Joshua Hedley vs. Ricky Riddle

Joshua Hedley knocked out a fine version of Ricky Riddle's western swing gem "Boogie Woogie Tennessee" for his new album All Hat. 

Joshua Hedley releases All Hat on October 24

Joshua Hedley will release All Hat on October 24th via New West Records. The 11-song set was produced by Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel & Joshua Hedley, and was the first album recorded at Benson’s new studio, The Bismeaux Barn in Austin, TX. 

All Hat is a lively collection of Western Swing tunes that brims with excitement, wit, and verve, as Hedley expertly navigates the tricky dance rhythms of this jazzy style of twang. It’s a sharp left turn in a career defined by sharp left turns, following his 2018 debut Mr. Jukebox, which explored ‘60s countrypolitan and established him as one of the finest old-school country crooners in all of Nashville. Its acclaimed 2022 follow up, Neon Blue, jumped ahead a few decades as Hedley turned his attention to the much-maligned period in country music: the early ‘90s, when a new wave of singing cowboy took their twang into rock arenas. 

Rather than his trusty touring band the Hedliners, for All Hat, Hedley worked with members of Asleep at the Wheel, including veteran fiddle player Jason Roberts. “This album is my pièce de resistance,” he says. “It’s all been building up to this moment. I feel like I’m making music I love more than any other style.”

About his choice to cover the largely overlooked western swing gem "Boogie Woogie Tennessee," Hedley recently told American Songwriter “This is a song released in 1950 by a guy named Ricky Riddle. My friend Dave Tanner bought a used Dodge Durango on Craigslist and found a burned CD under the seat and this song was on it. I learned it from playing it with him. I personally think it’s about a retirement community that likes to party.” Have a listen to Ricky Riddle's original version followed by Joshua Hedley's take below. 

 

One For The Weekend: Jimmy Heap and His Orchestra

Here's a raunchy ripper from bandleader/guitarist Jimmy Heap and his orchestra – check out "Gismo" on Dart from 1959. 

Billy Gray's rare honky tonk gem Nowhere To Go recirculated by Sundazed

Watch the hour-long documentary, The Life and Times of Billy Gray and grab his album Nowhere To Go (But Out of My Mind).

Here's the scoop...

Billy Gray and Wanda Jackson

Previously unavailable on vinyl for more than 50 years, Billy Gray's Nowhere To Go (But Out Of My Mind) – get it directly from Sundazed Records right here – is a rare collection of tracks presents a wealth of hits that helped define country music in the ‘60s and beyond!

If you don’t remember Western Swing in its heyday, or the first generation of Texas Honky Tonk, you may not know Billy Gray. Aside from a select group of music aficionados and musicologists, Billy Gray’s name and significant contributions to country music and western swing have simply gone unrecognized for far too long.

Musically, there were many shades of Billy Gray. Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Performer, Arranger, Bandleader. Whether on stage or in the studio, Billy Gray personified what this music was – and still is – all about.

Billy played behind some of Country Music’s biggest names – Hank Thompson, Ray Price and Willie Nelson – served as Thompson’s and Price’s bandleader – and built quite a following in his own right with his own bands, The Western Okies, The Nuggets and The Cowtowners.

Billy Gray, together with the legendary Hank Thompson created a wealth of hits that helped to define the country music of an era, and beyond, helped launch the career of future rockabilly legend Wanda Jackson, and greatly influenced the future sound of country music. – Joe Hopkins

Watch the Billy Gray documentary below. 

Hey Loretta's Spring Fling @ Cadillac Lounge, Saturday

Swing into Spring with The Rizdales' Tara & Tom Dunphy playing honky tonk from 4 to 7pm.