Dawn Hopkins CD review

landshark77

landshark77

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Silver Member
During the summer months I came across some information that Dawn Hopkins had produced a CD in 2001 entitled “The Other Side.” The CD featured many familiar names in the pool industry performing original songs, most of which were written by the performers themselves. Performers on this CD include, but are not limited to, WPBA stars Dawn Hopkins and Line Kjorvisk, Trick Shot player Mike Massey, cue builder Jerry McWorter, and the Sardo brothers (from the Sardo Tight Rack fame), Carmine Sardo, Lou Sardo, Buddy Sardo, and Dylan Sardo. Jeanette Lee even contributed the cover art.

I recently received a copy of this CD and wanted to share my opinion of it. All in all this is a country CD. While Country music is not my favorite genre, I do tend to listen to it quite frequently. This CD has found regular rotation in my CD player…of course I have my favorite songs and the others are usually skipped over. I can honestly say that I have not heard every song…that is just the way I listen to CDs. I guess I try to save something for later, LOL. Though I classify this CD as country, it is a bit eclectic in sound. There is at least one song (remember, I haven’t listened to the whole thing all the way through) that I would consider an obvious Blues inspired song then I would say that the CD stretches from Lite Rock to Contemporary Country all the way to what I would call my Grandfather’s Country. Lou Sardo even has a song that reminds me of the band Ween and the Vandals version of country music. And of course Carmine Sardo, a famed musician in his own right, performs a few instrumentals. There are even two songs about 9-ball!

I have placed three songs from this CD up on the net. For all of the RIAA police out there, I have gotten permission to do so. Choosing which songs to put up were a hard feat for me, but I think you guys would enjoy hearing them. The songs will be up for one week and one week only. If you enjoy these songs, please contact Dawn Hopkins and purchase this CD…she does have a few more left.

The first song I chose to share is “I Hope My Trip to Heaven” written and performed by Mike Massey. I would classify this song as My Grandfather’s Country. I would compare Mike Massey’s performance to that of George Jones and Conway Twitty. This is a song about infidelity and I would consider it to be quite humorous. I do not know if that was Mr. Massey’s intentions, but I do have a warped sense of humor.

The second song I chose to share is my most favorite on this CD. This song is also easily climbing it way towards becoming one of my all time favorite songs period. “Make me Love You” written and performed by Line Kjorsvik. It is a sappy love song. But it is not what I would call a happy “lovey dovey” love song, rather the internal fight with one’s self about love. I do not what to over analyze Line’s lyrics, as I hate when people do that. She wrote it only she knows what it is about. Line also has an amazing voice. I would rank her right up there with Mazzy Starr and Karen Peris.

The final song I chose is “Pool song” written and performed by Dawn Hopkins. Yep, you guys guessed it! This song is about pool. Dawn has a nice singing voice. For some reason
I want to say she reminds me of Shania Twain. I don’t know if Dawn would be happy or upset by this comparison, but that is what is in the back of my mind when I hear her. Maybe it is just her style? The reason I like this song? One simple line in the lyrics, “I banked the one and the rest is done, because the nine’s behind the two.” Classic…just classic.

Listen to these songs via this link. Please save my bandwidth and do not stream these songs. Thank you.

Also please let me know if anyone has problems hearing these songs. Remember, after next Monday night these songs will be deleted from the net.
 
songs

landshark77 said:
During the summer months I came across some information that Dawn Hopkins had produced a CD in 2001 entitled “The Other Side.” The CD featured many familiar names in the pool industry performing original songs, most of which were written by the performers themselves. Performers on this CD include, but are not limited to, WPBA stars Dawn Hopkins and Line Kjorvisk, Trick Shot player Mike Massey, cue builder Jerry McWorter, and the Sardo brothers (from the Sardo Tight Rack fame), Carmine Sardo, Lou Sardo, Buddy Sardo, and Dylan Sardo. Jeanette Lee even contributed the cover art.

I recently received a copy of this CD and wanted to share my opinion of it. All in all this is a country CD. While Country music is not my favorite genre, I do tend to listen to it quite frequently. This CD has found regular rotation in my CD player…of course I have my favorite songs and the others are usually skipped over. I can honestly say that I have not heard every song…that is just the way I listen to CDs. I guess I try to save something for later, LOL. Though I classify this CD as country, it is a bit eclectic in sound. There is at least one song (remember, I haven’t listened to the whole thing all the way through) that I would consider an obvious Blues inspired song then I would say that the CD stretches from Lite Rock to Contemporary Country all the way to what I would call my Grandfather’s Country. Lou Sardo even has a song that reminds me of the band Ween and the Vandals version of country music. And of course Carmine Sardo, a famed musician in his own right, performs a few instrumentals. There are even two songs about 9-ball!

I have placed three songs from this CD up on the net. For all of the RIAA police out there, I have gotten permission to do so. Choosing which songs to put up were a hard feat for me, but I think you guys would enjoy hearing them. The songs will be up for one week and one week only. If you enjoy these songs, please contact Dawn Hopkins and purchase this CD…she does have a few more left.

The first song I chose to share is “I Hope My Trip to Heaven” written and performed by Mike Massey. I would classify this song as My Grandfather’s Country. I would compare Mike Massey’s performance to that of George Jones and Conway Twitty. This is a song about infidelity and I would consider it to be quite humorous. I do not know if that was Mr. Massey’s intentions, but I do have a warped sense of humor.

The second song I chose to share is my most favorite on this CD. This song is also easily climbing it way towards becoming one of my all time favorite songs period. “Make me Love You” written and performed by Line Kjorsvik. It is a sappy love song. But it is not what I would call a happy “lovey dovey” love song, rather the internal fight with one’s self about love. I do not what to over analyze Line’s lyrics, as I hate when people do that. She wrote it only she knows what it is about. Line also has an amazing voice. I would rank her right up there with Mazzy Starr and Karen Peris.

The final song I chose is “Pool song” written and performed by Dawn Hopkins. Yep, you guys guessed it! This song is about pool. Dawn has a nice singing voice. For some reason
I want to say she reminds me of Shania Twain. I don’t know if Dawn would be happy or upset by this comparison, but that is what is in the back of my mind when I hear her. Maybe it is just her style? The reason I like this song? One simple line in the lyrics, “I banked the one and the rest is done, because the nine’s behind the two.” Classic…just classic.

Listen to these songs via this link. Please save my bandwidth and do not stream these songs. Thank you.

Also please let me know if anyone has problems hearing these songs. Remember, after next Monday night these songs will be deleted from the net.
Click to expand...
Loved the pool song played it to a song writer here in Tx. also played it to a player over cell phone, Thank you! I'm going to call Eddie Taylor & play it too him!! B.J.the bandit
 
B.J.the bandit said:
Loved the pool song played it to a song writer here in Tx. also played it to a player over cell phone, Thank you! I'm going to call Eddie Taylor & play it too him!! B.J.the bandit
Click to expand...

Yeah, Line also does a pool song called "9 Ball Down". It too is good.
 
You can't be serious.

Well, I did enjoy Mika and Ewa's Nordic death metal collaboration (Blond Pool Gods From Hell), so I might give this one a try too.

-Roger (I wanna support pool, but this is unbelievable...)
 
landshark77 said:
During the summer months I came across some information that Dawn Hopkins had produced a CD in 2001 entitled “The Other Side.” The CD featured many familiar names in the pool industry performing original songs, most of which were written by the performers themselves. Performers on this CD include, but are not limited to, WPBA stars Dawn Hopkins and Line Kjorvisk, Trick Shot player Mike Massey, cue builder Jerry McWorter, and the Sardo brothers (from the Sardo Tight Rack fame), Carmine Sardo, Lou Sardo, Buddy Sardo, and Dylan Sardo. Jeanette Lee even contributed the cover art...Remember, after next Monday night these songs will be deleted from the net.
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Thanks for sharing the link, Landshark77! :) I've seen Carmine play a mean blues guitar. Lots of talent, I say! I'm going to be on the lookout for this CD at the DCC. Music sometimes is the only thing that gets me through those long road trips in the car. A great find (IMO)!

JAM
 
buddha162 said:
You can't be serious.

Well, I did enjoy Mika and Ewa's Nordic death metal collaboration (Blond Pool Gods From Hell), so I might give this one a try too.

-Roger (I wanna support pool, but this is unbelievable...)
Click to expand...

Surely I am Roger. Please bear in mind that this is NOT some sort of attempt to sell out music via pool. This is the real deal. The people on this CD are VERY musically talented. One can not deny that, regardless of if they dig country, rap, or death metal.

I am not sure if you are aware, but Carmine Sardo is an accomplished musician. "His credits include stints as a guitar player with Mickey Rooney, Jr., Joe and Rose Lee Maphis, Barney Kessel and Jerry Cole. In 1974, Sardo was named "Country Guitar Player of the Year" by the Southern California Country Western Music Association". (per this page.) Dawn Hopkins also has some musical accomplishments to her name beginning in her teen years.

Also bear in mind that this CD was made in 2001. It is about 4 years old. I came across knowledge of it purely by accident. I just figured some folks on here might be interested...apparently they are...as a friend of mine reported up to an hour wait time (oh high-speed) for at least one of the songs. I do not benefit in anyway if knowledge of this CD becomes wide spread. And I have to give Dawn props for not placing a color ad in Inside Pool saying how there is this great new pool themed Cd out! Obviously her intentions were not to sell out musically via her's and other's pool careers. Again, this is the real deal... raw talent with widely unknown artist...my cup of tea. The fact that they are into pool...priceless.
 
JAM said:
I'm going to be on the lookout for this CD at the DCC. Music sometimes is the only thing that gets me through those long road trips in the car. A great find (IMO)!

JAM
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Hey JAM...you might want to contact Dawn directly about the CD, just an FYI...I've never seen the sold anywhere...only via direct contact. But I could also be wrong. :eek:
 
landshark77 said:
Hey JAM...you might want to contact Dawn directly about the CD, just an FYI...I've never seen the sold anywhere...only via direct contact. But I could also be wrong. :eek:
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Maybe Dawn will have it at the SBE if enough people ask.

Line's song is okay, but I think you overstated the quality of her voice. She doesn't seem to display much range. I judge all female singers in this genre relative to Allison Krause, she comes up way short.

I don't think Massey's song was supposed to be comical. Who is that singing with him? Dawn Hopkins? She is quite good, better than Line. His voice is again okay, but he'd better not give up "artistic pool". ;)

I'm waiting for "Pool Song" to download, there will be a brief intermission ...

Well I've listened to enough of "Pool Song", let's say it's entertaining because I play pool. Though I still like her voice, it seems to be pushing it's limits in this song.

The samples you included just go to illustrate something I've always maintained about pool, basketball, baseball, and all human endeavors including the purely mental like mathematics, science, and philosophy. All human endeavors have a great number of people who are very good at it, but that come up just a hair short. What separates the rest of us from the truly superlative is really a very small difference. A minute difference in depth perception (plus practice admittedly) puts Larry Byrd's jump shot in with "nothing but net" and clanks mine off the the back of the rim even if it goes in. In the service I probably played 20 hours of hoop a week, but I never had or never could have a shot like a pro. How big is the difference in reaction time between a good college hitter and a pro baseball player? Small. Dawn's voice is very close to the quality of a Dolly Parton (sp?), but all the practice in the world won't get it there. Point being not to discourage, but to suggest that special people in the since of excellence are really not very much more gifted than the rest of us and "special" people in the sense of shortcomings are not really that much less gifted than us. We're all brothers and sisters and pretty much equal in the grand scheme of things ("eyes of the Lord" if you prefer). The differences are small, but the apparent effect is large. Efren isn't really a Magician.

Summary, I would not go out looking for this CD, but I'd buy it if I saw it at SBE or somewhere else (maybe).

BTW, forgive my philosophizing above, sometimes I just have to rant and it is somewhat pool related. :D
 
I saw a Mike Massey exhibition. After his show he was supposed to do a "challenge the pro" for $10 (for charity) but he was so anxious to get on the karaoke machine he put Landon Shuffett on the table and said "you have to beat Landon first then I'll play ya"

He sings ok, not great.
 
catscradle said:
I don't think Massey's song was supposed to be comical. Who is that singing with him? Dawn Hopkins? She is quite good, better than Line. His voice is again okay, but he'd better not give up "artistic pool". ;)
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No, that wasn't Dawn singing with Mike Massey. The CD credits the vocals as Theresa James, who apparently is a singer by trade. I do not know much about her. She has several credits posted on her web page though.
 
landshark77 said:
No, that wasn't Dawn singing with Mike Massey. The CD credits the vocals as Theresa James, who apparently is a singer by trade. I do not know much about her. She has several credits posted on her web page though.
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Thanks, I'll check her out. She has a testimonial from Levon Helm on her site, that's pretty high praise in my book (love "The Band").
 
Jerry McWorter also has an album tiltled "Dynamo Jump." It is an excellent album. Every year at the Super Billiards Expo after party, these performers take the stage and play for the staff and anyone else that sneaks in. It is indeed a fun time for all.
 
Well, I was just very surprised that such a collaboration existed. Sorry if I sounded too sarcastic, that wasn't my intention...just a poor stab at humor, I guess.

It sounds like a fun project. If Earl ever releases a rap album, please let me know (jk!)

-Roger
 
Hey guys, Dawn Hopkins wanted me to post this as she is not a registered member of this forum. This is her direct comment without any changes:

DawnHopkins said:
"Thanks for all you comments. It's fun to hear what everyone has to say. About 5 years ago, after jamming with these people so many times and realizing all their talent, I thought that others in the pool world should know there is something more to these people than their great accomplishments in pool. Most of us are in the beginning stages of writing. I know that the songs of Jerry's are his first ever songs he wrote, so to do what he did with that is quite a big thing. And Line only has a handful of completed songs. I was and still is totally amazed that Albert Lee even considered performing on Mike and my songs, Teresa James and Gib Guilbeau also. Albert is a 5 time country guitar player of the year!! And his piano on there is also just as jam up. Thanks to Carmen, he is friends with these people, probably because they respect his playing so much. It was a project we did for fun, not to make money, although if anyone out there is a record producer and likes anyone of these people you hear, feel free to contact us!!! But really, it is just a passion for all of us, just like pool. Thanks again for listening!"
Dawn
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