like it could be a Disney animation.

SPEAKER_05:

Oh.

Jay Franze:

Now, this picture was actually designed by a Disney animator.

Tiffany Mason:

Oh. How about that?

Jay Franze:

So, there you go. Rocalooch. Your assumption was somewhat correct.

Tiffany Mason:

How about that? Good job, Rocaluoch.

Jay Franze:

Peter DeLuca. Peter DeLuca did all the I'm assuming he still does. I haven't talked to him in a long time. But Peter DeLuca did all of the early animated movies for Disney. And he just happened to be my neighbor. And when this album was coming together, he offered to do the animation.

Tiffany Mason:

Stop.

Jay Franze:

That is 100% pencil, 100% freehand, and I have I have the original. It's a pretty large size drawing. And on the back it says how many hours it took him to do it.

Tiffany Mason:

Oh wow.

Jay Franze:

Yes, very impressive.

Tiffany Mason:

Mm-hmm.

Jay Franze:

Now I'm gonna give you my choice.

Tiffany Mason:

Okay, lay it on me.

Jay Franze:

Well, watch yourself. Now James came in close here, so he mentioned rat out of the cellar. This is Tawny Catane. I don't know if you know who Tawny Catane is, but she was a model back in the 80s. James said rat out of the cellar, which is close to mine. I said rat invasion of your privacy.

Tiffany Mason:

You guys just like looking at hot chicks from the 80s.

Jay Franze:

We do, yes. I agree. Like Tawny Katane is hot, and this girl from Invasion of Your Privacy, I forget her name. She was a penthouse playmate.

Tiffany Mason:

You want her to invade your privacy.

Jay Franze:

I would love for her to invade my privacy. Sorry, wife. If you're listening, it's not my mom.

Tiffany Mason:

Apologize to my mom.

Jay Franze:

Sorry, Miss Kathy. In my mind, I picture you sitting here at this. Anywho, to me, it's the imagery of the thing. Yes, the chick's hot, but it's something about invasion of your privacy, and you got the window doors open to the night and all that stuff.

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah.

Jay Franze:

I thought it was a cool album cover.

Tiffany Mason:

But why does she only have a twin-size bed?

Jay Franze:

Good question.

Tiffany Mason:

Come on.

Jay Franze:

I don't know. Maybe she what I mean. It looks like the vanity in my three-year-old's room, so I mean the whole thing is kind of small for the girl.

SPEAKER_05:

Not to scale.

Jay Franze:

Not to say that's got a giant ass speaker in the corner. Maybe this isn't the best album cover ever.

SPEAKER_05:

I don't think that's giant.

Jay Franze:

Well, compared to the vanity. The speaker is almost the same size as the vanity.

SPEAKER_05:

It's completely out of proportion.

Jay Franze:

Oh, you know what we should do though? What? We should talk about the the countdown. All right. Let's start at number 10.

Tiffany Mason:

Do you want to start with Hudson Westbrook?

Jay Franze:

No, I want to start with number 10. Okay. Let's go home.

Tiffany Mason:

Hudson Westbrook with House again.

Jay Franze:

Oh, House again.

Tiffany Mason:

Actually, remember last week we had spots like two, three, and four or one, two, three, and four all stay the same. This time it is spots eight, nine, and ten. So ten was ten last week. Nine, which was nine last week, is Blake Shelton. Stay country or die trying.

Jay Franze:

That's why I say I like, but it's got a few cheesy lines in it.

unknown:

Yeah.

Tiffany Mason:

I'm okay without it.

Jay Franze:

Oh, now you're okay with it.

Tiffany Mason:

No, said I'm okay without it.

Jay Franze:

Oh. I was gonna say all of a sudden now you're okay with it.

Tiffany Mason:

No.

Jay Franze:

Let's move on. Hey, who's that number numero? Numeroo.

Tiffany Mason:

It is my favorite, Miss Megan Moroni. Six months later.

Jay Franze:

You know what doesn't kill you?

Tiffany Mason:

Makes you blonde and stronger and hotter.

Jay Franze:

Sad part is you keep saying it, so now every time I hear the song, that's all I can do.

SPEAKER_05:

I love it for you.

Jay Franze:

I appreciate you so much.

SPEAKER_05:

I know. Spot number seven. Is that your favorite country song?

Jay Franze:

It's not my favorite, but I do like it.

SPEAKER_05:

It's pretty clever.

Tiffany Mason:

I mean, it it reels me in every time. I don't want to like it, but every time I sing along. Chase Matthew was in spot one. He's gone all the way up to six, which it's a hell of a fall. I just think it's funny that like you're from so much more of the music world, so you know how long songs used to stay on the charts. I think that a normal shelf life on the charts is three to four weeks.

Jay Franze:

Or your shelf life is up.

SPEAKER_05:

Gots to go. We got new music coming in. You gotta go.

Tiffany Mason:

So it does not surprise me, but it does make me sad because I am a big fan of Chase Matthews' song, Darlin.

unknown:

Darlin.

Tiffany Mason:

Darlin. And Mr. Tucker Wetmore with 321 is in spot five from spot seven. Now the next two, they're holding their own. Spot four was spot four and is still spot four. Parmalee, cowgirl.

Jay Franze:

I will say I like it more than I did when it first came out, but still not my favorite.

Tiffany Mason:

I I like it. I like it. It's got me sing along, dancing in my car seat. Yep, I like it. Spot number three is Mr. Riley Green, featuring Miss Ella Langley. Don't mind if I do. And I mean, it's the number one song in the 25 that influenced 25. We've seen it all over social media. I mean, it's a big deal. It's a good song.

SPEAKER_03:

It's alright.

Tiffany Mason:

It's a good song. We can't help it. Spot number two is Mr. Parker McCollum with What Kind of Man? And spot number one, Miss Laney Wilson, somewhere over Laredo.

Jay Franze:

You know, we didn't do any sound effects today, and I'm okay with that, but Ms. Kathy might get upset with us. Just saying, give her a little bit of applause.

Tiffany Mason:

Oh. Just a little bit.

Jay Franze:

Just a little bit of applause.

Tiffany Mason:

Okay, moving on to the indie charts. We have in spot number 10 Three Sheets to the Wind by Kelly and Sarah. And their music label is very creatively labeled Kelly and Sarah Music. Good job, girls.

Jay Franze:

Wonder how they get signed.

Tiffany Mason:

Spot number nine is Smells Like Whiskey by Jesse G. And she too has a very creative record label name, Jesse G Music.

Jay Franze:

No, to be fair, those are probably the publishing company. They probably own their publishing.

Tiffany Mason:

Right. But still. Let's you know, a little creativity. Okay. So spot number eight.

Jay Franze:

We say here on the Jay Franzi show. Let's call that out there. Can't cast too many stuff.

Tiffany Mason:

I didn't name it.

Jay Franze:

No, you weren't around at the time, but you know.

Tiffany Mason:

No, no. Okay, spot number eight. Umcho. Said no redneck ever.

Jay Franze:

No, no redneck ever said ocho.

SPEAKER_05:

I don't think they have. They say eight. Redneck say eight.

Jay Franze:

We're only getting away with it because you're a redneck.

Tiffany Mason:

Says in my song to my sister, she loves the redneck in me. All right, number eight. Said no redneck ever by Aaron Goodwin. Now, his is better. New Motor Records, Warner Music Canada.

Jay Franze:

Okay, I can go with that one.

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah, a little bit, a little bit more.

Jay Franze:

Oh, at least that one says records, so yeah.

Tiffany Mason:

Okay, number seven, pure fume on my jersey. Perfume on my jersey by Caleb Lathrop by Cal Productions. I mean, it's a little bit more creative. Wasn't Caleb, it's Cal. Number six is Life's Highway by Soul Circus Cowboys and Andy Griggs.

Jay Franze:

I got nothing to say about that one.

Tiffany Mason:

I know you normally say Kismet. I didn't know.

Jay Franze:

I figured we played it to death. I don't need to do it that much.

Tiffany Mason:

Spot number five is Wish You Wouldn't Go by Ken Domash.

Jay Franze:

Yeah, I'm not doing that one either.

Tiffany Mason:

Spot number four is Second Hand Smoke by Alex Miller. Now his record label is Billy Jam Records.

Jay Franze:

So Billy Does Jam.

Tiffany Mason:

Spot number three, holding its own. Red by Jet Jurgensmeier. And spot number two is Hell That I Call Home by Porter Martin.

Jay Franze:

Oh, wait, that's not number one. Sorry.

Tiffany Mason:

And in spot number one, we have our girl, Billy Joe Jones, with turquoise and silver.

Jay Franze:

She gets all the applause.

Tiffany Mason:

Times two, times five.

Jay Franze:

Oh do it again.

Tiffany Mason:

Okay.

Jay Franze:

She's our girl.

SPEAKER_05:

She's our girl.

Jay Franze:

She's part of the family.

SPEAKER_05:

That's right.

Jay Franze:

All right. Mailbag. Rocalooch says, Can I just say thank you for not yelling at me? Oh so many shows these days feel like the hosts are full of caffeine.

Tiffany Mason:

Wow. You are welcome.

Jay Franze:

Thank you, Rockalooch. You think that's why she's here tonight? She wanted to see her mailbag get read.

Tiffany Mason:

She wants to see her mailbag get read. Plus, the production is pretty good.

Jay Franze:

Virtually you.

Tiffany Mason:

No, it's not.

Jay Franze:

Virtually you, Tiffany Mason. All right. Fantastic. Moving on. Gary says, Jay, I like that you share your experience without an ego. Thanks, Gary.

Tiffany Mason:

I do too.

Jay Franze:

There is no ego to be had.

Tiffany Mason:

I think you could have an ego about some stuff.

Jay Franze:

No ego to be had.

Tiffany Mason:

I know. You're so humble.

Jay Franze:

Yeah, sure. Tiffany has great energy. Sarah with an H.

Tiffany Mason:

Hashtag facts. I don't. That's the commentary I need to add to that.

Jay Franze:

Sad facts?

Tiffany Mason:

True facts.

Jay Franze:

Oh, true facts. That makes more sense. Long haul Dan.

Tiffany Mason:

Long haul Danny's back.

Jay Franze:

Yes. Long haul Dan says, What advice would you give artists who feel too old for new platforms but still want to stay relevant?

SPEAKER_05:

Go for it.

Jay Franze:

Dan, are you old?

SPEAKER_05:

Go for it. Who cares?

Jay Franze:

Keep doing it.

SPEAKER_05:

It's available for everybody.

Jay Franze:

It is. I understand like some of these social platforms, you know, your TikToks and so forth, don't feel comfortable for somebody that's older, but there's a lot of older people who are successful on the platform. Again, it's one of those things, it's what you make of it. Now, I'm assuming Long Haul Dan is a trucker. I think I can tie that together. But share your life. Share what you got going on. Share your time on the road. You know, and if you're an artist, like it says here, share where you are, what you're doing, and then pull out the guitar and play a song. I think that would do great. Tell the stories of what you're seeing on the road. You know, I've spent a little bit of time on the road, not as a trucker, but I've spent a little bit of time on the road. And stories are endless. Tell us some stories. Those are the best things.

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah, I mean, in your book, you talk about connecting with your audience authentically. And I think that's how you do it. I mean, think about what I'm saying about Laney Wilson. The reason why I love her so much is because she's sharing so much in social media. And so it could be the same thing. And I find that people really love an underdog story or like a journey story. So, you know, there's the guy that's going across the United States because he's supporting a cause, and then everybody follows his journey, you know, or I don't know, there's there's just lots of underdog stories like that, or people doing something for a cause or whatever. And I think people just enjoy watching somebody's journey. I mean, I love me some reality TV. It ain't nothing exciting going on on reality TV, but I can't help it. Like I just find people so interesting. And so you just never know who's watching, who's gonna hear it, and you never know who knows who. So I say do it.

Jay Franze:

My wife used to laugh at me when when we first met. I used to watch keeping up with the Kardashians.

Tiffany Mason:

Oh, love it. I knew I loved you, Jay.

Jay Franze:

Man, oh see, clip that producer.

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah.

Jay Franze:

Clip that, please. All right, Mark, not the mark, but a mark says the industry talks about authenticity nonstop, but yet why does it still reward people who look the part?

Tiffany Mason:

Because at the end of the day, we still want someone who looks the part.

Jay Franze:

I mean at the end of the day, the record labels are in to make money, so they can sell somebody who looks the part. You know, the the best example I have of that, which is very sad, is the band Heart. You know, they some of the best musicians and best rock band is just awesome, but they had a hard time getting record labels to promote them or do anything because Anne, the singer, Ann Wilson, gained a little bit of weight and they didn't like that. And they also tried to promote them like their sisters, and they tried to promote them in a you know sexual way, and they're like, We're sisters, we're not posing or doing things like this.

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah, I think it's like everything else though, right? Like uh it's like the highlight reel. So you are gonna like Lainey Wilson is authentic on social media, but then when she takes the stage, she's got her persona or her like that's just what she wears when she's on stage. But then she shows her real side on social media. So I think it's both of the things that it's rewarded because that's who they are on stage, just like Taylor Swift, right? Like she's going to the football games with the Kansas City jersey on and whatever, but then her stage presence is you know, glitz and glam and changing up the microphone six million times.

Jay Franze:

Sarah, Sarah with an H. Sorry, Sarah. I told you I'll do it every time. Sarah with an H. We don't have a music problem, we have a patience problem.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah.

Jay Franze:

Fair statement. I agree. All right, we're gonna end it on this one. Michelle says, I appreciate that you two call out the nonsense without sounding bitter.

SPEAKER_04:

Oh fair. We are glassy, Jay.

Jay Franze:

Nice, huh? And then I've got one final thing for for our segments here. That was the last one I was gonna read. But if you would like to be like James, and if you would like to submit an audio clip for us, you can do that over at jfranzy.com. You can click on contact and you can send us your audio feedback. So let's find out what James has to say.

SPEAKER_00:

Hey, this is James. This one may have been asked before, but I'm curious about if you could see a concert anywhere, where would it be? What would the venue be? What would the place be?

Tiffany Mason:

Hmm.

SPEAKER_00:

Nice.

Tiffany Mason:

I'd say somewhere indoors. I'm a big fan of climate control.

Jay Franze:

I'm with you. I mean, I'm with you for sure. I just saw Cindy Lauper outdoors and It was brutal. I mean, yeah.

SPEAKER_05:

I mean, I live in Florida, okay? So I'm looking for some climate control.

Jay Franze:

I mean, if you want to be like, you know, Red Rocks outdoors in the natural venue would be awesome.

Tiffany Mason:

I've never been, but it looks stupid cool.

Jay Franze:

Yeah, it would be very cool. I was talking to my daughter about this the other day. I prefer arenas. I prefer the arenas. I prefer indoor. And I want it to be big enough to feel like a concert. Yeah. But indoors where it's climate controlled, and I get all the other stuff too. But yeah, I like arenas. So an arena that sounds good. I know that's a ridiculous thing to say. Every audio engineer in the world just hit stop on our show. But yes, arenas are tough to make sound good people because they're pretty much all hard surfaces everywhere. So every sound reflects everywhere. And the engineer does sound check and gets everything all dialed in to sound just great. And then when the show starts, the people flood into the arena.

SPEAKER_03:

Let's say F it up.

Jay Franze:

The people flood into the arena, which does F it up because now the people act like a sound absorber.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah.

Jay Franze:

Because they're soft. Some like myself might be a little softer than others. However, then the audio engineer has to go ahead and then tweak the sound throughout the show based on how many people are in the show or the arena and whether or not they're wearing jackets or anything else. It really is a science, people. James, I appreciate your question. What I appreciate, James, is that you actually did an audio one. That's pretty cool. He found that on his own. We don't ever promote that. So if you're stumbling around our website and you do go to the contact page, the very first thing to do there is leave a message.

SPEAKER_04:

Yes.

Jay Franze:

So click on it, leave us a message. We'd love to hear your voice, Miss Kathy. Uh-huh. Talk slow, girl. All right. What's going on? Let's see. Let's start with Miss Presley Tennant.

SPEAKER_04:

Ooh. Hey.

Jay Franze:

Presley Tennant, Anaheim, California. California A.

Tiffany Mason:

California. I like it better when you say California. Because I knew you were trying to say California. And then said you just said California. And I like it.

SPEAKER_03:

Yeah.

Tiffany Mason:

California.

Jay Franze:

Cut a little short. Anyways, yes, if you're in Anaheim, California, she was Presley Tenant. I can't say enough good things about Presley Tenant.

Tiffany Mason:

She's pretty amazing.

Jay Franze:

She is awesome. I think she was like, I don't know, one of the earlier ones. She is episode 50 or something. She was definitely, definitely a talented woman. And then who is number one on the indie charts right now?

Tiffany Mason:

Billy Joe Jones with Joe Kristen Silver.

Jay Franze:

She is in Texas. Trey Callaway. Trey Callaway is just give you a wild guess.

Tiffany Mason:

North Carolina. Nashville.

Jay Franze:

That would have been a wild guess. He is in Nashville. If you are in Nashville, check out Trey Callaway.

Tiffany Mason:

That guy keeps a full calendar.

Jay Franze:

He does. He's playing tomorrow night, Legends Corner. We, we, two of us, me and you, and two children's spent some time at Legends Corner. Yes.

Tiffany Mason:

Right next to Tootsie's.

Jay Franze:

Right next to Tootsie's.

Tiffany Mason:

Look at you. Man. I remember.

Jay Franze:

And then on the 19th, my niece's birthday, he will be playing over at the local. That one will be live streamed.

Tiffany Mason:

Oh, cool.

Jay Franze:

And then the 20th, he will be playing at Alan Jackson's Good Time Bar.

Tiffany Mason:

Oh, that's cool too.

Jay Franze:

I like the fact that in between bigger shows, Trey plays Broadway. So you get to see him for free, too. So very cool. Alright. We mentioned the Oak Ridge Boys. They are playing tonight. Tonight in Indiana. Tomorrow in Indiana. Friday in Ohio. Friday in Ohio. Wellington. That's far away from me. That's the other side of Ohio, but I would do it to see Scotty. Scotty Simpson, bass player for the Oak Ridge Boys. He was on episode number three, if I'm remembering correctly. I don't know why my memory's working tonight.

SPEAKER_04:

I don't know, but it is working pretty good for you.

Jay Franze:

Who knew? Maybe it's the drugs.

SPEAKER_04:

I don't think so.

Jay Franze:

Oh, yeah, that's right. You gotta take drugs for that. Alright, anyways. Yes. And then Saturday, they're going to Michigan.

SPEAKER_04:

Oh snap.

Jay Franze:

And then Wednesday, Texas. Thursday, Texas. Friday, Texas. Billy Joe. It's a big state. Just saying.

Tiffany Mason:

It's a big state.

Jay Franze:

It is. They start in Dallas. Work their way down.

Tiffany Mason:

Wow.

Jay Franze:

And then let's go ahead and end it with Mr. Will Wesley.

SPEAKER_03:

Ooh.

Jay Franze:

Mr. Will Wesley will be in Mississippi. He'll be in Louisiana. He'll be back to Mississippi. And then back to Louisiana.

Tiffany Mason:

Oh. Why wouldn't you just hit them all when you're in one state?

Jay Franze:

I don't know. Granted, I know they're right next to each other, so it's not like they're far. Ooh, and he's playing um, I will not not even come close, be able to pronounce that place, but it's a casino. Oh. In Baton Rouge. He's playing a casino in Baton Rouge. That'd be cool. That'd be a cool venue to see.

Tiffany Mason:

I don't think I've ever seen a concert in a casino.

Jay Franze:

No.

Tiffany Mason:

Mm-mm.

Jay Franze:

Being uh a Bostonian, the closest casino we had to us was in Connecticut, is Mohegan Sun. And I growing up there, I'd left for college and stuff before I was old enough to go to the casino. But then we did a tour in this tour stopped at the Mohegan Sun and we played their opening for Phil Vassar.

Tiffany Mason:

Oh, nice.

Jay Franze:

So not only did we get to go to Mohegan Sun, but I got to see Phil Vassar again. If we tie that back to my original story. 1999, when I first moved to Nashville, I got to work with Keith Irvin and Phil Vassar, and I made Phil Vassar upset.

SPEAKER_05:

Jay, you fired.

Jay Franze:

I'd hit the button, but that's 16 screens away at this point. All right, my friend. Um, what do you have going on this weekend?

Tiffany Mason:

Well, I am very excited. I am gonna go check out a very merry Christmas ball tomorrow night. And um, you guys may remember the story when I told you that I was going to boot scoot and bourbon. It's in the same venue, which is really cool. And then how they set up the performers is there's like basically you know how they do like the stage in the round. Well, this would be called like in the rectangle. So there's seats all around, but it's not a very big venue, so there's not a bad seat in the house, and they just sing, they're gonna sing all kinds of Christmas songs. I'm very excited. My husband is coming with me, and I feel very torn about that because I want him to fangirl with me. I want him to be like, he's not going to. I want him to be like, ooh, that costume's cool, or I love all the sparkle on there, or you know, whatever. But he's gonna sit calmly and watch and observe and analyze, and that's gonna be the entire time. I am gonna be sitting next to him, obnoxious, singing every song, dancing along, and like really getting into it. And so we'll see how it all turns out. I am feeling a little torn about it because I want someone to go and like get after it with me, but I feel like it's important to spend time with my husband, and so you think yeah, so I'm excited to be going with him. I'm excited that we don't like go do very many like I don't know, exciting things together. I mean, we do, but we don't like like shows. Okay. Um, we do exciting things, but not like shows. Anyway, so I'm excited about it. It's kind of pulling him into my world a little bit, and I think we'll have fun. And then uh tomorrow I have a new episode coming out on Memories of the Beat. I interviewed Dan Stewart. Let me tell you, this guy's voice. I could listen to this guy like read the phone book. I mean, I love his voice. So it's been a pleasure to edit it. It was a pleasure to speak to him. We're actually working on a couple of other things together, which is really fun. But he chose the song Mighty KC by Foursquirel, which nobody probably knows this group because they're out of Florida. And remember, we talked about Von Ray like right on the cusp of breaking through and like becoming a big name that everybody would have known. And then Napster and streaming and everything came along and kind of crushed that that piece of um the industry. Well, these guys uh were up in New York, they were performing, they too were getting a lot of notoriety, and they actually got in a bad accident on the way back, and three of the four founding band members died in that car accident. And so it he found the music. No, he found the music after they had already passed away after the accident, and the drummer and one of the other guys actually formed a new band, but he just really loved the music, and he was like, you know, it's just a song that stuck with me. And I thought it was a great interview. He had a lot to provide to the conversation, and honestly, he could have told me the dumbest story because I just loved his voice so much.

Jay Franze:

Mr.

SPEAKER_05:

Mason.

Jay Franze:

All right, over at Laurie's Roadhouse this weekend.

SPEAKER_05:

Yes.

Jay Franze:

The Chris Allen Cruthers Band.

SPEAKER_05:

Say that five times fast, Jay.

Jay Franze:

The Chris Allen Cruthers Band. Let's just leave it at the end.

SPEAKER_05:

I'm proud of you. I'm proud of you.

Jay Franze:

And then on Saturday you have shoot 'em straight.

SPEAKER_05:

Oh gosh.

Jay Franze:

No. I think I think shoot 'em straight would be the way I'm gonna go this weekend. Yeah. I don't know. Chris looks to be fair, I've have not heard of either of these people. Chris kind of looks like um like a Trey Calloway.

Tiffany Mason:

Oh.

Jay Franze:

Man, guitar, beard, hat.

Tiffany Mason:

Yep. Pretty pretty traditional.

Jay Franze:

Shoot 'em straight looks like four guys that I wouldn't want to mess with. Their logo is a skull with two guns and a cowboy hat.

Tiffany Mason:

This is definitely more Jay's speed.

Jay Franze:

An American flag hanging behind him.

Tiffany Mason:

Yeah. Yeah. I see why you're choosing that one.

Jay Franze:

So you know, that might be the way I would go. We'll see.

Tiffany Mason:

Okay. Fair enough.

unknown:

All right.

Tiffany Mason:

Sounds like an exciting weekend.

Jay Franze:

Well, with that said, shall we try to land this thing? I say try.

Tiffany Mason:

Yes. Mayday. Mayday.

Jay Franze:

Once again, try.

SPEAKER_04:

Try.

Jay Franze:

All right, folks. We have done it. We have reached the top of the hour, which doesn't mean we have reached the end of the show. If you've enjoyed what you've heard here tonight, please tell a friend. Tell a friend, Miss Tiffany, if you have not.

SPEAKER_05:

Tell too. Be the town crier.

Jay Franze:

You can reach out to both of us over at jfranzi.com. We will be happy to keep conversations going. I don't know if we'd want to keep this one going, but we will keep a conversation going. You can talk to us about anything you want. Ask us more questions. We like the questions. Talk to us, whatever you'd like to do. You can do that and find all of our socials over at jfranzi.com. J-y-f-r-an-z-e.com. Miss Divy, please tell us some final words.

Tiffany Mason:

Well, crew members, thank you so much for joining us. It's been another great episode, and we appreciate you tuning in, being part of it. And I hope that you guys have an awesome week. We'll see you on Monday, and we'll uh have some more fun.

Jay Franze:

That's it. You don't?

Tiffany Mason:

That's it. We're gonna have some more fun on Monday.

Jay Franze:

More fun. On that note, folks, have a good night. Thanks for listening to the Jay Franzi Show. Make sure you visit us at jayfranzi.com. Follow, connect, and say hello.

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Jay Franze

Host
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Tiffany Mason

Co-host