DISClaimer Single Reviews: Charlie Worsham & Luke Combs Create ‘Musical Magic’

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Charlie Worsham, Luke Combs

The contenders in DISClaimer this week pit established hit makers against up-and-comers.

In the former column are John Rich, Dolly Parton, Scotty McCreery and Blake Shelton. On the up-and-comers ballot are Catie Offferman, Elvie Shane, Alana Springsteen and Boy Named Banjo.

Guess what? The Disc of the Day winner is a track that combines the two. Country king Luke Combs lends his voice to aspiring hit maker Charlie Worsham’s to take the prize.

The DISCovery Award winner is Oliver Anthony. I look forward to him singing with accompanists and a record producer.

CATIE OFFERMAN & HAYES CARLL / “Ask Me to Dance”
Writers: Catie Offerman/Brent Cobb/Neil Medley; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: MCA Nashville
– Two bored honky-tonkers face closing time, so she urges him to make a move. Drawling, clever and utterly endearing. Huff’s production has twang and toe-tapping to spare.

SCOTTY McCREERY / “Cab in a Solo”
Writers: Scotty McCreery/Frank Rogers/Brent Anderson; Producers: Frank Rogers/Derek Wells/Aaaron Eshuis; Label: Triple Tigers
– This is fine mainstream country. It’s a heartbreak tune where he tries unsuccessfully to make up with her by going to her place with flowers and a bottle of wine. No luck. So he’s drinking cabernet in a solo cup, by himself in his truck. Hence, “Cab in a solo, solo in the cab of my truck.” Well written. McCreery is on a roll with five No. 1 records under his belt.

ALANA SPRINGSTEEN / “amen”
Writers: Alana Springsteen/Delacey/Sarah Solovay/Ido Zmishlany; Producers: Alana Springsteen/Ido Zmishlany; Label: Columbia
– Sung from a place of honesty and vulnerability, this captures the feelings of someone in their 20s who is venturing out on their own. Yes, she’ll make mistakes and probably screw up, but it’s her life to live. Her raw, lonesome vocal is set in a stark audio landscape of electric guitar, voices and an echo chamber. Very effective.

CHARLIE WORSHAM & LUKE COMBS / “How I Learned to Pray”
Writers: Charlie Worsham/Jeremy Spillman/Ryan Tyndell; Producer: Jaren Johnston; Label: Warner
– Beautifully done. Worsham’s pitch-perfect voice and guitar eloquence carry the poignant piece with a wonderfully sympathetic assist by Combs. If you don’t already love Charlie Worsham, you are way behind the times. Get on board and get ready for Compadres, an October EP featuring collaborations with Lainey Wilson, Kip Moore, Dierks Bentley and Elle King as well as this little moment of musical magic.

GWEN STEFANI & BLAKE SHELTON / “Love Is Alive”
Writer: Kent Robbins; Producer: Brent Maher; Label: BMG
– The first track from the forthcoming Judds tribute album is a revelation. Stefani carries the lead vocal with admirable finesse, smooth assurance and perfect emotional shading. Shelton holds back, offering flawless harmony support. The result is a polished audio jewel. Two stars twinkling brightly.

DOLLY PARTON / “Let It Be”
Writers: John Lennon/Paul McCartney; Producer: Kent Wells; Label: Butterfly/Big Machine
– Drawn from Parton’s forthcoming Rockstar album, the classic power ballad features ample vocals and piano by Paul McCartney, not to mention Peter Frampton’s guitar solo and percussion by Ringo Starr and Mick Fleetwood. Frankly, I’m kinda sick of the song, but the celebrity contributions kept me listening intently.

ELVIE SHANE / “Jonesin”
Writers: Elvie Shane/Oscar Charles/Ryan Tyndall/Jeremy Spillman; Producer: Oscar Charles; Label: BBR/Wheelhouse
– Blue-collar rocking with a driving rhythm section, chaotic electric guitars and a shredded, crisis-inducing vocal, this is edgy stuff. Shane’s performance raises goosebumps as he wails of unsatisfied needs and longing for a fiery life. This guy always scores major points for being both utterly individualistic and undeniably gifted.

OLVIER ANTHONY / “Rich Man North of Richmond”
Writer: Oliver Anthony; Producer: none listed; Label: OAM
– This tune is a viral sensation. I don’t see what all the hubbub is about: Anthony is merely singing about the populist frustration that country music has been addressing for generations—hard work for low pay, onerous taxes, exploitative rich folks, unfeeling politicians. Maybe it’s the fact that the lyric complains about fat people on welfare? Is that all? Musically, it’s not much, either. The track is just him bellowing with solo guitar accompaniment.

JENNY TOLMAN / “Right Back”
Writers: Jenny Tolman/Dave Brainard/Jeff Silbar; Producer: Dave Brainard; Label: Old Sol
– Our favorite indie darling returns with a lively two stepper that’s country, country, country. She tells her beer-swilling deadbeat hubby she’s heading to the store, but she’s really taking off for parts unknown. Bye-bye, buddy.

MICHAEL RAY & MEGHAN PATRICK / “Spirits and Demons”
Writers: Allison Veltz Cruz/Alexander Palmer/Michael Tyler; Producer: Michael Knox; Label: Warner
– This oomphy-sounding duet sez that booze doesn’t really cure a heartbreak. “Getting over you drunk is the only thing that’s lasting forever and ever.” Both partners sing with gusto.

BOY NAMED BANJO / “Lonely In This Town”
Writers: Barton Davies/Chris Stevens/Marv Green/William Reames; Producer: Oscar Charles; Label: Mercury
– Is this the perfect contemporary country band or what? Every track I have heard from Boy Named Banjo during the past two years has been almost impossibly exquisite, and this splendid, jangling country rocker is no exception. Everything works here, the road-trip rhythm, the accomplished harmony singing, the hooky songwriting, the hearty lead vocal the pinpoint production. These guys have it ALL going on.

JOHN RICH / “I’m Offended”
Writers: John Rich/Bobby Pinson/Vicky McGehee; Producer: none listed; Label: JR
– It aims to be light hearted, but the sentiment is so simplistic it just goes in one ear and out the other.

Robert K Oermann
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