Jason Isbell’s “Southeastern” to Receive 10th Anniversary Edition
On June 11th, 2013, Jason Isbell released his landmark album, Southeastern. Incidentally, it was the same day Sturgill Simpson released his debut album High Top Mountain, and John Moreland released what many believe is his best album, In The Throes.
Here over 10 years later, country and Americana music continue to be significantly influenced by Southeastern, evidenced by the emulation of the album’s songs by so many songwriters, including the album’s opening song “Cover Me Up,” which has earned Morgan Wallen a 4X Platinum RIAA Certification.
Coming in a little late to hit the anniversary on the nose, but still welcomed by many Jason Isbell fans, Southeastern will be receiving a 10 Year Anniversary treatment on September 29th via Southeastern Records/ Thirty Tigers. The release will include both demo versions and live versions of the album’s tracks, with the live recordings captured at the Bijou Theatre in Knoxville, Tennessee in December 2022.
The 10th Anniversary Edition will come in a 4 LP Deluxe Box Set of the album with the original Southeastern tracks being remastered from the original recordings. There will also be an Indie Exclusive LP pressed on transparent clearwater blue vinyl. The album also includes a new cover with Isbell making the same pose as the original cover, just with 10 years more on his brow.
Southeastern was Jason Isbell’s first collaboration with producer Dave Cobb. Ryan Adams was supposed to produce the album, but a scheduling conflict got in the way. When Isbell first came into the studio, the idea was for the album to be more of a stripped-down, acoustic affair. But after feeling uninspired by this approach, members Isbell’s 400 Unit band were brought in, namely drummer Chad Gamble and keyboard player Derry DeBorja to finish the album out. It’s officially credited as a Jason Isbell solo album.
Southeastern was named after a tool-and-die shop that Isbell’s dad worked at when he was growing up. The album and title became synonymous with Isbell’s career henceforth, including the name of his label, and the direction the weathervane says on Isbell’s recent album Weathervanes.
Southeastern 10th Anniversary Edition is now available for pre-order.
Southeastern 10th Anniversary Edition Track Listings:
Southeastern (Remastered)
1. “Cover Me Up”
2. “Stockholm”
3. “Traveling Alone”
4. “Elephant”
5. “Flying Over Water”
6. “Different Days”
7. “Live Oak”
8. “Songs That She Sang in the Shower”
9. “New South Wales”
10. “Super 8”
11. “Yvette”
12. “Relatively Easy”
Southeastern Demos (Included With Deluxe Editions)
1. “Cover Me Up (Demo)”
2. “Stockholm (Demo)”
3. “Traveling Alone (Demo)”
4. “Elephant (Demo)”
5. “Flying Over Water (Demo)”
6. “Different Days (Demo)”
7. “Live Oak (Demo)”
8. “Songs That She Sang in the Shower (Demo)”
9. “New South Wales (Demo)”
10. “Yvette (Demo)”
11. “Relatively Easy (Demo)”
Southeastern Live (Included With Deluxe Editions)
1. “Intro (Live)”
2. “Cover Me Up (Live)”
3. “Stockholm (Live)”
4. “Traveling Alone (Live)”
5. “Elephant (Live)”
6. “Flying Over Water (Live)”
7. “Different Days (Live)”
8. “Live Oak (Live)”
9. “Songs That She Sang in the Shower (Live)”
10. “New South Wales (Live)”
11. “Super 8 (Live)”
12. “Yvette (Live)”
13. “Relatively Easy (Live)”
August 12, 2023 @ 9:46 am
I won free tickets to see him a few years ago at an elementary school carnival. The showbwas pretty boring, except for the streetwalker looking chick he had playing violin.
August 12, 2023 @ 1:46 pm
I saw your comment a few seconds ago and it was pretty boring.
August 12, 2023 @ 10:24 am
Can’t wait for this. Almost certainly one of the ten best country albums of all time. And the cover with the two pics juxtaposed is pretty cool
August 12, 2023 @ 11:11 am
I saw your comment a few seconds ago and it was pretty boring.
August 12, 2023 @ 1:46 pm
Oops, replied to the wrong comment.
August 12, 2023 @ 10:38 am
Does he credit John Lennon this time?
August 12, 2023 @ 6:53 pm
For Free Bird / Cover me up?
September 28, 2023 @ 4:13 am
Could you explain the Lennon and Free Bird references? Did he copy something?
August 12, 2023 @ 11:15 am
I loved southeastern but it didn’t make me love Jason isbell
Something more than free was the one that I couldn’t stop playing especially when driving
I didn’t know they were all released on the same day but I definitely bought them all
Had the chance to see isbell open for Willie but I’d seen Willie already so I passed the chance and since regretted it
August 12, 2023 @ 8:20 pm
“Something more than free was the one that I couldn’t stop playing especially when driving”
Came here to say this. There are some good songs on Southeastern (“Traveling Alone” is a favorite) , but SMTF was the album I could play through and not have to push the skip button.
August 15, 2023 @ 8:29 am
I love Isbell…and I skip like half of SMTF, haha.
The production is just so washed out and antiseptic.
August 12, 2023 @ 11:29 am
The cover is a cool idea, like what Phil Collins did with his solo re-releases a few years back.
August 12, 2023 @ 5:56 pm
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Loved it then and I love it now.
August 12, 2023 @ 11:46 am
“Ryan Adams was supposed to produce the album, but a scheduling conflict got in the way”
interesting. I wonder what that would’ve sounded like?
August 13, 2023 @ 10:13 am
i’ve wondered that myself
August 12, 2023 @ 12:32 pm
The songs on this album, are to this day the only things that have ever come out of Jason Isbell’s mouth that are worth listening to.
August 12, 2023 @ 2:21 pm
More generous than expected.
August 14, 2023 @ 4:11 am
And yet, he’s still said more worth listening to than you have said or ever will say.
August 24, 2023 @ 11:02 pm
Yea hmmm i wonder why someone like you would think that
August 12, 2023 @ 12:53 pm
I feel like “remastering” is pretty much just marketing these days. Sure, remaster albums that came out before the ‘90s, but anything after (and even some before) largely shouldn’t need any sort of remaster, they’re still modern recordings that were put out on CD. The digital files didn’t degrade any over that time, so they should still sound exactly like they were intended to. I could maybe see a need for a remaster if it’s the first time an album is pressed on vinyl, given the differences in fidelity, but that’s about it. Happy for people that want this, though.
August 14, 2023 @ 10:09 am
I feel like this is more about the demo and live versions. Or at least that’s what interests me about this release.
August 15, 2023 @ 8:31 am
Yeah, Live from Alabama has my favorite versions of pretty much every pre-SE Isbell joint.
August 12, 2023 @ 3:52 pm
Got the colored vinyl and the Party Music shirt too. Just saw him in NJ last week, fabulous show. SG Goodman opened, love her.
Cool fact about Sturgill and Moreland releasing the same day, own all 3.
August 13, 2023 @ 6:47 am
While Southeastern is a helluva album and deserves all its flowers, I’d argue In the Throes was better. Moreland absolutely crushed that album from cover to cover.
August 13, 2023 @ 5:15 am
I seem to be the opposite of everyone else with Isbell. I liked the early 400 Unit albums, especially Here We Rest, but didn’t care for Southeastern, and my interest has faded even more since. I said as much on SCM back then and got a lot of flack for it. Even getting into a debate about Jason Eady’s AM Country Heaven being the better album release that year when someone asked for for a better album.
I suppose the numbers aren’t in my favor in that argument. I still stick to my guns though. Thought then and now that Southeastern was more hype than great, though Cover Me Up is a great song. Still think Eady’s album was better, Sturgil’s and Moreland’s as well, even if my opinion isn’t shared by the majority.
August 13, 2023 @ 2:00 pm
I definitely don’t agree that Southeastern was more hype than great but I do echo your love for Here we Rest. I think that one is never given enough respect.
Codeine
Alabama Pines
Tour of Duty
Go it Alone
So solid.
August 13, 2023 @ 3:08 pm
As I said, probably an unpopular opinion. For me, I preferred the Southern Rock sound of the 400 Unit more than Isbell solo Americana sound.
August 13, 2023 @ 6:17 pm
“Stopping By” has certainly held up, IMO.
August 13, 2023 @ 8:09 am
It’s not an album I have ever been able to get into. It’s an ok album for me. Some good tracks. I think some of his other albums are better.
August 14, 2023 @ 5:57 am
It and Hank 3’s Strait to Hell is what 2 albums got me to crossover from country radio to a rabbit hole of greatness (having Sturgill, Tyler, Fifth on the floor, and Arlo playing local helped out as well). Live Oak was the first song I heard and the songwriting on thst and Elephant were just another level.
August 16, 2023 @ 9:16 pm
Ahhh… when I cared about what this gentleman put out
Memories…