Courtesy of Big Machine Records
WIMBERLEY, TX (March 17, 2022) – He has twisted the mystic, the quixotic and the profane into songs for more than half a century on a journey that has crossed paths with the most acclaimed and quirky artists of our time. With a love of life, characters and a certain funky beat, the Oklahoma-born, Texas-dwelling creative delivers CO-STARRING TOO.
LISTEN/STREAM CO-STARRING TOO
WATCH Eric Church Co-write “Desperate Man (ft. The Band of Heathens)”
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“It’s the honor and influence Ray Wylie Hubbard boasts that he’s able to call together such talent to the studio,” says Saving Country Music. “…renamed the Wylie Llama from his influence and wisdom imparted to the next generation of artists, Ray Wylie Hubbard is one of the most widely-respected artist by fellow artists across the country, rock, and blues worlds.”
Reflecting on 2020’s CO-STARRING – the all-star project that included Don Was, Joe Walsh, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Dunn, Peter Rowan, Larkin Poe and Aaron Lee Tasjan, among others – he returns with another bar-setting eclectic mix. This time gathering a musical cohort of Texas icons, Americana legends, hardcore rockers and upstarts making their mark who all recognize the power of the unabashed and on-the-fringe RWH.
“It’s that funky sexy cool thing, I’m chasing,” Hubbard says. “But also, that groovy, gritty place where life gets real, mistakes get made and sometimes souls get saved. If we can do that, have some fun with music people that I dig, then we’ve done it. And I think we have.”
Previewing a few tracks early, Whiskey Riff says, “The song [‘Hellbent for Leather’ ft. Steve Earle] is a good ol’ fashioned boot stomper about leaving the big city to head back to their roots.”
While Louder Sound touted in Tracks of the Week, “This time it’s Naturally Wild, which barrels along like something from the more boisterous end of Tom Petty’s ouvre, and he’s called in John 5 for the solo and Lzzy Hale for some vocals. Such is Hale’s commitment to her craft that she tends to elevate anything she touches, and this is no exception. We’re also awarding bonus points for rhyming ‘black leather jacket’ with ‘corporate racket’.”
CO-STARRING TOO TRACKLIST:
1. Stone Blind Horses (ft. Willie Nelson)
2. Groove (ft. Kevin Russell and Shiny Soul Sisters)
3. Only a Fool (ft. The Bluebonnets)
4. Hellbent for Leather (ft. Steve Earle)
5. Naturally Wild (ft. Lzzy Hale and John 5)
6. Fancy Boys (ft. Hayes Carll, James McMurtry, Dalton Domino)
7.Texas Wild Side (ft. The Last Bandoleros)
8. Till My Wheels Fall Off (ft. Wade Bowen, Randy Rogers, Cody Canada)
9. Pretty Reckless (ft. Wynonna Judd, Jaimee Harris, Charlie Sexton, and Gurf Morlix)
10. Ride or Die (ft. Ringo Starr, Lucas Hubbard, Steve Lukather, Eliza Gilkyson, Ann Wilson)
11. Desperate Man (ft. The Band of Heathens)
Relix says, “he’s as vital as ever, still making music with the same enthusiasm he’s evidenced over the entire course of his career.”
And true to his roadhouse roots, the man who gave the world “Snake Farm” is hitting the pavement with tour stops in support of the new music and fan-acclaimed tunes. The 75-year-old cult hero and Texas Songwriters Hall of Famer heads through the state with upcoming shows at Granada Theater (3/19 in Dallas), The Heights Theater (3/24 in Houston), Gruene Hall (3/25 in New Braunfels) and Saxon Pub (3/26 in Austin) before heading across the country. For more music, dates and mischief, visit raywylie.com.
