Eric Church Collaborates with Ray Wylie Hubbard on “Desperate Man”
Eric Church promised big news for today (7/12), and he delivered by announcing the release of his latest record, as well as a new single to arrive on Friday (7/13), both of which will be called “Desperate Man.” Most had anticipated the announcement of a new album and a new single. But what none of us foresaw was the tie-in with Texas music legend, Forgotten Outlaw, and proprietor of the dead thumb blues, Ray Wylie Hubbard being so prominent in the mix.
Eric Church’s new “Desperate Man” single was co-written with Hubbard, who also received a name drop from Church in the title track of Church’s last album, Mr. Misunderstood. At the time it just seemed like a passing thing. The two performers did not know each other. But since then a budding friendship has emerged. In February of 2017, Hubbard was invited on stage with Church at the American Airlines Center to perform. Then in February 2018, Church showed up to tribute Hubbard at his Texas Heritage Songwriters Association induction.
This isn’t just a name drop or an appearance though. Hubbard’s name on the lead single of a major label artist will mean mailbox money in spades. The 71-year-old has always been one of those artists short on fame, but huge in praise and influence among his musical peers. It was the line “This song is by Ray Wylie Hubbard” in the live version of “Redneck Mother” on Jerry Jeff Walker’s iconic 1973 album Viva Terlingua that put Hubbard on the map. Since then Ray has become a guru and legend of Texas and Red Dirt music.
Eric Church’s Desperate Man will arrive on October 5th, and just like his last surprise album, Mr. Misunderstood, members of his fan club will receive a copy free, with the top tier of the fan club getting an exclusive white vinyl edition of the record. Members of Eric Church’s fan club are getting an exclusive listen of the song for today, while the rest of the public will have to wait until Friday (7/13).
Maybe now Austin City Limits will finally consider Ray Wylie Hubbard for the episode he’s deserved for over 30 years.
Cover art for the new Eric Church:
July 12, 2018 @ 7:12 am
https://soundcloud.com/ericchurch/desperate-man
Click for a listen
July 12, 2018 @ 4:45 pm
I appreciate you trying to inform folks, but I’m glad it got taken down. Got no problem with Eric rewarding loyalty.
July 13, 2018 @ 2:39 am
You can listen legally on Spotify or Eric’s YouTube channel. Good song.
July 12, 2018 @ 7:17 am
Got to listen due to the exclusive membership.. Had a bit of the Chattanooga Lucy vibe to it. Real bluesy, and of course incredible lyrically. Church just keeps producing quality music
July 12, 2018 @ 7:39 am
I really enjoyed it..good song for a workout playlist which is where I listen to most of my music now
July 12, 2018 @ 8:08 am
Eric Church is STILL a badass!
July 12, 2018 @ 8:08 am
Not what I was expecting but it did put a smile on my face
July 12, 2018 @ 8:09 am
The song is classic Church, its just a great song. Church never settles or tries to be a copy cat which is refreshing. I can’t wait for the album.
July 12, 2018 @ 8:22 am
Didn’t care for it on first listen. Grows on me more with each play. Got a Rolling Stones “Sympathy For The Devil” vibe to it. Doubt it will do much at radio, but doubt EC gives two shits whether it does or it doesn’t. He’s earned that luxury.
July 12, 2018 @ 8:34 am
I’m glad Church came up listening to more of the The Band, Little Feat, Metallica and not as much Backstreet Boys, Mase & Nelly.
July 12, 2018 @ 8:34 am
Trig, GREAT link to Prine’s new video with a veritable who’s who of younger musicians and producers: Price, Shires, Isbell, Simpson, Auerbach, Cobb … And the song is, of course, wonderful and threadworthy. Long live Prine.
July 13, 2018 @ 5:44 am
That is some kind of outstanding. Funny how Mr. Prine just keeps getting better, his voice warmer, his storytelling sharp as ever.
July 12, 2018 @ 9:52 am
A lot of folks got to know the name Ray Wylie Hubbard from his “Snake Farm” single a few years back. But this will be great for his career and well deserved. Cuddos to Church for including him.
July 12, 2018 @ 11:07 am
Honestly, snake farm is the only song of his that i know. Thats a damn good song too.
July 12, 2018 @ 2:06 pm
Don’t sleep on “Mother Blue’s”. More bluesy than country perhaps, reminds me a lot of ‘One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer’ with a little less rock influence, probably my favorite
July 13, 2018 @ 2:57 am
Love some Tell The Devil I’m Getting There which Eric is on with him
July 13, 2018 @ 10:07 am
Yes and don’t forget Lucinda sings on that song too! Makes it extra special to me.
July 12, 2018 @ 10:02 am
Song is a grower not a shower, but I think it’s awesome. Based on Facebook livestream I think the bluesy, southern rock theme may be the heavy in the album, and I’m fired up for October
July 12, 2018 @ 10:37 am
Damn, I’m really looking forward to hearing this 🙂
July 12, 2018 @ 11:03 am
Church hasn’t made country music in many years, “Carolina” is the last real country album he made and then he took on that stupid “outlaw” image in 2011 when he changed his sound. The dude was fantastic for the first few years of his career, but anything after the Carolina album I can’t stand. I know alot of people think hes great and has “never sold out”, but I just dont see it, I think hes a big sellout and sold out way before most country musicians did. I also dont really care for him as a person, he just seems really strange. Just my opinion.
July 12, 2018 @ 11:22 am
“Wrong”
– Donald Trump
July 12, 2018 @ 8:50 pm
Agreed.
July 13, 2018 @ 9:14 am
I am a huge Eric Church fan but I agree with you. Eric needs to return to his “Sinners Like Me” sound. He killed it.
July 12, 2018 @ 11:19 am
Oh, geez. About as bad ass as Hunter Hayes with sunglasses.
July 12, 2018 @ 11:23 am
I’m pumped for the song and album, but what is that cover art? I can’t tell what it is
July 12, 2018 @ 11:26 am
It’s a Quonset hut or an aircraft hangar
July 12, 2018 @ 11:29 am
Retreaded tire…..
July 12, 2018 @ 11:33 am
It’s a retreaded tire #metaphore
July 12, 2018 @ 2:09 pm
Like a metaphor for a hydrogen bomb
July 12, 2018 @ 4:45 pm
Points for Zack.
July 13, 2018 @ 6:37 am
Nailed it!
July 12, 2018 @ 11:42 am
I gotta say Mr. Misunderstood won me over as a fan. I love how he treats his fans, marathon shows, and just being true to himself. Most importantly, hes just making good music. Very excited for this release, great to see some recognition come RWH’s way!
Also looking forward to Shooters new one and Dillon Carmichael debut.
July 12, 2018 @ 12:21 pm
Can’t wait to hear the song tomorrow and can’t wait for the new album!
July 12, 2018 @ 12:39 pm
I think ol’ RWH might just need a little money boost or something. I’m not sure why he would lower himself down to playing with Eric Church. Don’t get me wrong, Eric’s music is a lot better than most of his peers but that’s really not saying a whole lot is it?
July 12, 2018 @ 12:55 pm
“Fake News”
-Donald Trump
July 12, 2018 @ 1:32 pm
Cannot freaking wait.
July 12, 2018 @ 2:41 pm
All I have to say is we need more Ray Wylie Hubbard co-writes and less Tyler Hubbard co-writes in the country music world.
July 12, 2018 @ 4:06 pm
Tyler Hubbard writes?
July 12, 2018 @ 4:20 pm
More like “tries to write”, but yeah, the FGL guy wrote a bunch of Aldean songs.
July 13, 2018 @ 4:32 am
Tyler Hubbard write a bunch of songs but they are all the same format (and not country at all). I could write 1000 lines of code by copy pasting the same line over and over. I wouldn’t called myself a prolific coder because of that lol
July 12, 2018 @ 3:33 pm
Not gonna lie the song is pretty badass
July 12, 2018 @ 6:35 pm
I used to like Eric Church, until I didn’t, now I’m starting to like him again. His music isn’t really country, but he’s doing his part to save country music. Sort of like Sturgill in that regard.
July 12, 2018 @ 6:50 pm
Looking forward to hearing it. I have been on a huge Ray Wylie Hubbard kick this year and I’m still pissed his set was cancelled at the 4th of July Picnic.
July 12, 2018 @ 7:00 pm
RWH is a personal friend. He is very selective with his talent. I WILL listen to Eric Church and support him because of this collaboration with Ray. May I suggest the Eric Church fans reading this will drive into the talents if Ray Wylie Hubbard if you haven’t.
July 12, 2018 @ 7:23 pm
So if someone told me those two had written a song together I would have imagined this to be the result. I also think Eric Church is doing exactly what the hell he wants. Radio doesn’t know what to do with him. His fans are loyal to the core. The establishment on music row would like to ignore him but can’t. He’s really one of a kind in this day and age. Super interested to see how radio tanks this. I give it 10 weeks on the charts. A strong debut at 28 then massive fall. It will top out at 15 on the airplay list. Gawd I hate country radio with a passion.
July 12, 2018 @ 8:27 pm
This was played at 6 pm tonight on WSIX here in Nashville. I agree w/ someone above that I thought I was hearing “Sympathy for the Devil”. Definitely has that vibe! Not too bad but it’ll have to grow on me.
July 12, 2018 @ 9:49 pm
This song is just plain fun. Sounds like they had a heck of a good time recording it. Very lose, with a real feelgood vibe. The Stones influence is there by the truckload, but is that a problem?
July 12, 2018 @ 10:04 pm
Amen to your “maybe” for ACL to finally pay homage to Ray Wylie. I still can’t understand why, after your so well written and passionate plea to them 3 years ago it has not occurred. I can think of no one whose local background and combination of talent, experience and assistance to a whole cadre of young and little known performers deserves it more.
July 13, 2018 @ 4:30 am
I cued up this track on Apple Music expecting to hear Ray Wylie at some point, but within the first couple of bars I knew that wasn’t going to happen, this is not his style of music at all. He may have helped write the song but it’s definitely an Eric Church non-country song When I see the words “collaborates” and “tie-in” I expect to HEAR both artists doing the collaborating and tying-in. Maybe I’m off in left field, I am a huge RWH fan, looking forward to seeing him in concert again in Oklahoma City in a couple weeks, but doing HIS music and style, not this dreck.
July 13, 2018 @ 4:49 am
Not sure what RWH contributed here. This is underwhelming at best. Not a big fan of the “heys” and the Sympathy for the Devil-esque “woos.” Not real impressed with this.
(And this coming from a Church fan).
July 13, 2018 @ 6:41 am
Been meaning to ask, where does your handle come from? Are you a Skid Row fan as well?
July 13, 2018 @ 8:45 am
Ha! No, it’s the last 4 letters of my last name plus by birth year. I came up with it somehow back in the nineties when I first got on the internet and registered for my Hotmail account, and it has stuck ever since.
July 13, 2018 @ 6:49 am
Ok so I listened this morning and I like it. It reminds me of Chattanooga Lucy with stronger instrumentals. I approve. Excited to hear the whole record and for him to release his tour schedule
July 13, 2018 @ 6:57 am
It’s funny the way Eric snuck up and became a once in a generation country star. He’s always made albums and not singles and you can definitely hear that with each passing album. Don’t like the the outlaw faux badassery Of chief, well guess what next up is the outsiders. Don’t like the sonic experimental album the outsiders, well guess what next up is a southern swamp version of a Bruce Springsteen album called mr misunderstood. I expect this one to be no different and I’m excited for it. I put Carolina up as one of my favorite albums but if he tried to make another like it it wouldn’t be feel like the next step of his musical journey. Hopeful he continues to evolve and treat his fans the way he does
July 13, 2018 @ 10:50 am
It ain’t country, but it ain’t bad.