After 5-Year Break, Clint Black Releases

 

Mary Morningstar

Country star Clint Black launched his recording¹ career in 1989 with RCA Records. During his 12 years with the label, Clint charted 27 Top 5 singles, including 13 Number Ones. He enjoyed a long and successful relationship with the label. For his latest collection, however, Black made the decision to take more control of the business side of his career.

After a five-year break from recording, Clint Black is back with Spend My Time, a new album that reflects on the changes in his life during his time away. The singer took two years off from recording following the birth of his daughter. When he returned, Clint was still under contract to record one more album for RCA. But, both sides came to the amicable² decision that it was time for him to move on. Although many offers poured in from other major record companies, Clint had another idea. Last year, he and long-time Sony Music Group executive³ Mike Kraski formed Equity⁴ Records. The company allows its artists to own their master recordings⁵, and offers them profit sharing.
Clint's new album, Spend My Time, is Equity's first release. The CD includes 12 tracks, all written or co-written by Black, that blend his traditional Country style with elements of jazz, blues⁶ and funk.
Clint grew up in Houston, Texas, but moved to Los Angeles following his 1991 marriage to actress Lisa Hartman. While he was living in California, Clint also became interested in acting⁷ and directing. Three years ago, the couple relocated to Nashville, where he built a house, complete with his own recording studio. "This feels a lot more like home than a big city like Los Angeles," he says.
As for Clint's future plans - he says he'll direct the videos for his new album, perform some tour dates and possibly accept more acting roles.
Spend My Time recently debuted⁸ at Number 3 on Billboard⁹'s Country Albums chart, marking his highest entry on that list since his 1993 effort, No Time To Kill.

注释：
Country star 是Country Music star的简称，美国乡村音乐明星
launch [lB:ntF] vt. 开始，发起
RCA Records美国老牌唱片公司（是世界上最优秀的古典唱片名厂之一）
label [5leibl] n. 签条，这里指同唱片公司的一纸合约
chart [tFB:t] vt. 制作
single [5siN^l] n. 一个，这里指打榜用的单曲
collection [kE5lekFEn] n. 收藏，这里指专辑
take…off 离开
contract [5kCntrAkt] n. 合同
amicable [5AmikEbl] adj. 友善的，和平的
move on 继续前进
pour [pC:, pCE] v. 灌注，参与进来
co-written 合作编写
blend [blend] vt. 混和
funk [fQNk] n. 俗称放克，节拍比Hip-hop快些，节奏完全都是鼓声及Bass
Houston [5hju:stEn] n. 休斯顿
Texas [5teksEs] n.德克萨斯州（美国一州）
relocate [5ri:lEu5keit] v. 重新回到
Nashville [5nAFvIl] 纳什维尔
acting [5AktiN] adj. 代理的
billboard [5bilbC:d] n. （户外）布告板，这里特指美国著名的"公告牌排行榜"

1 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

2 amicable   

adj.和平的，友好的；友善的

参考例句：

• The two nations reached an amicable agreement.两国达成了一项友好协议。
• The two nations settled their quarrel in an amicable way.两国以和睦友好的方式解决了他们的争端。

3 executive   

adj.执行的，行政的；n.执行者，行政官，经理

参考例句：

• A good executive usually gets on well with people.一个好的高级管理人员通常与人们相处得很好。
• He is a man of great executive ability.他是个具有极高管理能力的人。

4 equity   

n.公正，公平，（无固定利息的）股票

参考例句：

• They shared the work of the house with equity.他们公平地分担家务。
• To capture his equity,Murphy must either sell or refinance.要获得资产净值，墨菲必须出售或者重新融资。

5 recordings   

n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片

参考例句：

• a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
• old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐

6 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

7 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

8 debuted   

初次表演，初次登台（debut的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• In late 2003 a full-size SUV, the Pathfinder Armada, debuted. 2003年末，全尺寸SUV的探路者无敌舰队，推出。
• The album debuted at number two and quickly went platinum. 专辑一亮相就荣登排行榜第二名，很快就取得了白金销量。

9 billboard   

n.布告板，揭示栏，广告牌

参考例句：

• He ploughed his energies into his father's billboard business.他把精力投入到父亲的广告牌业务中。
• Billboard spreads will be simpler and more eye-catching.广告牌广告会比较简单且更引人注目。