Chris Stapleton’s Debut Album “Traveller” to Finally be Released
For years now, the long-awaited solo album from country music songwriter Chris Stapleton has been like the White Whale of albums to informed country music listeners who pay attention liner notes and have seen his compositions being cut by some of the biggest, and most important names in the country music world and beyond. Stapleton is not a hit writer, he’s the songwriter artists turn to when they want their record to score a gut punch, yet some of have songs have gone on to become hits from their sheer strength.
Meanwhile other fans remember Stapleton from his days in the bluegrass band The SteelDrivers. Stapleton was a member of the band from around 2008 until 2010 when he announced he was leaving to focus more on raising his family. Stapleton also plays in a rock and roll project called The Jompson Brothers. After signing to the influential Nashville outfit Sea Gayle Music, he’s scored some 150 recorded songs and counting from artists as far ranging as Vince Gill to Adele.
Beyond his songwriting, Stapleton’s solo sets are things of shiver-inducing magic, and his shows regularly result in scores of apostles helping to spread the word about Stapleton’s talents both on the stage, and behind-the-scenes as a songwriter. But he debut album has been so elusive, it has almost become a thing of myth over the past few years. Stapleton signed to Mercury Nashville back in 2013 as a solo artist, and even released a debut single “What Are You Listening To” that year. Subsequently though, the Stapleton album has been been sitting in what seemed like perpetual limbo…until now.
Announced Friday (1-23), Chris Stapleton’s Traveller will be released on May 5th via Mercury Nashville. Not a ton of details have been divulged just yet, aside from the album will be swampy, with a lot of Outlaw Country influences, as well as old soul, and is being produced by Dave Cobb—arranged after Stapleton heard Sturgill Simpson’s latest record. If you notice in the teaser video below, the background is Nashville’s legendary Studio ‘A’, and the guy playing guitar at the 11 second mark is Dave Cobb. Stapleton also held a listening event in Nashville on 1-22, where members of the media were allowed to listen in on a recording session at Studio ‘A’.
Stapleton’s work as a songwriter has seen him rub elbows with all sectors of the country music world, including some of the more commercially-minded projects. But his solo work has always been very informed by Southern rock with shades of traditional country, and earnest songwriting. For many, May 5th can not get here quick enough.
January 23, 2015 @ 2:07 pm
I am one of those who has been waiting with bated breath for his solo release. He has such a tremendous voice and is excellent live. I’ve always wondered why he sold his songs instead of making a career of performing them himself. He just knows how to dig deep and come up with such rich stuff.
January 23, 2015 @ 3:11 pm
I’ve got goosebumps.
January 23, 2015 @ 4:43 pm
“Stapleton is not a hit writer, he”™s the songwriter artists turn to when they want their record to score a gut punch, yet some of have songs have gone on to become hits from their sheer strength.”
Dear God, isn’t this the dream for all of us putting pen to paper. Give me the millions if they come on the back of a well-struck chord and a heart-filled lyric. If not, I’ll just take the song.
January 23, 2015 @ 5:40 pm
Love what he wrote and recorded with the Steel Drivers .
Still trying to forgive him for JOSH TURNER’S ” Your Man “. Gotta be Josh’s WORST record lyrically . But if radio wants to play stuff like that , I guess I can’t really fault a Chris S. for giving it to them . Probably helped finance his solo record .
January 23, 2015 @ 7:06 pm
That’s the thing about Chris. For all the hoopla about him as an artist, I’ve seen his name associated with a few curious cuts from a few curious artists. He’ll work with anyone, which may be a turnoff to some of the more rootsy folks his solo music appeals to.
January 23, 2015 @ 6:23 pm
Chris Stapleton is a kick ass Kentuckian! Sundy Best and Sturgill Simpson? Also kick ass Kentuckians! Trigger when you get free time do an article on why certain geographic areas produce more musical talent? It’d be interesting to get your thoughts on it.
January 23, 2015 @ 7:04 pm
I did something like this about three years ago, but it zoomed in on one certain scene, and was done before Sundy Best and Sturgill Simpson were really big in the picture. It may be worth doing something similar and more updated soon.
https://savingcountrymusic.com/the-origins-epicenters-of-underground-muddy-roots
January 24, 2015 @ 5:49 pm
That was a damn good article right there. My kinda stuff. Kentucky has never had an epicenter or “scene” to pinpoint but has churned out a boatload of talent in the country music world over the years. I got plenty to say as to why but I’ll wait till you burn a story on it and comment away.
January 23, 2015 @ 7:04 pm
Really looking forward to this, Stapleton’s mainstream writing work has had some hits and some misses for me, but it seems that is being put aside in favor of a more hard edged sound and hopefully lyrical content. I was lukewarm to the first single, it was solid but not as memorable as I had hoped so hopefully the rest of the album is more in line to what it is being hyped as.
January 23, 2015 @ 7:30 pm
I won’t miss this release.
I am crazy about the Steeldrivers and the Jompson Brothers.
January 23, 2015 @ 8:36 pm
Still waiting on Matt Mason to release something, too.
January 24, 2015 @ 6:31 pm
Matt Mason it seems is just an Ep artist.
His newest one just came out last week “When it All Goes South” was the name of it.
It included a cover of “Workin’ Man Blues” and “Waymore’s Blues”
January 23, 2015 @ 9:18 pm
That video reminded me of and could’ve been a scene in The Devils Rejects…that twisted Rob Zombie movie
January 24, 2015 @ 8:55 am
Or a promo for the next True Detective season.
January 24, 2015 @ 8:48 pm
Since I didn’t see it in the article or the comments, here’s the tracklist:
1. Traveller (Chris Stapleton)
2. Fire Away (Chris Stapleton, Danny Green)
3. Tennessee Whiskey (Dean Dillon, Linda Hargrove)
4. Parachute (Chris Stapleton,Jim Beavers)
5. Whiskey and You (Chris Stapleton, Lee Thomas Miller)
6. Nobody To Blame (Chris Stapleton, Barry Bales, Ronnie Bowman)
7. More Of You (Chris Stapleton, Ronnie Bowman)
8. When The Stars Come Out (Chris Stapleton, Dan Wilson)
9. Daddy Doesn’t Pray Anymore (Chris Stapleton)
10. Might As Well Get Stoned (Chris Stapleton, Jimmy Stewart)
11. Was It 26 (Don Sampson)
12. The Devil Named Music (Chris Stapleton
13. Outlaw State Of Mind (Chris Stapleton, Ronnie Bowman, Jerry Salley)
14. Sometimes I Cry (Chris Stapleton, Clint Ingersoll)
Surprised on no “What Are You Listening To”
January 27, 2015 @ 11:05 am
I made a YouTube playlist based on the tracklist posted by Zack above. I couldn’t find #6, #7, or #12. “When the Stars Come Out” is named “LA Nights” on the video I added to the playlist.
Hope you enjoy it. It should make it easier to wait until May 5th for the release. If anyone spots the missing songs on YouTube, let me know and I can update it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7QG8V74ePQ&list=PLu4d1Ph2d0Xk-yq8kQ1X0_koVBml1X_cW
February 26, 2015 @ 12:52 pm
I updated the playlist so it contains the just released BTS clip of “More of You”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMNxdYXPLGs&list=PLu4d1Ph2d0Xk-yq8kQ1X0_koVBml1X_cW&index=12
January 27, 2015 @ 12:55 pm
Bout damn time!
April 7, 2015 @ 8:18 pm
I’ve been waiting about 5 years to hear this solo album! from the steeldrivers to the jompson brothers (saw you guys at the sipp theater one apple day) to the songs written for the already established country stars, I have taken the voice of chris stapelton and played it for many all the way up to Alaska. You are greatly admired Chris Stapelton and we wish you much success from your home town!
April 7, 2015 @ 8:22 pm
#5 and #14 have been very popular amongst many of my acquaintances!