Charley Crockett Surprise Drops New Album “Clovis”
This story is developing.
A new album from Charley Crockett, and dropped at 8:00 pm Central on a random Tuesday night? Why not. Or as Charley Crockett said on Instagram about 30 minutes after the surprise release, “You can drop a f-cking record whenever the f-ck you want. And what’s more important to me is dropping all this really good art right now.”
Saving Country Music had previously reported that before his last album Age of the Ram was released earlier this month, Crockett had already been working on his next one. “Sources say he’s been in Clovis, New Mexico recording at the old Norman Petty place that Buddy Holly helped make famous, as well as Shooter’s place in La La Land.”
Apparently, Charley Crockett couldn’t wait for the world to hear the results. At first glance, the worry was that maybe the surprise album Clovis had been accidentally or maliciously leaked. After all, the release date said “April 24th,” despite it being released on April 28th. The copyright was also not Island Records or Son of Davy—his previously-known labels. And hey, who released records on Tuesday?
Saving Country Music has confirmed from numerous sources that Charley Crockett is no longer with Island Records—the major label he signed to in order to release his “Sagebrush Trilogy.” Age of the Ram released on April 3rd was the final chapter. Crockett’s currently not signed to any label, though Clovis is attributed to the label “$10 Cowboy.” Crockett is also currently self-managed, and apparently is willing and able to do what he wants, whenever he wants to.
As for the album itself, it is a 14-song release, produced by Crockett, and co-produced by Shooter Jennings. The Norman Petty Studio where it was recorded is one of the most legendary studios in American history, though decidedly more off the beaten path compared to Sun Studios in Memphis, or Nashville’s RCA studios.
Norman Petty is who recorded all of Buddy Holly’s big hits. Roy Orbison, Buddy Knox, a young Waylon Jennings, Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs, and more also recorded there in the 1950s. In the 1980’s the studio was preserved in its mint 1950’s condition. People can still visit the studio in the east New Mexico town not too far from the Texas border, but it’s rarely used as an active studio, making Crockett’s Clovis unique.
Expect a proper album review for the release once it’s been digested here. Even people very close to Crockett were taken by surprise by the release. He’d wiped his Instagram account about a week previous, and then posted a photo of a man in prison, reaching for the set of door keys. Apparently Crockett was feeling caged. And now, he’s been set free.
Currently, the album can only be found ON SPOTIFY. More info when available.
TRACK LIST:
1. The Hallelujah Trail (Charley Crockett, Shooter Jennings)
2. Down by Law (Charley Crockett, Shooter Jennings)
3. One Eyed Jack (Charley Crockett, Shooter Jennings, Kyle Madrigal)
4. Image of a Woman (Charley Crockett)
5. Eagle and the Crow (Charley Crockett, Shooter Jennings, Jason Lee Moeller)
6. Top Hand (Charley Crockett, Shooter Jennings, Taylor Grace)
7. Country Music (Charley Crockett, Shooter Jennings)
8. Last Night at the Alamo (Charley Crockett, Shooter Jennings, Jason Lee Moeller, Taylor Grace)
9. Clovis (Stephen Barber)
10. Don’t Take Your Guns to Town (Johnny Cash)
11. Albuquerque Lights (Charley Crockett, Shooter Jennings)
12. I Ain’t Riding Anymore (Charley Crockett, Shooter Jennings, Jason Lee Moeller)
13. Honky Tonk Philosophy (Charley Crockett, Shooter Jennings, Jason Lee Moeller, Taylor Grace)
14. Waylon Rides Again (Charley Crockett, Shooter Jennings)
– – – – – – – – – – –
If you found this article valuable, consider leaving Saving Country Music A TIP.
April 28, 2026 @ 7:41 pm
Trigg what’s the scoop on this being added to other platforms?! I’m not paying Spotify shit and last I recall you can’t hear entire albums unless you’re a premium subscriber.
Also please tell me this record doesn’t have one goddam mention of Billy McLane
April 28, 2026 @ 7:58 pm
My understanding is the full intention is to distribute it to all streaming services, and likely to manufacture physical media at some point. Spotify is really the only service that has the capability of releasing music quickly without much notice. The others required many days.
It can’t be emphasized enough just how “surprise” this release is. When I saw it, I assumed it was an accidental leak, which we’ve seen over the years. Robert Earl Keen had that happen to an album. I reached out to some folks who work with Crockett, and they didn’t even know what was going on. Then he dropped the Instagram post and confirmed it was no accident.
I’m sure at some point, Crockett will explain everything. But my read on the situation at the moment is Crockett might not have been happy with his time on Island, was contractually free on April 3rd when “Age of the Ram” came out, and decided to release this one, perhaps even to scuttle the release cycle of “Age of the Ram,” which is still being promoted by Island.
April 28, 2026 @ 8:02 pm
In other words, he was dropped.
April 28, 2026 @ 8:44 pm
I don’t know if that was the case. Charley Crockett has been notorious for firing managers and other folks for years now. It might be that they didn’t get what they wanted out of Crockett, but it could be Crockett didn’t get what he wanted out of them.
April 28, 2026 @ 9:57 pm
From what CC has said in interviews over the last year, it sounds like he signed with Island for the release of the Sagebrush Trilogy only. This makes me suspect he used Island for money and to raise his profile so he got what he wanted and split.
At his concert in NOLA last week he stated that he had a gift for his fans coming within a week. So here it is.
Earlier this year, Springsteen recorded his Streets of Minneapolis song, released it to streaming, put out a video and went number one within days. I thought at the time that if a superstar can do it, why couldn’t current artists who aren’t currently tied to a label do it? Well, I guess this will show whether they can.
April 29, 2026 @ 3:53 am
Thanks trigg dying to hear this guess I’ll wait it out till Friday. Not sure there’s any other way I’m in a real Johnny blue skies pickle
April 29, 2026 @ 2:45 am
Yes you can hear the entire album free but the ads are really annoying. And it looks like ole Billy bit the dust.
April 29, 2026 @ 3:31 am
I read somewhere it will be on all platforms from 1st May. I am hoping it will also be released on CD.
April 28, 2026 @ 7:46 pm
Charley Crockett is a has been.
His Youtube numbers from Age of the Ram are dismal.
It’s over.
Scooper Jenning is the kiss of death.
April 28, 2026 @ 8:02 pm
lol. Keep telling yourself that.
April 28, 2026 @ 8:47 pm
Do you have a fully functioning brain? A has been?! You are a never was . Crockett is at the top of his game and the album he just released is amazing and he’s cracking out top tier songs. You can talk big all you want from your basement, let us know when you write your first song that no one will hear
April 28, 2026 @ 8:56 pm
Big Jilm…can you please remind us of how many songs/albums you have released? How many shows you’ve sold out or played? How many units you’ve sold? Before you call anyone a “has been” you might want to look at what you have done with your life. Most people who hate on others, actually hate themselves and angry about the success of others. This sounds like you.
April 28, 2026 @ 9:57 pm
He is far from written off. Listen to this amazing album and then form your own opinion. It’s possibly the best album he’s ever made.
April 29, 2026 @ 2:59 am
Little Jim, you know not of what you speak
April 28, 2026 @ 7:50 pm
Amazing album. Some of his best work. Love this guy
April 28, 2026 @ 7:53 pm
Hmmm….can confirm it is present on Deezer also, with the April 24th date of release as you mentioned. Crazy, but amazing.
As a side note, I wish we could go back to releasing albums on Tuesdays. It brings back memories from my childhood.
April 28, 2026 @ 8:45 pm
Tuesday was such a better release day. On Fridays, folks are focused on getting off of work, going to shows, getting out of town for the weekend. You had a lot more focus from the public on Tuesdays.
April 28, 2026 @ 8:01 pm
Charley is a gd Louis l’Amour throwback protagonist, and a modern day prolific artist like the author … self-made, steeped in the lore, code, geography and ethos of the oldest. I’m reading the High Graders and Charley is a lot like the hero Mike Shevlin.
Determined to do right and not entirely sure how to go about it behind taking the bull by the horns and living his truth. Should be Buddy Holly and Joe Ely covers on this one or the next to do right by Clovis.
Says here Charley should got a disc or geo two Roth done of them border country and Four Corners res bands … the vibe, the drawl, the sly pop sensibilities, the haunting ballads and unvarnished truth are spot on. Apache Spirit, Fenders, Pima Express, Stateline, Lightning Rock … let the Blue Drifters ride into town and capitalize on they fortune and fame with money eating holes in they pockets …
April 28, 2026 @ 8:36 pm
On a quick first listen “The Hallelujah Trail” is Charley at his peak. Album feels closer to welcome to hard times than his last few concept albums.
April 28, 2026 @ 10:48 pm
Albuquerque Lights is about Jim Sullivan, a songwriter who disappeared while driving from LA to Nashville in 1975. One theory involves alien abduction.
Honky Tonk Philosophy reminds me of Gary Stewart. Some of these are more country than anything he’s done recently.
“I’ve been fenced in, sold off, played out
Left for dead boys, there isn’t any doubt
But that’s all right, that’s all right my friends
I know Waylon, Waylon rides again.
Somebody once told us we need a change
His portrait’s on the wall but everything’s the same
We’re bought and sold by desperate men
So Waylon rides again
Just like times back then
Waylon rides again”
I’m getting the feeling that he was not happy with his experience on a major label.
April 29, 2026 @ 2:49 am
I would even say every song on this album is Charley Crockett at his peak.
April 28, 2026 @ 9:48 pm
Nah yall know yall seen my reddit post calling this!!! I called it the night of his show at the saenger.
April 29, 2026 @ 2:26 am
I remember. I didn’t think even CC and SJ could turn an album around this fast. Especially and have it sound this good.
April 28, 2026 @ 9:55 pm
Well, it was about time. It’s been weeks since his last album was released…
But joking aside: I just listened to the album: it’s absolutely amazing! This is Charley Crockett as I love him: country, but incredibly funky, bluesy, jazzy and soulful. The Slbum is better than the entire Sagebrush trilogy. One of his best albums. Super varied and extremely powerful and precise.
April 28, 2026 @ 10:06 pm
I’m listening to it right now and loving it. This is way more “commercial” than Age of the Ram. I’ve been expecting him to follow Sagebrush with something more blues-ey and this is definitely that. I definitely hear that Waylon influence on some of these songs, which explains why Charley wanted to record it in Clovis and Shooter got the studio opened just for them.
And Trigger – that pic of a man in jail on Instagram is Marlon Brando and there is a song on here called One Eyed Jack.
April 28, 2026 @ 11:40 pm
After all the trivial embarrassing Stagecoach showbiz nonsense last weekend, this is the right album at the right time to keep the faith in country music alive.
April 29, 2026 @ 12:34 am
If I see one more item about Ella I’m going to puke. And I like some of her stuff.
April 29, 2026 @ 1:20 am
I wasn’t necessarily referring to Ms. Langley.
April 29, 2026 @ 1:33 am
I like her but think she’s getting overexposed. OTOH, there are a few I can think of that seem to be desperate for attention – any attention. It’s obvious that Stagecoach isn’t about music anymore.
April 29, 2026 @ 5:31 am
Good for Charlie. Nothing kills the creative process like working with a label.