Tribute To An Underrated Star
My thoughts on the John Anderson Tribute Album
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A few days ago, my good buddy, Stanley, over at If Ever You’re Listening offered to give me some writing prompts if I needed them. I messaged him and took him up on the kind offer, and he gave me this prompt; “write about a new album that dropped this month that resonates with you, and why.”
I knew as soon as I read the prompt, exactly which album I’d be choosing for this endeavor — Something Borrowed, Something New: A Tribute To John Anderson.
Back at the beginning of Summer, I remember seeing the announcement for this album and being blown away. First of all; I never expected John Anderson to get a full-on tribute album. He’s a great artist, and very underrated, so he deserved it for sure, I was just surprised. Secondly; the names on this album cover were astounding. The people they gathered to make this album are total powerhouses. Tyler Childers, Luke Combs, Sierra Ferrell, Ashley McBryde, Jamey Johnson, Eric Church, Sturgill Simpson, and even the late, great, John Prine were some of the names that stood out the most.
The first single released was, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings’ cover of, “I Just Came Home To Count The Memories”.
I think this was just fine. I didn’t dislike the cover, but I much prefer the original version of the song. I think the simplified instrumental is nice, and it fits the album, but as a single I wasn’t particularly impressed.
Single number two was Brent Cobb’s rendition of “Wild and Blue”.
I feel very similarly about this song as the last. It’s good, but it’s definitely not better than the original, or Alan Jackson’s cover from a few years back. I don’t know what it is with these songs, but…
