Scene - Blogs - Stephen King John Mellencamp and T. Bone Burnett set supernatural musical

Stephen King, John Mellencamp and T. Bone Burnett set 'supernatural musical'
Published: 11/21/2012 7:01 AM
Last Modified: 11/14/2012 1:57 PM

"Ghost Brothers of Darkland County" is a southern gothic supernatural musical from co-conspirators Stephen King, John Mellencamp and T Bone Burnett, set for March 19 release from the Hear Music/Concord Music Group.

Stars on the collaboration include music, lyrics and dialog from Elvis Costello, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Neko Case, Taj Mahal, Ryan Bingham and Kris Kristofferson, along with actors Matthew McConaughey, Samantha Mathis and Meg Ryan.

King didn't really know Mellencamp when he agreed to work with him, he told Rolling Stone. "He came to my place in Florida and it was the first time we ever met in person," King told the magazine.

"He tuned my guitar and told me about this ghost story about a cabin he owned. I loved the idea they were brothers, and then years later history repeats itself. Something in that resonated with me deeply."

Right now, there are no official plans to take the show to Broadway.

The first track from the record, Elvis Costello's "That's Me":

The haunting tale of fraternal love, lust, jealousy and revenge was 13 years in the making. The "Ghost Brothers of Darkland County" special release also includes the musical's complete libretto, penned by Stephen King.

The saga began years ago when Mellencamp told King about a cabin on his land in Indiana where two brothers had gotten in a fight over a girl -- one brother accidentally killed the other only to die along with the girl in a car crash a short time later.

King came up with an outline for a play in a matter of days. Off and on, back and forth, they began to develop it into a full-length "blues 'n' roots" music musical, according to an official press statement on the project.

Neko Case delivers "That's Who I Am", Kristofferson sings "How Many Days," Costello is cunning with "That's Me."

The (enhanced CD) Standard Edition features the complete soundtrack, dialog excerpts and digital libretto. The (2CD/1DVD) Deluxe Edition contains the complete soundtrack (with and without dialog), deluxe art work, handwritten lyrics, specially printed libretto and the "Making of Ghost Brothers" mini-documentary DVD featuring in-depth interviews with King, Mellencamp and Burnett along with other bonus material.

Track listing:

"That's Me," Elvis Costello
"That's Who I Am," Neko Case
"So Goddamn Smart," Dave Alvin, Phil Alvin, Sheryl Crow
"Wrong, Wrong, Wrong About Me," Elvis Costello
"Brotherly Love," Ryan Bingham, Will Dailey
"How Many Days," Kris Kristofferson
"You Are Blind," Ryan Bingham
"Home Again," Sheryl Crow, Dave Alvin, Phil Alvin, Taj Mahal
"What's Going On Here," Rosanne Cash
"My Name Is Joe," Clyde Mulroney
"Tear This Cabin Down," Taj Mahal
"And Your Days Are Gone," Sheryl Crow, Dave Alvin, Phil Alvin
"Jukin'," Sheryl Crow
"What Kind of Man Am I," Kris Kristofferson, Phil Alvin, Sheryl Crow, Dave Alvin, Taj Mahal
"So Goddamn Good," Phil Alvin, Dave Alvin, Sheryl Crow
"Away From This World," Sheryl Crow
"Truth," John Mellencamp

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Barrelhouse Beat

Barrelhouse: A colloquialism describing the low saloons at the turn of the century (19th) that served whiskey straight out of the barrel. It's also a reference to the type of music played in those venues. Ex: Barrelhouse music.

Beat: The time or timing. Ex: The band played with a solid beat. Also used as a term describing a reporters specific area of expertise. Ex: The music beat.

About me: I'm Okie born and raised, and have lived all over the state: Oklahoma City, Enid, Moore, Norman, Edmond and Tulsa. I am a music geek, writer, graphic designer and amateur photographer and videographer who's followed the Tulsa and regional music scene since I moved to Green Country more than 10 years ago. I've been enmeshed in Tulsa's varied and vibrant musical night life, what some of us affectionately call a modernized throwback to the Barrelhouse scene, since that time. I fell in love with it. I fell hard.

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Past Articles By Jennifer Chancellor

2/17/2013		Tulsan Johnny Polygon a rapper who delights in hometown crowd
2/15/2013		The Who brings nostalgia, ingenuity to BOK Center
2/15/2013		Lady Gaga tour is canceled
2/15/2013		Audio Adrenaline concert moves to April 7
2/14/2013		The Who brings 'other' rock opera to Tulsa's BOK Center
2/14/2013		Okies nominated for several top ACM awards
2/14/2013		Epic moments of rock 'n' roll history in Tulsa
2/14/2013		The Who talks about 'Quadrophenia' rock opera ahead of BOK show Thursday
2/14/2013		Shawnee songstress Samantha Crain to play Tulsa CD release show Friday
2/14/2013		Rick Springfield to play River Spirit Event Center on Saturday
2/14/2013		Local music roundup: Vaudvillian sideshows? Nerd nights? Live music? Parties? Yes, yes, yes and yes.
2/14/2013		Eli Young band coming to Brady Theater for first time

Jennifer Chancellor's Blog Archive:

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8/2012	7/2012	6/2012	5/2012	4/2012	3/2012
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Jennifer Chancellor
BarrelhouseBeat

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