DISClaimer Single Reviews: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Release ‘Catchy Country Rocker’

/by

I can’t remember when I enjoyed a listening session more.

The reason is that this edition of DISClaimer reviews current country records that are actually country music. Thanks for that, Joshua Hedley, Jake Worthington, Avery Anna, Alex Miller, HARDY and the rest of you fine folks.

It also says something about the depth of our talent pool when Jon Randall, Ray Benson, Shooter Jennings, Alan Jackson, Daniel Tashian, Jerry Salley and Jerry Douglas are names in the credits and not out front. How cool is that?

The Disc of the Day belongs to the legendary, enduring Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. The group may be retiring, but it clearly still has plenty of gas in its tank.

Give a DISCovery Award to Brandon Wisham.

BRANDON WISHAM / “Whiskey’s Whisperin’”
Writers: Andrew Stoelzing/Brandon Wisham/Nate Miles/Zachary Knowles; Producer: Nate Miles; Label: UMG
– He sounds like a wonderful singer. Imagine what he could do with a song that had a melody.

JAKE OWEN / “Long Time Lovin’ You”
Writers: Kendell Marvel/Will Jones; Producers: Jake Owen, Kendell Marvel, Shooter Jennings; Label: Good Company Entertainment
– Owen sings in a softer tone and a lower register on this gentle love ballad. It’s lovely, simple folk-country, somewhat in the manner of the late Don Williams. Which is to say, it’s awfully good. Ear cleansing and spirit soothing.

ALEX MILLER / “Secondhand Smoke”
Writers: Alan Jackson/Jim McBride; Producer: Jerry Salley; Label: Billy Jam Records
– Yee-Haw! This honky-tonk romp will have you grinning from ear to ear. Get a load of those songwriter credits. Is there any doubt in your mind that this is a COUNTRY record? Miller is one of our finest singers, and he really struts his stuff on this barroom toe-tapper.

HARDY / “Dog Years”
Writer: Michael Hardy; Producer: Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud Records
– As a total dog lover, I found this irresistible. It’s written from the point of view of a stray who finds a boy to love him. And, yes, the ballad ends sadly, as every good dog story does. They are wonderful little beings who come into our lives, but leave too soon because they just don’t live as long as we do. Hardy captures these emotions perfectly.

JOSHUA HEDLEY / “Fresh Hot Biscuits”
Writer: Joshua Hedley; Producers: Joshua Hedley, Ray Benson; Label: New West Records
– Hedley teams up with members of Asleep at the Wheel for this splendid western-swing bopper. In addition to delivering a dandy, jaunty vocal, he breaks out a hot fiddle solo in midsong. If you’d like to catch this country talent live, head on downtown to Robert’s Western World whenever he’s performing as the resident entertainer.

NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND / “Night After Night”
Writers: Daniel Tashian/Paul Kennerley; Producer: Jerry Douglas; Label: Many Hats Distribution
– OMG what a delightful track. The band zips through this catchy country rocker with joyous abandon. The song has more hooks than a tuna boat, and Jeff Hanna’s lead vocal is beyond cool. Put this on endless repeat. The Dirt Band is currently on its farewell tour. Go see these legends while you still can.

ASHLEY COOKE / “The Hell You Are”
Writers: Ashley Cooke/Chase McGill/Emily Weisband/Joe Fox/Seth Ennis; Producer: Dann Huff; Label: Big Loud Records
– She’s finally had enough. In this lively, rollicking kiss-off, she lets him know that his lines don’t work anymore. The mix perfectly balances her saucy delivery and a full-bodied country-rock production with notes that pierce like drops of fire. Extremely well done.

CHARLEY PRIDE / “Thank You Pretty Baby”
Writers: Brook Benton/Clyde Otis; Producers: Bob Pickering, Charley Pride; Label: Music City Records
– Endlessly is a tribute album to Brook Benton (1931-1988) by Pride. The new CD came about after the tapes for it were discovered following the superstar’s death from COVID in 2020. The performances are a revelation, perhaps the finest vocals of the Hall of Famer’s career. This entire project is essential listening. The single from it is a charming, retro bopper, punctuated by sax bursts and propelled by some punchy, shuffling percussion.

AVERY ANNA / “Girl of Constant Sorrow”
Writer: Avery Anna; Producer: David Fanning; Label: Warner Music Nashville
– This is an enchanting, folk-maiden performance. Her aching soprano is backed by simple acoustic guitar accompaniment. Let the cares of the world slip away and allow yourself to be transported back to a time when music was this pure and clear.

JAKE WORTHINGTON / “Two First Names”
Writers: Brett Tyler/Jake Worthington/Wyatt McCubbin; Producer: Joey Moi; Label: Big Loud Records
– Twang to spare. The witty lyric is groovy enough, but Worthington’s vocal delivery of it is honky-tonk nirvana. Add some stuttering guitar, barrelhoue piano, stinging steel and fiddle flourishes and you’re got yourself a shining little country-music jewel. Worthington’s sophomore album also features collabs with Miranda, Marty and Mae Estes. Get it.

VINCENT MASON / “Days Are Numbered”
Writers: Chase McDaniel/Geoff Warburton/Jessie Jo Dillon/Vincent Mason; Producers: Jake Gear, Vincent Mason; Label: MCA Nashville/Music Soup/Interscope Records
– There’s something kinda muffled about the way his vocal is miked. The yearning, contemplative song is a easy-going ride with his tender tenor backed by steel and guitar.

HUNEYFIRE / “My Country”
Writers: Caitlin Evanson/Cheaza Figueroa/Marriana Barlow; Producer: Cheaza Figueroa; Label: Double Decades Entertainment
– The mother-daughter duo issues this slowly paced song as a statement of purpose. It is somewhat thinly produced for a range-y power ballad, but they warble it well.

Robert K Oermann
Latest posts by Robert K Oermann (see all)