Ray,

It you are referring to Frankie Ballard, the artist I was working with last year, he has recorded about 8 songs and his first single is out next month. The other people that I have worked with, Steel Magnolia are around number 5 this week with their song, "Keep on Loving You" and are the fastest rising duo in country history. My involvement with them, writer Julie Moriva and Frankie have all been in writing with them and an advisory role on their career's.

There are a number of steps all of us go through at any level. In many cases, even the stars themselves will do "demos" on a song first to see if they want to committ the full resources for a finished project. One of the reasons Jeffery Steel gets the cuts he does is his full demos often provide the "testing ground" on many songs before the "full up" plug is pulled. If you were to go through his catalogue, you would hear many of the Rascal Flatts, Faith Hill, and Montgomery Gentry songs in their development stages. There are also several of the same that didn't make the final cut.

Then there are songs that are even recorded but don't make the final cut on a CD. I had a Patty Loveless cut that was this way. The song was recorded and ready to be released, but didn't make it down to the final CD. Often, these are called "Cut outs" and might wind up on another record or one of the "three new songs" on the Greatest Hits" CD's.

Lee Anne Rhymes had to actually sue her Father once for releasing a full CD of "cut outs" against her will. It is a strange business no matter what level you are in.

MAB