Your Daily Dose of The Oak Ridge Boys

Watch them performing their hit "Seven Nation Army" from their new CD The Boys Are Back. It's even better live than on the CD, and personally, I didn't think that was possible.

Oak Ridge Boys tackle White Stripes on new album

By JOHN GEROME – 3 hours ago

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The melody is dark, ominous and unmistakable to any rock fan: "Seven Nation Army" by the White Stripes. But this isn't Jack and Meg White. It's the Oak Ridge Boys. The vocal quartet best known for their country and gospel songs get edgy on their new CD, "The Boys Are Back." Besides the White Stripes, the Oaks cover John Lee Hooker ("Boom, Boom") and Neil Young ("Beautiful Bluebird").

"If there's something I could compare this to it would be what Johnny Cash did in the later part of his career," bass Richard Sterban said recently of Cash's recordings with rock/rap producer Rick Rubin. "I think the approach we used was very similar to that."

The quartet isn't totally going rock. The album has plenty of gospel and country songs, too, including tunes penned by Jamey Johnson and Shooter Jennings. Jennings, the son of the late Waylon Jennings and a country rocker in his own right, initiated the project. He invited them to sing with him on his 2007 album "The Wolf," introduced them to his producer, David Cobb, and asked them to perform at one of his shows.

"The place was jam packed with kids, much younger than we normally draw at this stage of our career," Sterban recalled. "We did 'Elvira' (their 1981 hit) and the kids knew every word. They were signing 'Oom papa mow mow' along with me.'" Pretty soon the group was heading into the studio with Cobb, who had them improvising, experimenting with different sounds and covering songs they never would have thought of.

"He challenged us," Sterban said. "At this stage of our career, we figured why not? We have nothing to lose." The move isn't completely out of step for the Oak Ridge Boys, which also include Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall and William Lee Golden. They began as a gospel group, crossed over to country and pop and recorded with artists as diverse as Ray Charles, Paul Simon, Johnny Cash and Brenda Lee.

Still, with songs like "Seven Nation Army," they're catching fans off guard at their shows.
"A lot of times they'll sit there with their mouths open. They can't believe we're doing this," Sterban said. And that's a good thing, Sterban said, because it shows the Oaks can still surprise — including themselves. "When I did 'Boom, Boom,' it was probably the most fun I'd ever had recording," Sterban said. "I'm a pretty straight-laced guy. But I was improvising and adding licks and having a bunch of fun."

The Oak Ridge Boys Get Into Military Formation

Another GREAT review for "Seven Nation Army" by the OAKS! Read it

Another Great Review of Seven Nation Army

..."Seven Nation Army," a remake of the White Stripes song written by Jack White, that crowd should certainly pay attention to the Oaks. Because if this song is an indication in what to expect from the vocal quartet and their upcoming album "The Boys Are Back," then their album is going to be one of the biggest surprises of 2009... Click the logo below for the full review!

THE BOYS ARE BACK!!!

The Oak Ridge Boys opening number "The Boys Are Back" from the upcoming same-titled album, due out May 19th.

The Oak Ridge Boys Rock Like Jack White

by Nashville Tennessean staff writers Dave Paulson and Cindy Watts
Apr 27, 2009
The Oak Ridge Boys' upcoming album, The Boys Are Back, features songs written by Shooter Jennings and Jamey Johnson, but there's another, unlikely name that factors into the album's track list: rock duo The White Stripes.
Full Tennessean article here...

Hell freezes over and in related news, The Oak Ridge Boys cover The White Stripes

Sometimes a new blog post just drops into your lap, like a gift from rock and roll heaven, hurled downward by Rock and Roll Jesus his self.
Such is the case with today’s post. I’m sitting here, and an email pops into my box that says “New Release from Oak Ridge Boys - Seven Nation Army.”
No way. Read the rest here

More Press for The Oaks!

QVC® TO HOST A HALF-HOUR ALBUM SPECIAL WITH THE OAK RIDGE BOYS APRIL 29TH
Apr 24, 2009

Oaks preview ‘The Boys Are Back’ and offer direct-to-consumer opportunity

The Oak Ridge Boys will visit the QVC studios in West Chester, PA for the first time ever on Wednesday April 29th at 7pm (ET), previewing selections from their upcoming release ‘The Boys Are Back’ (QVC Item #F07413) from Spring Hill Music Group (EMI). The all-new album is due May 19th and features songs penned by ACM Award Winner Jamey Johnson, Shooter Jennings and Jack White (The White Stripes).

Read the full story here