Jamey Johnson Launches “Big Gassed Records” Label
Fans of country music traditionalist Jamey Johnson are about to have their Christmas wishes of new music from the awarded and acclaimed songwriter answered. As first reported by Saving Country Music on November 18th, Jamey Johnson will be releasing The Christmas Song, a 5-song “genre-defying” Christmas album will arrive on store shelves December 9th. It includes Jamey’s take on four Christmas standards, collaborations with The Secret Sisters and Lily Meola, and an original Christmas tune penned by Johnson with Bill Anderson and Buddy Cannon called South Alabam Christmas the first original Jamey Johnson song released in over 4 years.
But that’s not where the goodies stop from the songwriter. Announced today, November 24th, Jamey Johnson is starting his own record label called Big Gassed Records. The first release from the new label will be the Christmas EP, but there will be much more music on the way.
“From now on, as soon as I can get it written and recorded, we will make it available,” says Johnson about the new label. “I am looking forward to getting new music out there. I know our fans have been asking about it and I’m going to do my part to see that we get it to them. I’m excited about the new label because it gives me freedom and control of my own releases and music. It lets me release my music to my fans when I’m ready. I will be able to put out a new song without it having to be on an album. I’m a songwriter. Sometimes I write songs that fit records, sometimes I write songs that fit other people’s records and sometimes I write songs that don’t fit anywhere. I also like to produce I had a blast producing the Blind Boys of Alabama and we could release those projects on our label.”
Big Gassed Records is located at 30 Music Sq. W.—the same building that houses the historic Studio ‘A’ that was just saved by preservationist Aubrey Preston. Johnson has been a long-time tenant of the building.
February of 2013 is when Johnson first let on that a contract dispute was the reason for his lack of creative output, telling Rolling Stone, “Financially speaking, they treat me worse than they ever did the Dixie Chicks. I feel pretty used by the music industry, in that my contracts are written in such a way that I don’t get paid ”¦ I wish I could tell you that I am writing. I’m not. I wish I could tell you I’m gonna go home next week and record another album. It’s not likely to happen.” It then came out that Jamey’s issue was not with his label, Mercury Records, but with his publisher.
Now Jamey Johnson will have the freedom to release music how he chooses. And patient fans for the songwriter hope he chooses to release more new music soon.
“Seldom in Montgomery did we have a cold Christmas, much less thinking it was our lucky year that it would snow, so the song opens with, ‘Ain’t no snow gonna fall this Christmas,’” Jamey says of the “South Alabam Christmas” song. “And when I was a young kid, it would confuse me and my sister as to how Santa would make it into our trailer because we didn’t have a chimney or a fireplace, and the song deals with that too.”
As for the Hawaiian Christmas song “Mele Kalikimaka,” Jamey says, “It’s in that movie ‘Christmas Vacation,’ where Clark Griswold is looking out the window into his back yard and daydreaming about the pool he is planning on putting in his backyard. Bing Crosby did it with the Andrews Sisters and I did it with the Secret Sisters,” he says. “Our version is a take on Bing Crosby’s version. Our guys did a really good job of it and I’m proud of it. But it makes me laugh every time I hear it because I think of Cousin Eddie bouncing around on that high dive.”
November 24, 2014 @ 7:28 pm
Awesome! Can’t wait to hear Jamey’s new stuff!!
November 24, 2014 @ 7:41 pm
Thank goodness! I’m glad that Jamey is going the independent route. He’s a man that is about making music for the love and passion of it and not to chart songs on Billboard. We need Jamey Johnson making music again!!
November 24, 2014 @ 8:01 pm
AWESOME! Can’t wait for new music from Jamey.
November 24, 2014 @ 8:02 pm
Now THAT’s some good news in the country music world!! Super excited to hear what’s coming out!!
November 24, 2014 @ 9:51 pm
Awesome news. Cannot wait to listen to the new music, hopefully we are able to hear the new music by early next year.
November 25, 2014 @ 5:54 am
You don’t have to wait until December 9th to hear the new EP. It has been released and can be downloaded on iTunes and other digital stores, or you can order a hard copy directly from Big Gassed Records…no word on vinyl yet. I downloaded it last night, and it is very well done.
November 25, 2014 @ 12:24 pm
Then what is the point of having a release date? I know this may seem like complete minutia to most people, but there’s a reason there’s a process to releasing an album. If Jamey Johnson is going to own his own label, and if it’s going to be successful, he’s going to have to understand this.
November 25, 2014 @ 2:02 pm
I was as surprised as you, Trigger. I was perusing facebook last night and saw that it was released. I was waiting until the 9th, as it was originally announced to release. The only thing I can make of it is that he decided to push up the release due to it being a Christmas themed EP and December 9th is a little late in the season to see any substantial sales.
November 25, 2014 @ 9:25 am
What is it with the backside and JJ? First Honky Tonk Badonkadonk and now this. And it ain’t no lie. You other brothers might deny.
November 25, 2014 @ 9:35 am
Man…. this is great news! I wrote a song a while back with Jamey in mind. I would give anything just to have him give it a listen! lol Can’t wait to hear his new stuff!
J
November 25, 2014 @ 11:28 am
I am looking forward to this. The only bad part about this news is the name of his label. That is just a horrible name. Maybe its an inside joke, or a shot at someone….
November 25, 2014 @ 11:42 am
I foresee a collaboration with Kacey Musgraves in Johnson’s future. The two artists have a lot of synonymous things between the two, not necessarily in music, but in how they are perceived.
November 25, 2014 @ 12:20 pm
Yes, there are a lot of parallels between the two. Both started with Mercury Records. Both were critically-acclaimed and awarded by the CMA’s and Grammy’s early in their career. Both struggle to have the kind of widespread commercial success you would expect, but still put together solid numbers.
November 25, 2014 @ 6:33 pm
I see Kacey Musgraves and Jason Isbell on some songs, Shooter on some songs and possibly Stergill.
November 26, 2014 @ 7:56 am
Maybe you mean Sturgill Simpson!
November 26, 2014 @ 8:04 pm
I see it getting ripped apart by 99.9% of this sites readers to.
November 25, 2014 @ 5:37 pm
I like this idea. Write it, record it, release it. I was thinking of doing the same thing with my new music.
November 25, 2014 @ 6:31 pm
This is good, I was really hoping he would go independent. Should be interesting to see what he releases now. I also see a future close relationship with Black Country Rock possible on larger projects.
All my main artists have started their own labels now.
I also wonder when he gets his legs under him if he signs other artists on.
November 26, 2014 @ 8:03 am
This is NOT the first time Jamey has used “Big Gassed Records” as a release label. Just check back some years and you will find out his promos with that label… He will do better with his own label, like Rhonda Vincent, Gene Watson and more less known artists… with Jameys fan base he can for sure live on his music and tour as much as he wants to. Why bother with Music Row moguls… See what Sturgill Simpson has done. He has the same repect for country music as Jamey. Singing songs from old legends like Stanley Brothers, Osborne Brothers, although it’s more bluegrass he shows his respect. Jamey did exactly the same with the tribute album to Hank Cochran. I wish them both all success they can get, both on smaller labels!
November 26, 2014 @ 2:06 pm
This is huge. I’m not sure we can quantify right now, but this is huge!
Jamey is a student of music and massively respects music and artists. This freedom, at this point in his career has mountain moving ability.
I’ve been a long time Jamey supporter, and this is what I was hoping would someday come to fruition. Not easy to run a label, but easy for history to repeat itself. Think back to a time… music row sound has gone dull. Years of trying to change things here and there. Then….Tompall Glaser and brother sets up shop. Gets attention of Bobby Bare, Waylon, etc….
Jamey bounces around for years with success but not what he’s looking for. Music row sound is garbage. Jamey sets up shop. He is aware of the talent out there like Sturgill, Whitey Morgan, Lukas Nelson, etc…
He also has great relationships with many many heavy hitters that need a label home.
Mark it down, this is a landmark point in time for country music.
November 26, 2014 @ 4:56 pm
Jamey
Good luck on your venture with the record lable! If you have not yet had the privilage to sing with Lindsay Ellen, I seriously suggest that you do.If you don’t have her contact info reach out to me.
Peace
Matthew
\
November 28, 2014 @ 2:37 am
Fellow Jamey Johnson fans, this announcement is the death of this artist’s mainstream relevance. I hate to be negative about Jamey or independent music in general, but as we all know it rarely makes a splash in the mainstream. Jamey’s long break probably took a toll on his career that he wouldn’t have recovered from regardless, but this is the final nail in the coffin. The days of hearing “In Color” on the radio and the country awards shows changing nomination parameters to include Johnson in their lineup are long behind us, folks.
But, as long as he’s happy and connecting with his fans again through his music, I don’t guess there’s much problem with this development. I’m just personally disappointed that one of the most authentic mainstream country artists of the last decade is inadvertently turning his back on the mainstream (which he has helped to improve in the past).
November 30, 2014 @ 10:31 pm
I see what’re talking about, but i think you’re wrong. If Johnson would had signed with a ”mainstream” label, i think the quality of his next records would declined, or maybe worst, if no indie label, no albums anymore. Mainstream country is big, but A LOT of artists can live and be succesfull on independent label. What artist in rock/metal or bluegrass/folk music did, Jamey can do the same in country music. Plus he have a strong fan base. Music business is changing this days, he will be able to have full control on his music. Vinyl, exclusive mp3 songs, record some collaborations who doesn’t fit with an album. I think it’s not the end of Jamey, but a new beginning.
December 19, 2014 @ 6:32 pm
Don’t mince my words: I’m not talking about doing “well”, I’m talking about his mainstream relevance and power to help change the tide of the music. He can sell three copies of every album to each one of his fans all day long but it’s not going to help put more twang into the top 40.
December 19, 2014 @ 2:06 pm
Music Row said Dwight Yoakum was too “hillbilly” for country. He has done well. I think Jamey will be fine.
December 19, 2014 @ 6:43 pm
What? How is Dwight Yoakham or his history at all germane to my comment about Jamey Johnson leaving the majors behind? Dwight is an altogether different animal: he got big during the era of music in which album sales still drove the industry, had several top ten hits and MANY top 40 hits and was signed to a major label (Warner Bros.) for 15 years before going independent and has since returned there with 3 Pears. Jamey Johnson came on the scene during the downloads era and has been mostly absent during the onset of streaming, only has one top ten hit and only four top 40 hits, and has been signed to two major labels for only three albums. Forgive me if I think he’s in a position to turn out much worse than Dwight did in terms of mainstream relevance. I don’t wish ill upon the man nor am I saying his fans won’t buy his albums, I’m talking about how his music can realistically affect the mainstream at this point.
December 22, 2014 @ 2:31 pm
I think we can all agree that the music industry is sort of a mess, but it has been for some time now.
You could easily have written this blog and all these replies 40-50 years ago when Tompall Glaser, Bobby Bare and Waylon and Willie’s were breaking away from mainstream. They all turned out pretty solid careers. Now I know the arguments to specific details of that statement.
However, good music can’t be ignored. I think you misrepresent how Jamey arrived on the mainstream scene anyway. He cut That Lonesome Song album on his own. Labels and radio couldn’t ignore “In Color” (which in my mind is mediocre song of his at best). So, all Jamey needs to do is make music. Good music will last and not be ignored. Sure, you won’t hear a deep cut from an album on the radio, but you didn’t ever anyway. Not like they were playing “The Last Cowboy” in rotation with “In Color”.
The other thing here is the freedom Jamey will have to work with and introduce the masses to other artists. He enjoys the producing aspect and it would be pretty cool if he connected with guys like Sturgill, Whitey, Leroy (Leon) Virgil.. which he has the freedom to now. You start pumping out various albums with quality music, things start to change. This lone venture of his could be the start of that.
December 6, 2014 @ 11:04 am
When Garth left to raise his family, there were only a few true country singers in the mainstream; George Strait, Allen Jackson, Merle, Willie, George Jones, etc. When Jamey came on the scene, I thought we’d keep some of that going. He had good songs with great lyrics. Then he went away. The ladies of country music have kept up what country is all about, the men have turned to more of “pop” country style. The songs are all the same, the clothes are shabby and the themes are not true to country music. Country music stopped driving the audience, the audience started driving the music, probably just to make money. Some argue Garth isn’t really country, but he is. And what I like to see now is that he’s back and maybe, just maybe, he’ll be so successful that the folks on music row will start to pay attention to what the really big audience wants to hear and get back on track with country music the way it was. So yeah, I’m glad Garth is back and I’m glad Jamey is back. Maybe now I can pitch some of my wife’s songs to Nashville and hopefully a lot of those ignored, fantastic singer songwriters, that been ignored all these years will finally get the notice they deserve.
December 11, 2014 @ 6:30 am
Jamey I have all your stuff I have 15 to 20 of my friends at each of your shows in Ohio thanks keeping country music a live this pop country is for the birds!!! See you soon and thanks for all the great real music
December 15, 2014 @ 9:22 pm
Hey, Derek 26 from Ky. Hope one day to sing for you all and keep real country alive none of this Florida Georgia line crap… I wanted to keep the real country alive so started playing the pedal steel a few months back and hope to some day have the pleasure of meeting you all and maybe belting out some tunes! Keep the good music coming guys, hope you all find some good talent!