Google “money” and instantly flashing on your 21-inch LCD monitor are more ways to become a high roller than you can imagine. Do the same search for “moneyland” and you get pretty much the same results — with one very notable exception.

One search result that pops up mentions McCoury Records. Surely, Del McCoury, the label’s patriarch, isn’t pitching some get-rich-quick scheme, is he?

Not to worry. This “Moneyland” is a new CD, described as “a collection of songs dealing with issues facing Rural America.” It will be released on the McCoury label on June 24.

Although the label is only now releasing advance publicity on the project, it’s sketchy background, more than a year old, touches on presidential politics. On April 23, 2007, the Wall Street Journal reported that the John Edwards Democratic presidential campaign was giving away the “Moneyland” CD to contributors who gave $50 or more. The cover of the CD being offered back then looks like a clone of the new CD that’s headed to retailers.

Fast forward a year from when the Edwards campaign was still on its feet, and McCoury has evidentally taken partisan politics out of the project. (Well, not entirely. McCoury gets a word in about the election in remarks below.) Del McCoury himself is leading the promotional campaign for the multi-artist CD, which includes some classic material and a new tune or two. He describes the project as “a timely … collection that offers a hard-hitting look at economic injustice through songs old and new.”

The CD begins and ends with excerpts from two of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Depression-era “fireside chats.”

It includes the Depression-era tune, “Breadline Blues,” recorded in 1931 by Bernard “Slim” Smith, and “Breadline Blues 2008,” a reworking by the McCoury clan that also features Mac Wiseman, Tim O’Brien, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.

Familiar names and songs abound. Merle Haggard lends his support to the project with his 1973 classic “If We Make It Through December” and the more recent “What Happened?,” which appeared on his McCoury Music bluegrass debut last year. Haggard gets a third plug on the CD with Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell offering their take of his classic, “Mama’s Hungry Eyes.” And, yes, a fourth shot for the Hag — this time, his “Farmer’s Blues” with Marty Stuart.

Dan Tyminski’s “”Carry Me Across the Mountain,”based on a true Depression-era story, and Chris Knight’s “A Train Not Running,” are contemporary components to the project as is the title, “Moneyland,” which could be described as a bluegrass rap about the god-like role of the almighty dollar in today’s society.

In advance publicity about the upcoming CD release, bluegrass veteran Mac Wiseman, another contributor to the “Moneyland” CD, and McCoury talk about the changed face of America.

“I grew up on a farm myself, back during the late ’40s, and we raised everything,” McCoury said. “We raised hogs and chickens, had dairy cows, we shipped milk. Times were good for the farmer in those days, but now the farmers are just hanging on by their fingernails.

“It’s sad to me that country kids can’t stay in their hometowns any more. There’s no opportunity, there are no jobs, there’s just nothing. And at the other end of life, there are a lot of people losing the pensions they worked for. That happened to my wife, Jean — and there are more people relying on Social Security than ever.

“You know, we have a little fun on this album with that Beatles song, ‘When I’m 64,’ but really, it’s no joke. It used to seem like 60 was really old, but nowadays, it feels more like middle age, and to have a lot of years ahead of you without being sure that what you spent a lifetime working for, like a pension or Social Security, is going to be there, well, that just doesn’t seem right.”

“… in my travels, I get the feeling that we’re sliding back to the days of the breadlines, and more and more people are getting the short end of the stick — and a lot of it just seems to come down to greed.”

Wiseman,who grew up during the Great Depression, echoes McCoury’s thoughts.

“It’s very obvious to me that politics is running hand in hand with the big money these days,” Wiseman said. “There’s nothing wrong with a big house and a fine car and having plenty for the family. That’s good. But the greed we see now, that’s something else altogether.”

McCoury and his manager, Stan Strickland, shares executive producer credits. Strickland and Rob and Ronnie McCoury are listed as producers.

“I’m in a position where I can make good choices,” McCoury said. “And aside from just doing what I do musically, I can help others do the same themselves, and get a message out that people need to hear and think about — and, especially in an election year, take action on. This isn’t about party politics, it’s about doing what’s best for our country and everyone in it, not just a lucky few.

“That hillbilly boy in Appalachia and that farm boy in the Midwest and that black kid in the inner city, they’re all looking for the same thing: a way out and up. One of these days, those kids are going to start working together on their common problems-and when they do, they’ll fix them.”

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UPDATE 4: We Have Our DelFest Winners !!!

BluegrassJournal.com, along with DelFest, McCoury Music and High Sierra Music, would like to congratulate the 2 winners of our DelFest ticket giveaway. Each winner will receive 2 festival passes and camping for the historic 1st annual DelFest that takes place in Cumberland, MD May 23-25, 2008.

The winners are Jayme Blume of Newark, MD and Jason Birkey of Hopedale, IL.

Both DelFest Ticket Giveaway winners sounded very excited to be going to DelFest when we called to let them know the good news. Jayme and Jason each said they would send some pictures from DelFest after the festival.

BluegrassJournal.com would like to thank DelFest, McCoury Music and High Sierra Music for allowing us to be a part of this special event.UPDATE 3 Drawing is closed. No more entries accepted. Winners will be announced shortly !

UPDATE 2 And the winners will be ???

Unfortunate as it is for our first winner. Shane O’donnell. will not be able to attend so, BluegrassJournal.com will be drawing  2 lucky winners for DelFest festival passes in less than  2 hours.

UPDATE: And the winner is… 

We drew for the 1st pair of festival passes to DelFest at 5:00 PM Central time today, May 2.

The whole staff here at BluegrassJournal.com would like to congratulate Shane O’Donnell whose name was drawn out of the hat of entries.

Make sure and get your entries in for the drawing for the last pair of tickets to DelFest which will be drawn on Friday, May 9, 2008. See below for more information on entering.

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Are you ready to kick off the Summer season right?Are you itchin’ to go to a bluegrass festival?Are you ready to be a part of Bluegrass History as Del McCoury celebrates 50 years in Bluegrass?Here’s your chance to be a part of the 1st Annual DelFest in Cumberland, MD May 23-25, 2008.BluegrassJournal.com, in conjunction with DelFest, McCoury Music and High Sierra Music, which is helping to promote McCoury’s festival., is giving away free festival tickets to Del McCoury’s first annual bluegrass festival, aptly named DelFest.The editors at BluegrassJournal.com are offering two pairs of tickets, which will be given away to subscribers of the Web site. And subscribing to BluegrassJournal.com is free — and easy, requiring only a username of your choosing and a valid email address.

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McCoury Music is proud to announce the signing of bluegrass legend, Larry Sparks. Sparks, winner of the IBMA Male Vocalist of the Year award in 2004 and 2005, is the first artist to join McCoury Music. Del McCoury has always been a big fan of Sparks, noting that “Larry has a style all his own, both with his singing and playing, and is one of my favorite singers of all time.” Del went on to say that, “I am very pleased to have such a renowned musician on the roster and I’m really looking forward to this new partnership.”

Larry Sparks started out playing with the Stanley Brothers in the 1960s where he quickly gained recognition and praise from the bluegrass community for his skills and talent. This approval gave him the ambition to form his own band in 1969, The Lonesome Ramblers; a very successful band that he is still with today. Sparks is known for his impressive solos and has been dubbed “The Most Soulful Voice in Bluegrass.” Spark’s profound musical abilities have inspired many and continue to keep him in the spotlight.

“Larry [Sparks] has a style all his own, both with his singing and playing, and is one of my favorite singers of all time.”Del McCoury

McCoury Music was formed in 2003 as a home for Del McCoury and as a way to have complete control of his music. The first two releases on the label both received Grammy nominations, with one winning a Grammy and the other winning the prestigious Album of the Year award from the IBMA. Sparks is set to record the album later this year with a planned release in Spring 2007. Don Rigsby will produce the album.

Tour dates and more information about Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers can be found at his official website: www.larrysparks.com

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