| The Bluebird Cafe Scrapbook | |
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When Amy Kurland opened the doors to the Bluebird Cafe, little did she know that one day it would one of the best listening rooms in country-music history. Since its opening of June 1982, the club has inspired not only a television series and numerous webcasts, but a feature film, as well ("A Thing Called Love.")
In celebration of the twentieth anniversary, Amy, along with collaborators Mark Benner and Neil Fagan, have compiled favorite memories of the first two decades from the cafe. Along with the stories, you'll find a selection of candid photographs, history and trivia. Read stories from Don Schlitz, Trisha Yearwood, Pam Tillis, Beth Neilson Chapman, Kenny Chesney, Tony Arata, Bob DiPiero, Hugh Priestwood, Garth Brooks, and many more.
Not only will you find over 150 pages of stories from singer/songwriters, you'll also find a selection of celebrity recipes. I've included two samples to whet your appetite.
Some of the interesting stories tell about how the "In the Round" concept came into being. An excerpt from the book follows, with Amy Kurland telling the story:
'Let's put four chairs in the middle of the room, facing each other, turn around the lights, and see what happens.'
Thus, in 1985, the In the Round format was born at the Bluebird Cafe. It seemed like a crazy idea at the time, but now it's the most popular format at the club. In fact, In the Round and the Bluebird have become almost synonymous. while other clubs in Nashville and around the country have adopted the idea, none have matched the intimacy and magic that happens each time we put four chairs in the middle of the room."
The first four to perform In the Round were Fred Knobloch, Don Schlitz, Thom Schuyler and Paul Overstreet. After a few times, Paul found it not to his liking, so they replaced him with Craig Bickhardt. Then, there was the Women in the Round, comprised of Tricia Walker, Pam Tillis, Ashley Cleveland, and Karen Staley. Their first performance was in November 1988. Stories include "Prom Night In the Round," when the Women in the Round ladies all dressed up in prom dresses and tiaras to perform.
Another story talks about the Gary Burr Birthday Pajama Party, which started in 1993 and has become a tradition. The performers came dressed in pajamas, and some even went so far as to come dressed in lingere. One story tells of Faith Hill in the audience on one of these events wearing flannel pajamas and little fluffy bunny slippers.
Trisha Yearwood recalls in this excerpt from the book:
The night ended up being magical and memorable, and the beginning of a wonderful career and wonderful friendship with the Bluebird. It is one of the historic sites in Music City for me and for all. I'll be someone is stepping through that door tonight, with that nervous anticipation of wondering who they'll spot, or even better, who they might meet. The dream goes on. I'm proud to be a part of it all."
But the book isn't only filled with stories from songwriters and performers. The staff of the Bluebird also have stories to tell. One from Bryan Hartman, who is a chef at the Bluebird:
Another one of my favorite chapters, seeing that I'm a big Garth Brooks fan is the one called "Where Would He Be Without Us? -- Garth and the Bluebird." It has stories about people that knew him, and were there when Lynn Shults signed him. Very interesting reading.
If you're a fan of country music, you'll really love this book. If you are a fan of songwriters, you'll love this book as well. All the stories are interesting reading and I'm looking forward to trying a couple of the celebrity recipes too.
"Rumor has it, Fred Knobloch and Don Schlitz had been drinking on the Sunday night they came into the cafe and offered up the following idea:
"Right after I signed with MCA Records in 1990, I had to do a showcase for the entire record label, of songs from the first album. I had never met half of these people, and of course I was terified. I would be doing my show at the famous Bluebird, which made me even more nervous. I remember sound check in that empty room and knew that the nervousness I felt with no one there would only be magnified by ten by the time the place filled up that evening. I had bought a pair of black leggings and a gold jacket for the occasion. I remember that I had gone to a cloth store and bought a shiny button for the coat to replace the ordinary-looking one that it had so that I would look more like an 'artist'!
"A few years back, we had a wide assortment of intellectually challenged waitresses who did not seem to grasp the notion that when I closed the kitchen for the night, it meant that the kitchen was closed, period! No more fries, no more pies, and no more latecomers! Well, one night about ten-twenty, Olivia Newton-John walked in (SANDY!). Unfortunately for her, I had shut the kitchen down twenty minutes before (we're talkin' lights off, I'm clockin' out, and I'm goin' home). Even though one of our lovely waitresses practically begged me to make Olivia an order of fries, I, in so many words, reminded her that McDonald's was still open and that the only grease Olivia was gonna see from me was my bad Rizzo impersonation."
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