Charley Crockett Takes “Mr. Nashville” To Task in New Song
#579 (Country Protest Songs) on the Country DDS.
The hardest working man in country music apparently isn’t satisfied only contributing two full-length albums to 2024 with $10 Cowboy and Visions of Dallas. Landing his first Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album evidently didn’t quench his fire either. And if you had any questions on whether Crockett was into kissing ass to get ahead or curry favor, he just let you no in no uncertain terms that’s not his business.
Crockett has let his opinions be known about the music business and Nashville before. See the title track to his 2021 album Music City USA. But on his new song “Hey, Mr. Nashville,” he lives little to the imagination and spells it all out. Crockett doesn’t just have something to say about Nashville. He also feels the need to speak up in defense of Austin where Crockett spent his time cutting teeth.
“When you talk bad about Austin, you’re talking down to me. Hey Mr. Nashville, you ain’t even from Tennessee,” Crockett sings.
He certainly isn’t the first to put his disdain for the country music business in song, and he definitely won’t be the last. If anything, the business of criticizing the business of country music includes its own clichés. But Crockett makes “Mr. Nashville” personal to his own experience.
The song starts off in the mid tempo, featuring the contemplative Crockett telling his story. But at the end, it picks up into a singalong. The other fun part about “Hey, Mr. Nashville” is to consider what record executive(s) it might be about by tracing it back to certain Music City eateries referenced in the song.
Perhaps most importantly, the song signals more new music might be on the way from Crockett soon. Most of Charley’s music has been produced by the great Billy Horton in Texas. But Crockett fans should take notice that Shooter Jennings is credited as the producer on “Hey, Mr. Nashville.” Does Crockett have a whole Shooter-produced album coming up? We’ll just have to keep our eyes out. But something is afoot for sure.
November 13, 2024 @ 12:45 pm
I dig Charlies music and I love this inditing song. It definitely doesn’t have a Nashville sound that’s a plus. Charlie likes to Keep em guessing.
November 13, 2024 @ 2:55 pm
Charley’s about to release 3 full albums next year, isn’t he?
November 13, 2024 @ 3:29 pm
Man this sounds great. Interesting to see if this gets on a record, the duet with willie still doesnt have a home. I think charley could release 5 albums a year and i would enjoy every one of them. Also nice to see he isnt letting the success change him any. I know somebon here dont care for his music and thats fine, but hes become my favorite at least current one anyway. This is one of the biggest reasons i come to this site, great piece of writing with a new charley crockett song to listen to.
November 13, 2024 @ 4:48 pm
That dish on his plate is un-American
November 13, 2024 @ 4:49 pm
Didn’t mean that as a reply to your comment. Sorry
November 14, 2024 @ 9:18 am
No wander you had a shot-out with a raval-gang at a funeral—-Rano
November 13, 2024 @ 3:36 pm
He recently posted a photo from LA tagging shooter and the next slide was a recording studio…
November 13, 2024 @ 3:40 pm
Keep Shooter away from him, last thing we need is another southern rock record…
November 13, 2024 @ 3:46 pm
Might be too late for that…
November 13, 2024 @ 4:46 pm
Honestly if anyone is going to produce a musically amazing record that reflects the genre of Southern Rock I think Charlie could do it. He deeply understands the blues and soul music. Most Red Dirt country acts don’t seem to understand ‘foundational’ music genres to that level which is why they all kinda sound like Cross Canadian Ragween offshoots.
November 14, 2024 @ 6:39 pm
I thought the Shooter produced Vincent Neil Emerson record was great. And not southern rock.
November 15, 2024 @ 9:31 am
I will check it out. BTW I love southern rock, just still butthurt about the Turnpike record.
November 13, 2024 @ 5:17 pm
What would it take to build on the Austin music scene and infrastructure to be a genuine rival to that of Nashville? I maintain pop country and indie/alt/trad Country, whatever you want to call it, are seperate genres. Let Nashville keep the pop country infrastructure. Let Austin be the center of gravity for all that is cool.
November 14, 2024 @ 9:40 am
@PeterT While I agree 100% with the thinking behind your comments, you have to remember a couple of things. First, Austin is not even the Austin it was a decade ago. It’s already more or less sold out. Second, our crappy culture will destroy anything it touches. So if you tried to set up an alternative to Nashville to get the sort of true, authentic music out that some want to see, it’s only a matter a time before the Jelly Rolls and Florida-Georgia Lines and the Morgan Wallens of the world destroy it. Why? Because that is what SUV driving moms want to hear so they can relive their days as the queen of Sigma Chi as well as show their kids they are cool. Although their kids will someday realize listening to that brain-rotting shit is not cool, but that’s somewhere down the road.
November 14, 2024 @ 10:33 am
Austin just doesn’t have the industry infrastructure to rival Nashville, and it’s by a long shot. There are plenty of studios, session musicians, songwriters, and venues in Austin. You just don’t have the money. Big Loud Texas started by Miranda Lambert and Jon Randall might be a good start. But at the same time, The Grand Ole Opry now owns the building where Austin City Limits is taped, and Big Loud is a Nashville-based label. So Nashville is already trying to control what happens in Austin. I think that’s also why the CMT Awards and other events are being held in Austin as well.
November 15, 2024 @ 9:44 am
Way to go Trigger, each time you’re young age tells on you with general comments like this, but I can help you if you let me. I want NOTHING in return—-just JUSTICE and FAIR REPORTS “son”. As the saying goes: ‘If you can’t beat them, join them’. Perhaps, someday you may write an honest and unbiased article about George Strait and: “The Ace In The Hole” band. But, before you do, I recommend you read: “king George: The Triumphs And Tragedies In The Life Of George Strait”—-by a fellow West Texan: Austin Teutsch (Lord, help us). I guarantee the book is 99 percent accurate about the very “elusive “ man fans like me “know” as: “George Strait”. What do you say?
November 13, 2024 @ 5:59 pm
When CC was in Toronto earlier in the year he mentioned that he was recording with Shooter. Told a hilarious story about being mistaken by Neil Young for Waylon’s kid.
Thanks, as always, for this stunning site. You are a hero in Canada, Mr T.
November 14, 2024 @ 10:00 am
What?—-Trigger is from Canada?. That explains the Olivia Newton-John’s mention in the discussion about traditional music and the incredible Ms. Minnie Pearl. Well, it doesn’t matter to me now. Trigger has a universal concept about music and that is okay for me because traditional artists like George Strait’s music has a universal message which can be summed up in his 2024 Album: “Cowboys And Dreamers” particularly in the song: “The Book” perfectly. Yes, we’ve all heard the rumors that our beloved Texas king of country and Honky Tonk: George Strait is from Canada, but is totally false and historically incorrect because Texas is the only state in the Union that was/is not “colonized” by any empirical colonizers. Therefore, Canada George Strait fans, our king is not “royalty” per your definition, but to us Texans, George Strait is our true king of Country Music with a universal message to share with the world. I thought every Common Wealth Country person knows this basic history?. Going back to the classroom is no longer priority for me. I will rather “talk” with my new best friend——not Willie Nelson’s guitar: “trigger”, but the writer: Trigger.
November 14, 2024 @ 10:29 am
Sylvia, I’m not from Canada. Not sure where you gleaned that from. Not sure either if you’re a troll, a Chat GPT bot, or just a little …off. But it’s getting to the point where the weird commenters are outpacing the regular commenters, and that’s not a good thing. This article has nothing to do with George Strait or Canada. Please stay on topic.
November 14, 2024 @ 11:57 am
The message above hers from Ryan alluded to you being a “hero in Canada”. So I think that is where she gleaned it from.
November 14, 2024 @ 6:07 pm
Point taken, Trigger. Good to know that today’s discussion is not about George Strait. I can live with that. I’m good.
November 16, 2024 @ 7:00 am
I’m pretty sure Olivia Newton John is Australian so I’m not seeing the connection.
November 14, 2024 @ 10:29 am
As the saying goes: ‘the apple does not fall far from the tree’ and that can be expected from Shooter Jennings who seems even more radical than his famous father: Waylon Jennings—-one of the four famous, but, debunked “Outlaws” in Country Music. Incidentally, when his father died, I read an article he wrote questioning Nashville: paraphrasing “Ain’t We Taking This Outlaw Thing “Too Far?”. However, thanks to the story of legends like: Billy Joe Shaver, there aren’t as many outlaws in Texas anymore and I respect any one who defends the great state of Texas world wide. Hey, was Billy Horton not married to Angelina Jolie at one point in the 90’s?—hem, Trigger stop it! NO CONTROVERSY HERE.
November 14, 2024 @ 1:17 pm
This guy is on fire
November 14, 2024 @ 1:53 pm
He 100% has a whole album with Shooter coming out. He’s got an hour long plus interview filmed inside Sunset Sounds on youtube where he confirmed it like 6 months ago. Great interview as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTefxYJWnRw
November 14, 2024 @ 2:19 pm
He 100% has an album with Shooter coming out. There’s an hour plus long interview from inside Sunset Sounds on youtube where he confirms it and talks about it a bit. Great interview as well if you have some time to kill.
November 14, 2024 @ 8:06 pm
Great song! Charlie is amazing. I still have yet to see him live.
November 15, 2024 @ 10:16 am
Trigger — I know you’ll appreciate album cover source. Usual for Crockett, this was taken at iconic Austin spot: Texas Chili Parlor next to the Texas Capitol. I had a feeling and could tell by the walls — this Google Image helped me out, it’s the side wall of the back room.
Let me know next time you’re in Austin and I’ll buy you a bowl of chili!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/nmNGEPhwNUAosU9T9
November 15, 2024 @ 10:18 am
Saw Charley at a local brewery back in August. Incredible show.