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For their second album, the Woodys (Dyann and Michael Woody) have kept to the simple, fresh-sounding formula that made their first release such a delight. Mixing gorgeous two-part harmonies with pop-tinged folk country melodies and jangling Byrds-like instrumentation, Teardrops & Diamonds is every bit as winning as its predecessor. Among the highlights are a rendition of Steve Earle's "Hearts Don't Break," which here sounds like a great lost Buddy Holly song, and a version of Michael Woody's own "He's Back and I'm Blue," which was a hit a few years back for Chris Hillman & the Desert Rose Band. But the centerpiece of the album is "Message From Michael," a stunning and heartbreaking song drawn from an open letter to teens that former Byrds' drummer Michael Clarke wrote after he discovered that a life of alcohol abuse was about to claim his life. Sung in the first person by the Woodys, the song is haunting and unforgettable, and deserves a wider audience, both because of its message and for its simple and direct deathbed eloquence. Seldom have the costs of the rock & roll dream and the ravaging effects of a lifetime of excess been so clearly presented, and the end result is an eerie cautionary tale from the grave by Clarke, all given the voice of the angels by this stellar husband and wife singing team.
~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide

JazzReview.com CD Reviews MONTHLY JAZZ NEWSLETTER:

Featured Artist: Dyann Woody

CD Title: My Softer Side

Year: 2005

Record Label: Dynamike Records

Style: Jazz/Blues

Musicians:
Rick Vito (acoustic and electric guitars), Barry Walsh (piano, keyboards), Dave Pomeroy (bass), Steve Turner (drums), Pat Bergeson (guitar, chromatic harmonica, Jonell Mosser (background vocals), Michael Woody (trumpet)

Review:
Artists can take a real chance when they switch categories. It is not always the best of ideas and they can sometimes get lost in a world they may like, but not really do very well. That however is not a problem for Dyanne Woody, as evidenced on her CD My Softer Side from Dynamike Records. Originally a country singer, Woody made the switch from "yee haw" to "ooh la la" after hearing Norah Jones and she makes the transition with a singular grace and style. The composer of ten out of the 13 selections on the recording, she displays a wide range of emotion and shows that she is a musical force to be reckoned with.

"Someone Who's Real," the opening track, starts out with a real honky-tonk-type piano riff and Woody does the song with a semi-lighthearted style. Her vocals compliment the piano playing of Barry Walsh perfectly. She has one of those voices that have a very distinct sound to it. It floats on the music created by her band mates, but do not be deceived. It has a depth and a bite to it that makes the selections resonant with the listener.

"To Get Over Me" has a bossa nova feel to it and it gently flows back and forth and when layered with Woody's heartfelt vocals it is a warm and passionate number. "Crazy 'Round Here" is an emotional ballad that again features Walsh on piano and you can hear every moment of the heartbreak. It is also one of those numbers where her country training pays off. Her voice soars with just the right amount of feeling. "Will You Ever Come Home" and "Broken Hearts Make Beautiful Songs" are two selections that go together well and tell of the price of a broken heart. You can hear the rough edges of a lover's frayed heart in every note.

The blues get a representation here on "My Softer Side." This number is the other side of hurt, the side that we all have after going through an emotional breakup. It is one that everybody can relate to. "All You Gotta Say" has a gentle swing to it. A nice 40's-era sound, the kind that the big bands of the day would have played.

There is still a bit of the country girl here especially on "All That Love Can Do," an up tempo song that is a nod to her roots in the award winning country band the Woodys. The album closes out with the inspirational "On The Horizon." Here Woody really gives her voice a chance to take flight, bringing to close an album you will find yourself listening to time and time again.

Tracks: Someone Who's Real, To Get Over Me, Crazy 'Round Here, Will You Ever Come Home, Broken Hearts Make Beautiful Songs, My Softer Side, All You Gotta Say, What I Knew, Back Then, All That Love Can Do, I Let You Break My Heart, When You Come Around, (That's When) I Saw Stars, On The Horizon

Artist's Website: http://www.thewoodysmusic.com

Reviewed by: Jim McElroy

Author: Esther Berlanga-Ryan
Freelance Writer for Traditional Country Music
esther_berlanga@lycos.com

June 4, 2006

A Word About The Woodys

If you have never heard The Woodys

Michael Woody and the TOO HIGH BAND (Randy Barker, Cactus Moser and Bryan Grassmeyer) perform a 25 year Reunion concert at the Taos Solar Festival on June 24th, 2006. A limited number of CD's are available now with all their hits: Where's The Party, Chased by the Moon, Love a New Way, Bop Shebang, Rosalita, Down, It Gets You Nowhere, Reckless Shoes, Jailbait, Dead Or Alive, Only Heaven Knows (featured track in the film 'Johnny Be Good'), Truck Drivin' Love, Santa Cruz and Take The Load. The tracks were recorded in 1980 with the original bass player, Dave Seago and produced by Jim Mason (Firefall and Poco). To order, go to The Woodys homepage.

St. Louis Post
Patrick Derfler

THE WORD ON THE WOODYS
If you can judge a band by the company it keeps, the Woodys are the real deal. Chris Hillman, Emmylou Harris and Albert Lee have all apeared on Woodys recordings, and Michael Woody has co-written songs with Hillman and Steve Earle. On top of it all are the incredible harmony vocals of Michael and wife Dyann.

Riverfront Times
St. Louis MusicCritic Pick
Roy Kasten Review

Save the Beavis &Butt-Head jokes, ok? Michael and Dyann Woody have heard them all. They've been making left-of-center Music-Row country records as THE WOODYS since 1998 but have steered clear of the humorlessness that plagues too many Americana acts - though there's nary a punch line on their 2005 album, Telluride To Tennessee. When they harmonize, they give memory-burdened motifs a paradoxical, lonesome gaiety. They may rock-&-roll name-drop all over "Bop Shebang," but they earn their references without an electric guitar in sight (and their resume' includes working with Steve Earle, Chris Hillman and Emmylou Harris). When they take on standards like Gram Parson's "Sin City" or Lefty Frizzell's "That's The Way Love Goes," they make the more frequent George & Tammy or Conway & Loretta comparisons sound like more than hype.

THE WOODYS holding steady at #17 this week on the R&R Americana Music Charts!!

BLUEGRASS WORKS
'Telluride To Tennessee'
Review 11/15/05

Dyann and Michael Woody (The Woodys) prove that they have myriad influences from country to folk, bluegrass to rock. The singing duo use an acoustic format with drums to present ten originals out of the total baker

AMERICANA UNDERGROUND

THE WOODYS move up to #17 on the Americana Charts this week!

THE WOODYS are at #21 on this weeks R & R Americana Music Chart

1 DELBERT MCCLINTON
Cost Of Living New West

2 RODNEY CROWELL
The Outsider Columbia

3 JAMES MCMURTRY
Childish Things Compadre

4 BILLY JOE SHAVER
The Real Deal Compadre

5 JIMMIE DALE GILMORE
Come On Back Rounder

6 JOY LYNN WHITE
One More Time Thortch Recordings

7 SUSAN TEDESCHI
Hope & Desire Verve Forecast

8 TIM O BRIEN
Cornbread Nation Sugar Hill

9 BONNIE RAITT
Souls Alike Capitol

10 MARTY STUART AND HIS FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES
Souls' Chapel Superlatone/Universal South

11 SOUTH AUSTIN JUG BAND
Dark And Weary World Blue Corn

12 SON VOLT
Okemah And The Melody Of Riot Transmit Sound/Legacy

13 NICKEL CREEK
Why Should The Fire Die? Sugar Hill

14 RYAN ADAMS AND THE CARDINALS
Jacksonville City Nights Lost Highway

15 DWIGHT YOAKAM
Blame The Vain New West

16 NEIL YOUNG
Prairie Wind Reprise

17 PIETA BROWN
In The Cool Valley Entertainment

18 JOHN HIATT
Master Of Disaster New West

19 ADRIENNE YOUNG
The Art Of Virtue AddieBelle

20 ELIZA GILKYSON
Paradise Hotel Red House

21 THE WOODYS
Telluride To Tennessee Everett Family

COUNTRY STANDARD TIME
October 2005 Record Review

The Woodys
Telluride To Tennessee, 2005
Everett Family
For their third album, Colorado-based husband and wife Michael and Dyann Woody depart from the hook-laden country pop of their earlier outings.
Assisted by former Desert Rose members Chris Hillman and Herb Pederson, the Woodys take a distinctly bluegrass and honky tonk-inspired journey. While fans of the first two releases will find this one as much Stanley Brothers as Everly Brothers, the duo's trademark tight harmony and Michael's strong songwriting skills remain intact.
The Woodys firmly establish their intentions in the opener, "Greener Pastures," a hard-charging bluegrass lament. "Hillbilly Heart" and "He's Back and I'm Blue (Grass)" are in a similar vein. "Kick Up The Dust" is a Cajun stomper, and the light-hearted country rocker "Bop Shebang" and ballad "That's The Way Love Goes" are the cuts that old fans will find the most familiar. "I Couldn't Love You Anymore" and "Sin City" are classic honky tonk and also nicely done.
Michael wrote or co-wrote 10 of the 13 offerings, and he and Dyann ably handled production chores. The sound is appropriately bright and warm throughout, and the CD is nicely packaged with sepia photos, insightful liner notes and lyrics.
- Greg Milliken

THE WOODYS move up to #23 on the R&R Americana Charts this week!

Smooth Jazz Therapy
The lowdown on the very best from the world of smooth jazz and classic soul.

THE WOODYS moved up to #27 on the R&R Amerciana Charts this week!

THE WOODYS TOP DEBUT at #29 THIS WEEK ON R&R AMERICANA MUSIC CHARTS!!
Playlist for week of Monday, September 26, 2005

1 DELBERT MCCLINTON
2 RODNEY CROWELL
3 JAMES MCMURTRY
4 DWIGHT YOAKAM
5 JIMMIE DALE GILMORE
6 ADRIENNE YOUNG
7 SON VOLT
8 NICKEL CREEK
9 BILLY JOE SHAVER
10 JOHN HIATT
11 TWO TONS OF STEEL
12 TIM O BRIEN
13 ELIZA GILKYSON
14 JEFF BLACK
15 KNITTERS
16 BONNIE RAITT
17 STEPHEN BRUTON
18 MARTY STUART AND HIS FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES
19 JOHN PRINE
20 ROBERT EARL KEEN
21 PIETA BROWN
22 ROBBIE FULKS
23 GREENCARDS
24 UNCLE EARL
25 JAMIE OLDAKER
26 SOUTH AUSTIN JUG BAND
27 KATE CAMPBELL
28 WILLIE NELSON
DEBUT 29 THE WOODYS
30 HACKENSAW BOYS

THE WOODYS place at the Top of the 5 Most Added Records on the R &R Americana Radio Charts THIS WEEK!

Adds Artist Title Label
14 The Woodys Telluride To Tennessee Everett Family
10 Bonnie Raitt Souls Alike Capitol
9 Patty Loveless Dreamin' My Dreams Sony/Epic
9 Bob Dylan No Direction Home Columbia/Legacy
8 Blasters 4-11-44 Rainman

Artist: Dyann Woody
Title: My Softer Side
Genre: Blues-Jazz-Pop
Website: http://www.thewoodysmusic.com
CD Baby Link: http://cdbaby.com/cd/dyannwoody

Dyann Woody offers her listeners My Softer Side. I have to admit, I loved this album, every single song. Now, how often do you hear someone say that? Not nearly enough, I would be willing to bet.

Dyann does more than get by with a little help from her friends, she makes this album a complete triumph by mixing it up with blues, jazz, and pop, actually some of the tracks have all three aspects in play. It sounds so wonderful! She has a great voice and utilizes it like the main instrument of the entire project while the music evolves around her heartfelt vocals.

Oh yes, the friends by the way are folks like the amazing guitar player Rick Vito (Bonnie Raitt, Fleetwood Mac, Bob Seeger) and her husband Michael on trumpet. Before I started this process of listening and writing, Dyann sent me an MP3 to sample what was in store. I e-mailed her back and said

NEW SOLO ALBUM
My Softer Side
Dyann Woody

Who knew that this country singer was really a closet chanteuse? Dyann Woody makes a seamless transition from 'yee haw' to "ooh la la!"

Not only does she have the voice of an angelic siren, but what will grab your attention even more is how easy her music is to listen to. She reaches across many genres and meshes elements of '70's singer/songwriter style, jazz, pop, and blues with the art of a well-crafted country lyric.

Although this is Dyann's first solo album, she has shared musical success with her husband as part of the Country Music Group, THE WOODYS. Their debut album on Rounder Records went #1 on the Americana Charts and they went on release several other critically acclaimed records and have toured the world.

Inspired by Norah Jones debut record,'Come Fly Away', she began writing for her own solo record. This was a labor of love that reconnected Dyann with her earlier musical roots and the influences of Bonnie Raitt, Billie Holliday, Ricki Lee Jones and Joni Mitchell.

Dyann penned the title track, "My Softer Side", and she co-wrote 10 other songs along with selecting 2 beautiful outside songs written by some talented friends. She produced the record with her husband, Michael, and hired the stellar talents of Nashville's A-list players: Rick Vito, Barry Walsh, Dave Pomeroy, Steve Turner, Pat Bergeson and Jonell Mosser. Pat Hutchinson recorded and the mixed the record at Warner Chappell Studios in Nashville.

ROCKABILLY HALL OF FAME
8/16/05 release
THE WOODYS -
Telluride to Tennessee
Everette Family Records MLG2-51357
www.thewoodysmusic.com
Email thewoodys@mindspring.com OR mikehyland@comcast.net
Playing Time - 43:10
Songs - 1. Greener Pastures, 2. My Train Of Thought, 3. Hillbilly at Heart, 4. Sin City (With Chris Hillman), 5. Kick Up The Dust, 6. Telluride To Tennessee, 7. Long Time Gone, 8. Fork In The Road, 9. He's Back And I'm Blue(grass), 10. I Couldn't Love You Anymore, 11. Lonesome City, Pop. 1, 12. Bop Shebang, 13. That's The Way Love Goes
Dyann and Michael Woody (The Woodys) prove that they have myriad influences from country to folk, bluegrass to rock. The singing duo use an acoustic format with drums to present ten originals out of the total baker's dozen. "Telluride to Tennessee" enlists the support of some notable musicians from both the bluegrass and country-rock genres. the features Chris Hillman, Herb Pederson, Gretchen Peters, Pat Flynn, Al Perkins, Ronnie McCoury, Larry Atamaniuk, Mike Compton, Scott Vestal, Tammy Rogers and others. Fats Kaplan plays accordion and tin whistle on the Cajun-flavored "Kick Up the Dust." One of the best originals for bluegrass bands to cover is "Hillbilly at Heart."
Appealing primarily to fans of the Americana format, these songs will find their way to the airwaves of non-mainstream stations that simply like well-executed music with a bite. The Woodys were voted the top country vocal duo at the International Country Music News Awards in Belgium. They've also won an ASCAP songwriter award.
"Telluride to Tennessee," the Woodys' third release, varies the cadence between songs like the wistful country ballad "Long Time Gone" and "He's Back and I'm Blue." The latter was a hit for the Desert Rose Band in 1988. They clearly have their pulse on a new type of country music that is both funky ("Fork in the Road"), nostalgic ("Sin City"), sweet ("I Couldn't Love You Anymore"), and witty ("Bop Shebang").
The Woodys are now well-connected to the Nashville music scene, and their approach combines the pastoral with the raucous for a entertaining set with even a few classic country and bluegrass overtones. Their expressive vocals are never overshadowed by their sidemen. Born to sing, Dyann and Michael first met at college in Colorado. She was in all-woman R&B show band before moving to Los Angeles to work as an actress. She moved to Nashville in 1993. Michael had already located there in 1985 and was chasing success as a songwriter. The two were married in August 1993. With the help of producer Brian Ahern, their career as a duo was launched. With a number of albums and other recording projects under their belts, The Woodys are now well-established as the dazzling singing duo that they are. (Joe Ross)

THE CITY PAPER REVIEW
The Woodys
By Ron Wynn, rwynn@nashvillecitypaper.com
August 19, 2005

The striking harmonies, poignant exchanges and consistently engaging performances of the duo known as the Woodys make their latest CD Telluride To Tennessee (EFR) a musical delight. Whether doing honky-tonk, Cajun-influenced works, folk-tinged pieces, straight country or shifting to rockabilly and rock

MUSIC ROW
Robert K. Oermann

Frankly, I don

THE WOODYS were guests on Tennessee Morning with Charlie Chase & Kelly Sutton this morning on FOX 17 to promote their new record "Telluride To Tennessee". They performed 'Bop Shebang' and did an interview.

TELLURIDE TO TENNESSEE is being released August 16th 2005 in US and Canada!

THE WOODYS have just signed a record deal with Scena Records for US/Canadian licensing. On July 27, 2004 Scena Records/Sony RED will be releasing THE WOODYS Country Classic, 'Teardrops & Diamonds'.

THE WOODYS will also be on a complilation Gospel Bluegrass Record with Ricky Skaggs to be released on August 10th. 'Circle of Angels' and 'Nothing But A Child' will be the featured songs.

THE WOODYS have just finished recording a brand new acoustic/bluegrass record called 'Telluride To Tennessee' featuring Chris Hillman, Herb Pederson, Pat Flynn, Ronnie McCoury, Al Perkins, Gretchen Peters and more! Rocade Records in Norway will be releasing the album in July of 2004 to Europe. Scena Records will be releasing this in the summer of 2005 in the US.

Please look for the albums at your local record stores, Walmart, KMART, Target and Borders Bookstores in the US and Canada.

"TEARDROPS & DIAMONDS" is being released to Americana and Texas radio in April. The music video of the title track will be shown on GAC (Great American Country) television. Tune in to your local listing for The Woodys debut music video on the 'Edge of Country'.

Rocade Records in Norway is releasing the debut CD of Michael Woody this July. The 14 song CD includes co-writes with David Lee Murphy and Waylon Jennings. Michael's wife Dyann says, " It's okay but its missing a high sweet harmony voice...ha! Just kidding...This record is great and LONG overdue!!

EMMYLOU HARRIS has a new compilation record released this month by Raven Records called, "Singing With Emmylou" Volume 2. The Woodys are featured on track 5 singing a song written by friend and fellow Boulderite, Gretchen Peters called 'High Lonesome'. Emmylou is singing the high harmony with Dyann & Michael.

THE WOODYS have signed a record deal with 'Southbound/Universal' Records out of the UK. 'Teardrops & Diamonds' will be released in November along with a music video of the title track. THE WOODYS will be touring Europe to promote the new record.

COUNTRY MUSIC (Magazine)
March 2002
REVIEW
THE WOODYS
Teardrops & Diamonds
**** 4 STARS
In the late 1980's, country music rediscovered its rock roots when Foster & Lloyd and the Desert Rose Band brought the sounds of The Beatles, the Everlys and Buck Owens' Buckaroos back to radio. That sound may have been eclipsed by the hatted hunks and pop princesses, but it isn't totally dead. The evidence is on the Woodys' second release, TEARDROPS & DIAMONDS. Combining strong romantic songwriting with warm Everlys-style vocals, Michael and Dyann Woody create an almost carnal strain of roots-rock. Translation: Whether it's lust or hearbreak, the Woodys make you feel it.
For instance, on the opening title track the pair manages to convey a glimmer of hope with their creamy harmonies, despite the song's mordant message: "Teardrops and diamonds/they're just water and stone." They follow it with a cover of Steve Earle's "Heart's Don't Break," which is taken at a dynamic Buddy Holly gallop. Then there's the gorgeous Everlys-style ballad "Don't Blame Me," on which Michael Woody's desperation practically seeps out of the speakers.
For hard country, consider the bouncy "Honey I'm Wrong," a winking lovers' spat that recalls Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn's feistier duets, and "Hello Heartache," a partly spoken weeper that's affecting but never maudlin. And just in case you thought the Woodys are content to merely coo at one another, they fire off "Every Minute Counts," which sounds like a great lost Gram Parsons -Emmylou Harris rocker.
The Woodys also manage to stress their contributions to country-rock history by including their version of Michael's "He's Back & I'm Blue," a late-80's hit for the Desert Rose Band. In addition, they offer a haunting eulogy for their friend the late Byrds drummer Michael Clarke. The closing "Sweet Destiny" acts as a soothing benediction, telling the roots-rock flock that it's okay to drop the cool stance and wear your hear on your sleeve.
In the end, while the Woodys pay homage to country music's most vital influences, they also lay claim to their own corner of country-rock heaven.
-Bob Cannon