Mandy Barnett
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Mandy Barnett (born September 28, 1975 in Crossville, Tennessee) is a popular country music singer and stage actress.
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[edit] Early life
Born Amanda Carol Barnett, the only child of Betty and Dan Barnett (who worked respectively as a bookkeeper and contractor), she was named after Amanda Blake, the husky-voiced actress who played Miss Kitty on the long-running television western “Gunsmoke." Barnett began her musical career by singing in church at the age of five. Members of the congregation noticed her perfect pitch, and that her vocal performance had star quality. Her mother encouraged her by booking singing engagements wherever people would listen: bowling alleys, VFW halls and political rallies (notably for Lamar Alexander and future Vice President Al Gore, Jr.. When there was no venue, she would perform in parking lots. By age nine, her father financed a professionally recorded gospel music album. The following summer, she had joined a summer theatre cast at Dollywood and shared the stage with Dolly Parton herself. It was during her two years at Dollywood that she won a talent contest that included making a demo in Nashville, just a two-hour drive from her home.
[edit] Nashville
During the trip to Nashville, Betty Barnett worked to get her talented daughter a spot on the well-known "Midnight Jamboree" radio show, which aired after the Grand Ole Opry program on WSM-AM. Opry star George Hamilton IV was also a guest on the program, and was so impressed he commented, "If there are any producers out there, you better call." One did indeed, and she was soon signed by producer Jimmy Bowen. The then 12-year-old Barnett earned a lot of industry buzz after her debut on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, covering Patsy Cline's "Crazy." It would prove to be a foreshadowing moment of her professional career.
Bowen's career transitioned from label to label at the time. Each time, he took young Barnett with him, and despite constant training and development funding, no album ever resulted. Barnett graduated from high school in 1993 and headed back to Nashville full-time to seek her fortune. Ironically, her label, Capitol Records dropped her that December.
A stroke of luck finally came her way early in 1994, when she heard about auditions for a stage show that very day, much to her surprise. Called Always... Patsy Cline, she felt she was a natural to play the legendary country chanteuse, and she beat out all the others who tried out for the part. It played nightly at the Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry where Cline herself had sung, and Barnett performed to sold-out crowds for two years. Thanks to reviews that constantly compared her favorably to Cline, Barnett was a hot property on Music Row again, finally putting out self-titled album on Asylum Records in 1996. Three singles from the album charted on the Billboard country charts.
Working with the country glitterati, including Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill and Trisha Yearwood, Barnett's star was rising. A nationwide tour in 1997 was met with good reviews. She reprised her role in Always... Patsy Cline (this time with above-the-title billing) for a short time and she contributed performances to two film soundtracks before releasing her next album in 1999 on Sire Records, I've Got A Right To Cry, produced by the man who had made Patsy Cline herself a star, studio legend Owen Bradley. He died mid-way through the project and his brother Harold Bradley took over production duties. It would be released soon after Bradley's death.
Reviews of I've Got A Right To Cry were strong, including raves in Rolling Stone, but sales disappointed, and Barnett was dropped from Sire. Press interviews constantly compare her to Patsy Cline, which may have resulted in a musical form of typecasting and negatively impacted her career. Barnett maintains that Cline is an influence, but that she is not a Patsy Cline impersonator.
Having learned from Music Row veterans, she began working herself as a record producer in 2000, working with gospel and country artists. Barnett keeps her intimate life very private, and currently resides in Nashville. She continues to sing in concerts around the city and works as a producer. A new album recorded at Capitol Records in Los Angeles is due to be released in the fall of 2006.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Year | Title | Song(s) | Format(s) | US Country Chart Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Original Nashville Cast Recording of "Always... Patsy Cline" Live At The Ryman Auditorium |
Honky Tonk Merry Go Round (2:05) Back In Baby's Arms (2:07) Anytime (1:33) Walkin' After Midnight (2:11) I Fall To Pieces (3:27) It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels (3:42) Come On In (And Make Yourself At Home) (1:53) Your Cheatin' Heart (2:53) She's Got You (3:08) Lovesick Blues (2:22) Sweet Dreams (3:05) Three Cigarettes In An Ashtray (2:15) Crazy (3:02) (If I Could See The World Through) The Eyes Of A Child (2:30) Blue Moon Of Kentucky (3:20) Gotta Lot Of Rhythm (In My Soul) (1:48) Faded Love (7:18) Always (3:06) |
CD Cassette Tape |
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| 1996 | Mandy Barnett | Planet of Love (3:46) Maybe (3:02) Rainy Days (3:50) Three Days (3:21) Baby Don't You Know (3:20) Now That's All Right With Me (2:49) A Simple I Love You (3:08) I'll Just Pretend (3:08) What's Good For You (3:11) Wayfaring Stranger (4:02) |
CD Cassette Tape |
60 |
| 1999 | I've Got a Right to Cry | I've Got a Right to Cry (2:48) Give Myself a Party (2:46) Who (Who Will It Be) (2:38) The Whispering Wind (Blows On By) (3:34) Trademark (2:50) Funny, Familiar, Forgotten Feelings (2:40) Falling, Falling, Falling (2:29) With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming (3:46) I'm Gonna Change Everything (2:12) Mistakes (3:25) Ever True Evermore (3:06) Don't Forget to Cry (3:46) |
CD | 45 |
| 2006 | The Platinum Collection | Planet of Love (3:34) Maybe (3:02) Rainy Days (3:49) Three Days (3:07) Baby Don't You Know (3:11) Now That's All Right With Me (2:48) A Simple I Love You (3:08) What's Good For You (3:11) Wayfaring Stranger (4:01) I've Got a Right to Cry (2:47) Give Myself a Party (2:45) Who (Who Will It Be) (2:38) The Whispering Wind (Blows On By) (3:34) Trademark (2:50) Funny, Familiar, Forgotten Feelings (2:39) Falling, Falling, Falling (2:28) With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming (3:46) I'm Gonna Change Everything (2:12) Mistakes (3:24) Ever True Evermore (3:06) |
CD |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Title | Song(s) | Format(s) | US Country Chart Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | An Unforgettable Voice | Now That's All Right With Me [With Different Guitar Solo] A Simple I Love You [Without Strings] What's Good For You [Early Mix] |
Promotional CD EP | |
| 1996 | Now That's All Right With Me b/w What's Good For You |
Cassette Single 7" 45 RPM Vinyl Single Promotional CD Single |
43 | |
| 1996 | Maybe b/w Wayfaring Stranger |
Cassette Single 7" 45 RPM Vinyl Single Promotional CD Single |
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| 1996 | A Simple I Love You | Promotional CD Single | ||
| 1999 | I've Got A Right To Cry | Promotional CD Single | ||
| 1999 | The Whispering Wind (Blows On By) | Promotional CD Single |
[edit] Compilations
| Year | Title | Song(s) | Format(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | AFTRA First Tuesday Singers Showcase | When We Ran | CD |
| 1997 | Traveller (Music From The Motion Picture) | Dream Lover Searching (For Someone Like You) Dark Moon |
CD Cassette Tape |
| 1999 | A Walk On The Moon (Music From The Motion Picture) | Town Without Pity | CD Cassette Tape |
| 1999 | Election (Music From The Motion Picture) | If You'll Be The Teacher | CD Cassette Tape |
| 1999 | Drop Dead Gorgeous (Motion Picture Soundtrack) | Beautiful Dreamer | CD Cassette Tape |
| 1999 | All The Lonely (Songs by John Pennell) | No One Knows | CD |
| 2000 | Space Cowboys (Music From The Motion Picture) | I Only Have Eyes For You | CD |
| 2001 | Good Rockin' Tonight (The Legacy of Sun Records) | You Win Again | CD |
| 2002 | Caught In The Webb (A Tribute to Webb Pierce) | Slowly | CD |
[edit] Recordings With Other Artists
| Year | Artist | Title | Song(s) | Participation | Format(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Various Artists | Hope - Country Music's Quest For A Cure | Hope (All Star Version A) Hope (All Star Version B) |
Background Vocals | Cassette Single 7" 45 RPM Vinyl Single CD Single |
| 1996 | Kenny Chesney | Me and You | Ain't That Love | Background Vocals | Cassette Tape CD |
| 1997 | Kim Richey | Bitter Sweet | I'm Alright | Background Vocals | Cassette Tape CD |
| 1997 | Gail Davies | Greatest Hits | Unwed Fathers | Background Vocals | CD |
| 1998 | Don Walser | Down at the Sky-Vue Drive-In | Are You Teasing Me? Hearts Made Of Stone |
Duets | CD |
| 1998 | Various Artists | The Songs of Dwight Yoakam - Will Sing For Food | Near You | Kim Richey sings Lead Mandy sings Background Vocals |
CD |
| 2000 | Ray Price | Prisoner of Love | Various Tracks | Background Vocals | CD |
| 2000 | Melvin Sloan and Friends | Pick and Sing Opry Favorites | Waltz Across Texas | Duet | CD |
| 2001 | Gail Davies and Friends | Live and Unplugged at the Station Inn | Bucket To The South | Background Vocals | CD |
| 2001 | Rosie Flores | Speed of Sound | Rock-A-Bye Boogie | Background Vocals | CD |
| 2001 | Asleep At The Wheel | The Very Best Of | The Letter (That Johnny Walker Read) | Duet | CD |
| 2001 | Jesse Dayton | Hey Nashvegas! | Hey Nashvegas! Don't Take Yesterday |
Background Vocals | CD |
| 2002 | Various Artists | Dressed In Black - A Tribute To Johnny Cash | Jackson | Duet With Chuck Mead | CD |
| 2006 | SpongeBob SquarePants | The Best Day Ever | Various Tracks | Background Vocals | CD |
[edit] Videos
| Year | Title | Song(s) | Format(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Now That's All Right With Me | Music Video | |
| 1996 | Maybe | Music Video | |
| 1997 | Planet Of Love | Music Video | |
| 1999 | The Whispering Wind (Blows On By) | Music Video | |
| 2001 2005 |
Opry Family Reunion - Volume Four (VHS) Country's Family Reunion at the Opry - Volume Four (DVD/VHS) |
Hurt Crazy |
See Title |
| 2001 2005 |
Opry Family Reunion - Volume Six (VHS) Country's Family Reunion at the Ryman - Volume Two (DVD/VHS) |
Legend in My Time | See Title |
