Joey Feek’s Shelved Major Label Debut Finally Gets a Release Date
In January of 2016 when Joey Feek was battling with the cervical Cancer that would eventually take her life, Saving Country Music told the story of Joey Feek’s major label debut album on Sony that was never released. Originally called Strong Enough to Cry, it was recorded in 2002 with producer Paul Worley (known for working with The Dixie Chicks and Martina McBride), and songwriter and performer Billy Crain.
Since it was a major label album and Joey was still a new artist at the time (and known as Joey Martin—she wouldn’t marry Rory Feek until later), she was forced to put herself in the hands of the Sony staff, and hoped for the best. “I really never found all the great songs [for the album] I was hoping to,” Joey said in 2008. “Looking back, it’s nothing I would record today. But at the time, I was really proud of it.”
Right as Joey’s album was getting ready to be released, Sony went through a regime change, and along with the label reshuffling, Strong Enough to Cry was completely shelved. One of the potential reasons is that during the album-making process, Joey met Rory Feek—her eventual husband and duo partner. According to Rory, Sony management wasn’t particularly happy about their marriage. Perhaps they believed an unmarried Joey would be better for marketing. Aside from some limited releases by Joey+Rory from the album through their website, Joey’s Sony debut has yet to be heard by the public.
But all that is about to change. Gaither Music Group is planning to finally release the album, now called If Not For You, on April 7th, 2017. Physical copies will feature a 48-page booklet of photos, memories and stories penned by Joey, her family, and husband Rory. The album includes the original rendition of the song “That’s Important to Me,” and cameo appearances from Joey’s parents and a tribute to her late brother.
Joey + Rory’s final album Hymns That Are Important to Us was one of the best selling country albums in all of 2016, debuting at #1, and selling over 500,000 copies at last count, and being Certified Gold by the RIAA despite no radio play in country.
Joey Martin Feek passed away on March 4th, 2016.
If Not For You Track List:
1. Intro (Have I Told You Lately That I Love You)
2. Strong Enough To Cry
3. That’s Important To Me
4. When The Needle Hit the Vinyl
5. Nothing To Remember
6. The Cowboy’s Mine
7. If Not For You
8. Southern Girl
9. Red
10. Like A Rodeo (with Paul Overstreet)
11. See You There
12. Old Paint
February 4, 2017 @ 12:36 pm
Trigger, Hymns also got a grammy nomination for best album in Best Roots Gospel Album. But glad it’s coming out, sad it took her death.
February 4, 2017 @ 3:23 pm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joey_Feek
Damn sad story!
February 4, 2017 @ 5:14 pm
Joey’s courage should be an inspiration for everyone. If you don’t know the story get online and read Rory’s many journals throughout the battle if they are still available. I don’t know, but I always put her up there with Alison Krauss. The whole story still moves me. Hate we lost one of the good ones.
February 4, 2017 @ 9:26 pm
This has an icky feel to it – like they are blatantly cashing in on Joey’s death.
From what I can gather, Gaither is part of Capitol which is part of Universal (unless that changes after I hit POST), so at least Sony won’t directly benefit from the sales of the album.
February 6, 2017 @ 5:34 pm
I don’t know. There is a long, long history in all genres of music of releasing posthumous material. Jim Reeves had almost as many hits after he died as before just to name one. We’ve seen the same with 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. in hip hop. In the best instances the projects honor the late performer’s memory while maybe making a little money for the survivors who may or may not be wealthy.
The key as with most things is doing it with respect for who the performer was and this seems to fit with that.
February 5, 2017 @ 2:18 pm
I have the album Strong Ebough to Cry by Joey Martin I bought it on their web sight long before Joey was diagnosed with cancer I love the album so much and it’s so Joey rather she’s Joey Martin or Joey Feeks I love there music just sad there will be no new albums from them I have everyone of their albums maybe Rory CA. Find some unreleased recorded songs and put them together so we all can enjoy once again that sweet sweet voice so sad she’s gone but will never be forgotten I hope everyone enjoys the new release of her original album as much as I do I’ll be looking for it at Gaither.com/store will buy it again just to get the book that will be with it thank you Bill Gaither for keeping her voice alive God Bless Joey and Roy and their family
February 5, 2017 @ 2:26 pm
I’ve had a copy of this album for years under it’s original title. It’s really a great piece of work with only one weak song imo.
Glad more people will get to finally hear it.
February 5, 2017 @ 9:00 pm
I seen a writing saying to listen to this Beautyful lady sing so I looked her up and I have been watching them since they are so good together singing or beening a family love Indy they have blessed me in so many ways I say prayers all the time for the family yes Rory love to hear other songs you two didnt get out there on records love to hear them trying to find others but they sure are hard to find in texas when I am happy,sad,mad,upset i go to listen to your music and it calms me thank you love your girls singing too Hopie sings one with you about john i went through a relation ship too and that hits the nose but i never did find my one and true love
February 21, 2017 @ 12:31 pm
Looking forward to the release of Joey Martin’s album which she made before meeting and marrying Rory. Thanks to Bill Gaither for securing her album and making it available to those of us who loved Joey and everything she stood for. Again, the beautiful angel Joey will be smiling down over this release.