DISClaimer Single Reviews: HARDY Brings Superstars Together For Disc Of The Day

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It’s an all-star collaborations day here at DISClaimer.

You’ve got your HARDY/Tim/Eric/Morgan outing, your Reba/Brandy/Lukas trio, your Eddie/Larry/John/Shawn bluegrass romp, and your George/Luke duet for your listening pleasure. Sprinkle in some delights from Ana Christina Cash, Ernest, and Harper Grace and you have one tasty playlist.

It’s not the stars that counted when the listening session ended. It’s the songwriting. And because of that, Hardy’s “McArthur” wins the Disc of the Day prize.

Give new Nashvillian Mike Parker a DISCovery Award.

THE JACK WHARFF BAND / “No Way Out”
Writers: David “Messy” Mescon/Jack Wharff/Mikey Reaves/Wes Critt; Producer: David “Messy” Mescon; Label: Big Machine Records
– Minor-key moodiness as the anguished tenor vocalist finds himself trapped and helpless. “Nothing left to lose,” he cries as a deep-echo twang bass guitar throbs in sympathy. For a peppier experience, check out the band’s new tempo tune “A Month, a Week, a Day.” It ripples with the longing of a guy who’s been on the road too long. The Jack Wharff Band is scheduled to for its debut Opry appearance next week, on Feb. 10.

HARDY, TIM McGRAW, ERIC CHURCH & MORGAN WALLEN / “McArthur”
Writers: Chase McGill/Jameson Rodgers/Josh Thompson/Michael Hardy; Producer: Jay Joyce; Label: Big Loud Records
– Wow. What a song. A poor man’s meditation on morality and passing value along through the generations. Deeply stirring. No wonder the superstars climbed on board HARDY’s wagon.

KASHUS CULPEPPER / “Man of His Word”
Writers: Kashus Culpepper/Natalie Hemby; Producer: Brian Elmquist; Label: Big Loud/Mercury Records
– Culpepper brought down the house on Tuesday evening (Feb. 3) when he performed this on ABC-TV’s Jimmy Kimmel Live. His effortless folk-soul voice delivered the message in a groove-soaked arrangement that was just delicious. “She don’t need a man that keeps talking/She needs a man of his word.” One of Nashville’s most exciting new voices. Make this his year.

GEORGE BIRGE & LUKE BRYAN / “Ride, Ride, Ride”
Writers: Casey Brown/George Birge/Parker Welling/Tyler Hubbard; Producer: Casey Brown; Label: RECORDS Nashville
– An old cowhand shares his memories of hard times with a youngster. The secret to a good life is to ride on through the midnight storm. The youngster replies that it’s all worth the grit and perseverance. The big production gives this stately oomph, and both vocalists give it their all.

ANA CHRISTINA CASH / “Daybreak”
Writers: Ana Christina Cash/Gabriella Scotto/Willie Breeding; Producers: John Carter Cash, Willie Breeding; Label: Avondale Records
– Need a little summertime right now? Let the steamy sizzle of this slow-groove burner take you there. South Florida native Cash fantasizes about getting away from it all in a tropical paradise as “a couple of beach bums” who are “barely wearing clothes.” She sings, “We need a day break,” and do we ever. This is the lead track on the Cuban-American’s just-released, bi-lingual album The Sunshine State. Also check out “Cheap Margaritas” and “Last Call.”

BRIAN KELLEY / “93 in the Keys”
Writers: Summer Overstreet/Rian Ball/Aaron Raitiere; Producer: Katlin Owen; Label: Nashville South Records
– Kelley is ready for a sunny escape to the Caribbean. His hushed baritone is sleepy/relaxed while the soft-sounding track ebbs and flows like the tide.

MIKE PARKER / “My Heart Your Hands”
Writers: Bryan Simpson/Josh Kerr/Shy Carter; Producer: Jimmy Robbins; Label: Mailbox Money Records
– This former American Idol finalist has moved to Nashville and issued his debut single. It’s a slow-jam soul ballad with a deeply romantic lyric. Valentine’s Day is next week, and Parker has the soundtrack.

REBA McENTIRE, BRANDY CLARK & LUKAS NELSON / “Trailblazer”
Writers: Brandy Clark/Lainey Wilson/Miranda Lambert; Producer: Brandy Clark, Reba McEntire; Label: Rockin’ R Records
– McEntire re-imagines her 2025 song with able assistance from co-writer and co-producer Brandy Clark plus a lovely Lukas Nelson guitar solo. Sunday’s Grammy telecast spotlit the Country Music Hall of Famer and her two stellar harmony singers during its In Memorium segment, and it was mighty, mighty touching

HARPER GRACE / “If Daddy Says No”
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Label: Curb Records
– She’s torn between her love for her father and her suitor. What is she going to do if her daddy doesn’t approve of him and won’t walk her down the aisle? The ballad’s wooshing production frames Grace’s highly expressive vocal performance perfectly.

ERNEST / “Lorelei”
Writers: Ben Hayslip/Ernest Keith Smith/Mark Holman/Rhett Akins; Producers: ERNEST, Jacob Durrett; Label: Big Loud Records
– He’s a seafarer who is on a fruitless quest for an elusive woman. In German mythology, the Lorelei is a siren on the Rhine River rocks who lures sailors to their doom. But this gal sounds a lot more merry and jaunty than that. The bopping, sunshiny groove is addictive. Play this.

EDDIE SANDERS, LARRY CORDLE, JOHN COWAN & SHAWN CAMP / “Calling Me”
Writer: Edgar Sanders; Producers: Eddie Sanders, Scott Vestal; Label: True Lonesome Records
– Toe-tapping bluegrass gospel with an all-star cast. Everybody gets a shot at a lead vocal, and listening for each of my favorites was fun. The arrangement is banjo dominant, but there’s plenty of slippery fiddling, too.

KENT BLAZY / “American Dreamers”
Writer: Kent Blazy; Producer: Kent Blazy; Label: KB
– Blazy has written many hit for others, but he also makes records, himself. This one’s a rocking, Springsteen-y anthem for musician dreamers everywhere. Earnest and energetic, with homemade charm.

THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS / “Up From the Bottom”
Writers: Andrew Falco/Andrew Hall/Christopher Pandolfi/Jeremy Garret/Travis Book; Producer: The Infamous Stringdusters; Label: Americana Vibes
– This jam-grass band is celebrating its 20th anniversary with an album titled 20/20. This track explains its longevity—these are acoustic-music guys with a rock & roll attitude. The shifting tempos, hearty harmonies and ear tickling instrumental virtuosity are all in full flight here.

Robert K Oermann
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