‘Hixtape: Vol. 3: Difftape’ Reimagines Joe Diffie Classics With Special Collaborations
Photo: Courtesy of Big Loud Records
Hixtape: Vol. 3: Difftape, a tribute to country legend Joe Diffie led by genre fusionist Hardy, is out now via Big Loud Records. The project is being released in conjunction with the Diffie Estate on the fourth anniversary of his passing.
Among the album’s 17 reimagined Diffie classics are never-before-heard recordings captured in 2006, and one previously unreleased original, “Life Had Plans For Me,” featuring Diffie’s son Parker. Additional members of Diffie’s family contributed backing vocals on the rendition of “Prop Me Up Beside The Jukebox (If I Die),” as part of The Difftones—a one-track-only supergroup comprised of the Diffies and vocals from a variety of featured artists on the project.
“As someone who had the profound privilege of performing alongside my father, it fills my heart with immense joy to witness his enduring legacy continued with the same passion and fervor that he embodied,” shares Parker. “The release of Hixtape: Vol. 3: Difftape is an opportunity to not only celebrate the past but also to embrace the future with reverence and enthusiasm.”
The track “Ships That Don’t Come In” finds Diffie’s vocals intermingled with Luke Combs and late country giant Toby Keith–marking Keith’s final recorded vocal before his passing in February. The collection includes “If The Devil Danced In Empty Pockets,” “Bigger Than The Beatles” and “Third Rock From The Sun,” among others.
Hardy, Morgan Wallen and Post Malone led collaborations with Hixtape Vol. 3: Difftape (Small Batch) in November. The sampling consisted of “John Deere Green,” which was released just in time for the tune’s 30th anniversary, and the 1994 No. 1 “Pickup Man,” which the three artists debuted during their performance at the 57th CMA Awards.
More special guests appearing on the tribute include Aaron Tippin, Blake Shelton, Chris Young, Clint Black, Darius Rucker, Hailey Whitters, Jack Ingram, Kameron Marlowe, Koe Wetzel, Lauren Watkins, Luke Bryan, Mark Wills, Nate Smith, Old Dominion, Post Malone, Randall King, Reba McEntire and Sammy Kershaw, who join returning cast Brooks & Dunn, Ernest, Hardy, Jake Worthington, Jon Pardi, Lainey Wilson, Larry Fleet, Randy Houser, Morgan Wallen and Tracy Lawrence.
“I’m honored that we get to be a small part of the legacy of Joe Diffie with Difftape,” says Hardy. “The thing I’ve always admired about Joe’s catalog is the quality of the songs. He had an unbelievable ear for hits, and I love that we got this cast together to celebrate them.”
- “John Deere Green” (Joe Diffie, Morgan Wallen, Hardy)
- “Pickup Man” (Joe Diffie, Post Malone)
- “Ships That Don’t Come In” (Joe Diffie, Toby Keith, Luke Combs)
- “Third Rock From The Sun” (Joe Diffie, Blake Shelton, Hardy, Brooks & Dunn)
- “Prop Me Up Beside The Jukebox (If I Die)” (Joe Diffie, Tracy Lawrence, Lainey Wilson, The Difftones)
- “Bigger Than The Beatles” (Joe Diffie, Jon Pardi, Old Dominion)
- “Honky Tonk Attitude” (Joe Diffie, Luke Bryan, Randy Houser)
- “Is It Cold In Here” (Joe Diffie, Reba McEntire, Jake Worthington)
- “Texas Size Heartache” (Joe Diffie, Clint Black, Larry Fleet)
- “Home” (Joe Diffie, Darius Rucker, Hailey Whitters)
- “C-O-U-N-T-R-Y” (Joe Diffie, Aaron Tippin, Ernest)
- “So Help Me Girl” (Joe Diffie, Mark Wills, Nate Smith)
- “New Way (To Light Up An Old Flame)” (Joe Diffie, Randall King, Sammy Kershaw)
- “If The Devil Danced In Empty Pockets” (Joe Diffie, Jack Ingram, Koe Wetzel)
- “A Night To Remember” (Joe Diffie, Lauren Watkins, Kameron Marlowe)
- “In Another World” (Joe Diffie, Chris Young)
- “Life Had Plans For Me” (Joe Diffie, Hardy, Parker Diffie)
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