Luke Bell’s Unreleased Recordings Set For Release In November On ‘The King Is Back’

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Thirty Tigers is posthumously releasing Luke Bell‘s The King Is Back, a 28-song album of the unreleased recordings that would have made up Bell’s sophomore album, on Nov. 7.

Three years ago, the Wyoming-born singer/songwriter tragically passed away at age 32. The collection captures Bell in his artistic prime, spinning stories about blue-collar workers, heartbroken ramblers, and the personal struggles that bind us together. The project was assembled by Luke’s mother Carol Bell and manager Brian Buchanan, and was produced by Andrija Tokic, Stephen Daly, Justin Frances and Luke Bell, who wrote every song.

The album’s title track “The King Is Back” was just released alongside a video featuring footage of Bell and his best friend, his dog Bill, at the historic TE Ranch west of Cody, Wyoming where he lived and worked during his musical off seasons.

Bell was raised in Cody, Wyoming, and independently released two albums before signing with Thirty Tigers for his self-titled debut, which established him as one of the strongest new voices in country. Bell tragically lost his father to cancer in 2015 and began struggling with severe mental illness, which made it increasingly difficult to play shows and continue living in Nashville. He was ultimately diagnosed as bipolar, and spent the following years tirelessly grappling with his illness, leading to hospitalizations and even a stint in jail. On August 26, 2022, Bell was found dead in Tucson, Arizona, after going missing.

The King Is Back is available for pre-order including a double LP pressed on cloud colored vinyl in a deluxe gatefold jacket, and includes a 24-page lyric booklet with photos and heartfelt liner notes written by Carol Bell. All proceeds from the album release will support The Luke Bell Memorial Affordable Counseling Program, a non-profit founded by Carol and Jane Bell that supports Big Horn Basin residents by providing up to 10 therapy sessions.

“It’s a meaningful way for Luke to give back to his community,” Carol says of the album’s charitable purpose. “A lot of Luke’s songs feature brave, cocksure characters who are hiding some kind of pain, and I think Luke was writing about himself, even though the songs weren’t always autobiographical. I also see traces of Luke in funny songs like ‘Orangutang,’ which might be about a Wyoming kid who wound up in Nashville, feeling like an ape who just escaped the zoo. The willingness to be silly and ridiculous, for the sake of fun – that’s very much like Luke, too. He changed the way we see the world. He helped us see people we didn’t always notice before, and he helped remind us how much they matter.”

On Sept. 11 at AmericanaFest in Nashville, Western AF will present a tribute to Luke Bell at The Basement East featuring many of Luke’s peers as well as his sister, Jane Bell.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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