Charley Crockett Changes It Up for New Album “Man From Waco”
The hardest working man in country music, and the reigning Saving Country Music Artist of the Year is at it again. Just a few months after releasing his latest covers record, Jukebox Charley, Charley Crockett has just announced a new original album called The Man from Waco to be released on September 9th via Son of Davy/Thirty Tigers, ensuring Crockett keeps up with his prolific two-albums-per-year clip.
Charley Crockett is certainly not hurting for recorded content, but there are quite a few things that will make The Man from Waco unique from his previous releases. First, Crockett breaks his streak of working with producer Billy Horton for the new album, and instead goes with the man who has been managing Crockett for a while now, Texas music legend Bruce Robison. The album was recorded at Bruce’s studio The Bunker just outside of Austin, TX in Lockhart where Robison also records all of his stuff for his song/profile series The Next Waltz.
Also making the album unique, Crockett recorded it entirely with his backing band The Blue Drifters as opposed to bringing in auxiliary players. And even though Charley oscillates between original records and cover records paying tribute to past greats, his original albums also tend to have a few cover songs too. On The Man from Waco, Crockett writes or co-writes all 14 tracks, including a few written with Blue Drifter multi-instrumentalist Kullen Fox, and one where Bob Dylan gets an interpolated credit.
This approach allows The Man from Waco to carry a loose but cohesive theme throughout the album—something Charley Crockett hasn’t really dabbled with in his previous original records. The album is bookended by a theme song, and bisected by the title track. Some will bellyache that there has been too much Charley Crockett in too short of a window. Those people should probably check out what Zach Bryan is doing these days. But Crockett remains undeterred by his critics, many of whom seem to coagulate around Saving Country Music comments sections.
“Everybody was telling me: ‘go right, go right, go right,’” says Crockett. “I went left. I had to hold on to what has gotten me this far.”
As for working with Bruce Robison, Crockett says, “I just wanted an honest partnership: do it at your place, live to tape, everybody in the room. The magic is in the performances on that tape. That’s what Bruce wanted to do, that’s what I wanted to do. When we were done, I said ‘these are masters, not demos.’”
Charley Crockett just continues to follow his gut, and it’s gotten him pretty far. The Man from Waco can now be pre-ordered, and a new song “I’m Just a Clown” showing off Crockett’s soulful side can be heard below.
TRACK LIST:
1. The Man From Waco Theme (Charley Crockett, Kullen Fox)
2. Cowboy Candy (Charley Crockett)
3. Time Of The Cottonwood Trees (Charley Crockett)
4. Just Like Honey (Charley Crockett, Kullen Fox)
5. I’m Just A Clown (Charley Crockett)
6. Black Sedan (Charley Crockett, Kullen Fox)
7. The Man From Waco (Charley Crockett, Bruce Robison, Kullen Fox, Taylor Grace)
8. Trinity River (Charley Crockett)
9. Tom Turkey (Charley Crockett, Bob Dylan) *
10. Odessa (Charley Crockett, Nathan Fleming)
11. All The Way From Atlanta (Charley Crockett)
12. Horse Thief Mesa (Charley Crockett)
13. July Jackson (Charley Crockett, Taylor Grace)
14. The Man From Waco Theme (Charley Crockett, Kullen Fox)
*contains interpolations from Billy 4
July 14, 2022 @ 8:49 am
Oh damn. The live-to-tape approach sounds fantastic, and with as good as his live shows have been, definitely feels like the most true-to-Charley Crockett way to cut this. Looking forward to this one.
September 9, 2022 @ 7:53 pm
Circling back to say this is a really fucking good album
July 14, 2022 @ 9:01 am
Love “I’m Just a Clown.” Also noticed from the tracklist that he’s re-releasing “Trinity River.” That song has become one of his best performed songs in a live setting and was certainly due for an update!
July 14, 2022 @ 9:52 am
I’m gonna refrain from commenting on his singing. “I’m Just a Clown” is a decent late 70’s sounding country song.
Putting that aside, who gave the thumbs up to let Charlie make that stupid face for this album cover? We get it that you got your teeth fixed, but close your damn mouth when you are just breathing dude.
July 14, 2022 @ 10:10 am
You seem fun
July 14, 2022 @ 10:24 am
You are obviously MORE fun for feeling the need to say that.
July 14, 2022 @ 2:22 pm
Hahahaha. That was a really funny reply. I lol’ed on that.
July 14, 2022 @ 11:50 am
What a retarded comment to make!
July 14, 2022 @ 2:10 pm
Post your last album cover photo
July 14, 2022 @ 2:51 pm
You can’t even spell his name right.
July 15, 2022 @ 4:17 pm
lets see ur teeth and how you sing
July 15, 2022 @ 8:43 pm
You couldn’t walk in the same sun is this man
July 17, 2022 @ 11:46 am
I can, and without being a mouth breather.
July 14, 2022 @ 9:55 am
Based on the fact its only about 10-20 people commenting, the “coagulation” on this site is only trivial blockage. We get it that criticism of the wonderboy Charlie Crockett causes high blood pressure.
July 14, 2022 @ 1:18 pm
The problem is that your criticism lacks any substance. Ill leave it at that. Im gonna refrain from talking about how dumb your second comment was.
July 14, 2022 @ 4:04 pm
wrong. Trigger got his panties in a bunch last time because I wouldn’t let it go that Charley fails to sing on pitch. That substantive.
July 14, 2022 @ 4:43 pm
No, you became disruptive and combative last time, similar like you have done this time, hijacking and devolving the conversation, and making these comments sections generally unpleasant to participate in.
July 17, 2022 @ 11:44 am
The last part of your article was a direct dig at anyone who previously criticized Charley, and a feeble attempt at that to discredit those criticisms. It’s combative and disruptive to not accept that and speak up again saying Charley is overrated because of X reasons? You literally name call and make fun of people who disagree with you and then cry foul when anyone throws rudeness back. This goes back to when you openly called people racists for defending Morgan Wallen soon after his “scandal.”
July 15, 2022 @ 11:03 am
Maybe you should be the one singing “I’m Just A Clown”.
July 15, 2022 @ 4:19 pm
Oh pitch? Like how all the famous soul and blues sing constantly change notes and go sharp for certain sounds?
July 15, 2022 @ 5:05 am
@Eric (Waitin’ in the Weeds) – when it comes to art, normal people usually just disregard that art they do not prefer. It must take an abnormal, miserable person to go on and on about how they dislike somebody’s art. Weird really. I bet you don’t have many friends, do you ?
July 14, 2022 @ 9:57 am
He’s awesome. The people who criticize in the comments section(!) should see him live. He is the real deal.
July 14, 2022 @ 10:24 am
I haven’t been able to get into him to this point, but I’m seeing him in concert in August part of the Outlaw Fest and I’m hoping seeing him live changes my opinion.
July 19, 2022 @ 6:58 am
His live show will change people. Not that I ever bashed him in comments sections. I liked his music but did not really enjoy listening to full albums. Then I saw him last summer, I got it. Now I listen to him regularly and will be seeing him again this summer.
July 14, 2022 @ 9:59 am
Well golly gee wilikers.
July 14, 2022 @ 12:54 pm
ERIC “waiting in the weeds” rhymes with DICK
July 14, 2022 @ 1:32 pm
Isn’t it Bruce Robison, not Robinson?
July 14, 2022 @ 1:38 pm
I just saw Charley Crockett last Sunday and he was amazing!
July 14, 2022 @ 1:58 pm
I don’t get it.
July 14, 2022 @ 5:22 pm
I’m with you. Nothing about this cat appeals to me in the slightest, except, maybe, his work ethic. I didn’t understand the Artist Of The Year award and I don’t think the posted tune is “country” at all.
July 14, 2022 @ 2:04 pm
Are all articles on SCM written and posted by Tigger? I always thought it was more of a team effort.
July 14, 2022 @ 4:46 pm
The vast majority of the articles are written by me, but I also run contributions upon occasion, like the recent interviews with Drew Kennedy and Dickey Lee.
July 14, 2022 @ 7:04 pm
Can i help with the next Jon Pardi album review?
July 14, 2022 @ 10:11 pm
I think you’ll be too bias.
July 14, 2022 @ 2:13 pm
The 2nd half of the new song is awesome. The first half leading up to it is a bit of a let down.
Overall I would reserve judgement until hearing more off of the album.
One thing though about this first song is that it’s really not country music. It’s country influenced perhaps but it’s some type of early 70’s rock n soul kind of style. Which isn’t bad at all but not country.
July 14, 2022 @ 3:35 pm
Have really enjoyed his recent albums so looking forward to this one. Far as the new song, I need to listen to it more. My initial take is that it isn’t as country as his more recent stuff. Hopefully not a signpost for the rest of the album. Still I don’t mind something a little different here and there so I’ll listen to it some more and wait til more songs get released.
July 14, 2022 @ 3:39 pm
“Take a look at me” is about where we’re at these days, which is kinda sad, but the music here is pretty solid, and Charley at least has a distinctive voice. But who is he, “just a clown”? Is this just more camp, Charley?
July 14, 2022 @ 3:52 pm
I just hope, with this latest album, that poor ol Charley can finally buy all the biscuits and beans he’s been searching for.
July 14, 2022 @ 4:17 pm
I wonder what he was searching for when he was playing guitar for the rapping subway busker.
July 14, 2022 @ 4:10 pm
Happy to hear this looks like a fresh approach. I think he’s been stuck in a bit of a rut lately, creatively. I’m genuinely looking forward to this one.
July 14, 2022 @ 4:38 pm
So smart to record it live! These guys play so many shows, they are as tight as it gets. I cannot wait to hear this one. Shoot, I’m still playing “Jukebox Charley” a lot.
July 14, 2022 @ 4:59 pm
The dude is so fake and boring. When he 1st landed in Dallas he didn’t even play country music. He lacks sincerity and authenticity and he tries to make up for it by playing “dress up” His musical pursuits have basically been a “fence” for his brother’s white collar crime fortune.
July 14, 2022 @ 5:24 pm
Nice. There’s even criminal intrigue involved now.
July 14, 2022 @ 6:46 pm
Lol, what? Tell us more.
July 14, 2022 @ 7:06 pm
Tex, ain’t you in the oil business?
July 15, 2022 @ 7:03 am
he’s had brushes with the law that have resulted in him being a twice-convicted felon. His brother, who implicated him in his own crimes, recently completed a seven-year prison sentence.
July 15, 2022 @ 10:00 am
He’s not a felon. He was not ever convicted, he was accused and acquitted. HIs brother made millions off of wire fraud. Not exactly rebellious outlaw type of shit. They had to launder all that money somehow thought what better way than making two albums a year!
July 15, 2022 @ 10:22 am
I’ve always thought it was strange that someone would put out so many mediocre albums in such a short amount of time.
July 16, 2022 @ 8:52 pm
Man I had to look this up. Actually, public records show he was convicted of two drug related felonies in Virginia. Didn’t even know about his brother until you mentioned him. 7 years in the pen? Sounds fun. These boys sound like something right out of a Townes Van Zandt song. I don’t even really like most of the current alt country dudes, but CC seems like an older breed of Texas outlaw. I hope he keeps throwing Grenades at the biz.
July 15, 2022 @ 11:53 am
So the dude was honest about his past in a recent interview, and now we’re holding him to account? Wait until you hear what Johnny Paycheck and Merle Haggard did, or what Willie Nelson did to his first wife.
This is ridiculous. Charley Crockett is releasing old school country albums full of obscure covers to launder money? Someone’s listening to too many true crime podcasts. Totally get if folks don’t like his music, his persona, etc., but this line of criticism here shows just how strangely and completely unhinged people have become over this guy.
July 15, 2022 @ 12:27 pm
The less authentic the art and artist is, the more they have to “dress” up and embellish their story. His “sound” is not at all original either. Sorry but this dude is a dud.
July 15, 2022 @ 12:44 pm
A dud? The dude is a CRIMINAL! He’s cutting obscure Tom T. Hall songs to launder money for his millionaire brother. I read about it in the comments section of Saving Country Music dot COM.
LOCK HIM UP! LOCK HIM UP!
July 15, 2022 @ 10:13 am
No biggie not liking his music, everyone has opinions, but claiming he’s inauthentic is simply inaccurate. How much of his story you believe is up to you, but he undoubtably spent years busking, playing wherever, and scraping by on odd jobs before all these releases which is more “authentic” than most artists releasing records.
July 15, 2022 @ 12:16 pm
Odd Jobs? This dude never worked a day in this life. His backstory doesn’t add up. Aside from his brothers fortune, Crockett family is infamously wealthy here in Texas. Besides, how does a busker afford to busk the streets of Paris ? Did he hitchhike to Europe?
July 14, 2022 @ 7:37 pm
I love Charley’s music. Although I admittedly prefer in the night Charley be jukebox Charley. Can’t wait to hear the whole album.
July 14, 2022 @ 8:52 pm
Not gonna lie. I like this song.
July 15, 2022 @ 11:07 am
He was outstanding at Willie’s 4th Picnic. He played a club here in New Orleans earlier this year. I went in with no high expectations but he blew the roof off the joint. Looking forward to another new album from him, I hope he mixes it up a bit which judging by this new song he will be doing.
July 15, 2022 @ 11:36 am
Once again, Crockett’s people surround him with great players and arrangers. And, as I predicted, here he is moving further away from country. And once again, his voice is objectively awful. His showmanship is as solid and well rehearsed as ever – recommend catching a show to any fan of country-he’s more dynamic to watch than the classic acts, a nice break from the modern bs stageshows- closer to a Dwight Yoakum cartoon. Maybe his ‘clown’ is an admission of the success he’s found playing this character? If so, he’s showing a little depth and development in his writing.
July 15, 2022 @ 11:49 am
This song very much fits within Crockett’s “Gulf & Western” sound that he’s been exhibiting for years now. I have heard the new album, and there is no sonic sea change away from country whatsoever. This song is very much within Corckett’s established sound.
July 15, 2022 @ 9:04 pm
The cover photo is awesome, but that definitely ain’t Waco.
July 17, 2022 @ 5:37 am
From the title I thought it was a tribute to Billy Joe, I really like the new song, I love R&B and Jazz, and Country, They all weave together perfectly, like Western Swing.
Looking forward to this release, all the past ones are very good!
July 19, 2022 @ 9:36 am
Trigger, you’re on fire today. I want whatever you’re having.
July 20, 2022 @ 10:37 pm
I’m always amazed at the artists that seem to draw haters and controversy. Charley is about as inoffensive as you can get, seems like a down to earth guy and has a great talent, yet people seem to want to slander his name every chance they get, makes no sense to me.