Johnny Cash Tribute / James Hand Reissue Coming from Hillgrass Bluebilly
A new Johnny Cash compilation, as well as a 10th year Anniversary/Deluxe Edition of the James Hand studio album Mighty Lonesome Man is coming from the Austin, TX-based independent record label Hillgrass Bluebilly Records. The releases are part of a last hurrah and Grand Finale from the label after releasing multiple original albums, compilations, and reissues over the past 15 years.
Hillgrass Bluebilly received international recognition for their 2009 compilation called Hiram and Huddie, which combined the legacies of “Hiram” Hank Williams, and Huddie William Ledbetter, a.k.a. Lead Belly into a two-album tribute. Now Volume 3 will be issued on November 4th with sixteen tracks, featuring contributors such as Charlie Parr, Austin Lucas, Karen Jonas, and even hip-hop legend Chuck D of Public Enemy collaborating with Bob Log III on the classic Cash cut, “Man in Black” (see full track list below.)
The Johnny Cash volume will be followed up at a later date with a tribute to blues legends RL Burnside, fulfilling the cross track collaboration that helped form the blues influence in country music and beyond.
“Hard times are a harbinger of truer shades of entertainment,” says Hillgrass Bluebilly. “Cash cut his path in an era of unrest. While the future brought no end to the tension there are still folks building bridges, celebrating differences, and pointing a light at the darkness through music. Hillgrass Bluebilly records’ tribute to Johnny Cash features various artists that embody that spirit. Much like the man himself, we hope this tribute hits the heart of its intended audience, anybody with a middle finger.”
The Johnny Cash tribute coincides with a sister release of sorts celebrating the 10th year anniversary of the release of the James Hand album Mighty Lonesome Man. Called Master of Depression: 10th Anniversary of Mighty Lonesome Man, the reissue includes multiple previously-unheard songs, and a completely remixed and remastered version of the entire album by Grammy-recognized engineer and producer Cris Burns, with new artwork inspired by the photography of Charlie Ekstrom, and rendered by Grego Anderson. It will be released on October 14th.
Early on in the recording of the original James Hand album, the song “Master of Depression” was softened to “Lesson in Depression,” but both versions of the song make it onto the new album, along with never-before-heard song “You’re An Angel,” and the first version of Hand’s Gospel song “Stormclouds in Heaven.” James Hand passed away in 2020, making these tracks especially important as some of Hand’s final unheard recordings. James Hand’s family, including his son James (Tracer) Edward Hand III signed off on the project.
James Hand was considered one of the most authentic artists in country. In fact, when asked about Hand, Willie Nelson stated, “James Hand is the real deal!” Though remaining mostly obscure for much of his life and career, Hand been enjoying a resurgence of interest lately, due in part to Charley Crockett, who released a tribute to James in 2021 called 10 For Slim, and also has loosely based his latest album Man From Waco in part upon James Hand.
Both James Hand’s contribution to the Johnny Cash compilation (“Get Rhythm”), as well as Hand’s “Stormclouds in Heaven” from the upcoming 10th Anniversary reissue can be heard below.
PRE-SAVE Master of Depression: 10th Anniversary of Mighty Lonesome Man
PRE-SAVE JR (Johnny Cash) Tribute to Johnny Cash
JOHNNY CASH TRIBUTE TRACK LIST:
1. “There You Go” – Darren Hoff and the Hard Times
2. “Let the Train Blow the Whistle When I Go” – Tom VandenAvond
3. “Tennessee Stud” – Austin Lucas
4. “Man in Black” – Chuck D feat Bob Log III
5. “Get Rhythm” – James Hand
6. “Redemption” – Ten Foot Polecats
7. “Big River” – Ten Foot Polecats
8. “Country Trash” – Amanda Jo Williams
9. “Ballad of a Teenage Queen – “RestavRant
10. “Beast in Me” – Delaney Davidson
11. “Give my Love to Rose” – Willy Tea Taylor
12. “Apache Tears” – Los Duggans
13. “Wreck of Old 97” – Left Lane Cruiser
14. “Understand Your Man” – Karen Jonas
15. “Straight A’s in Love” – South Filthy
16. “Were You There When They Crucified My Lord” – Charlie Parr
– – – – – – – – –
TRACK LIST: Master of Depression: 10th Anniversary of Might Lonesome Man
1. “Lesson in Depression:
2. “Favorite Fool”
3. “Mighty Lonesome Man”
4. “Stormclouds in Heaven”
5. “Years I’ve Been Loving You”
6. “The Drought”
7. “Old Man Henry
8. “Please Me When You Can”
9. “Now Not Later”
10. “My Witness”
11. “I Wish You Would Kiss Me”
12. “You Were With Me Then”
13. “You Almost Fell”
14. “You’re An Angel”
15. “Master of Depression”
September 9, 2022 @ 9:40 am
I just listened to Mighty Lonesome Man recently. I have it on CD and it’s on the hard disk in my car. Great album. Old Man Henry is especially powerful
I Get Blamed for Everything I Do by Ten Foot Polecats was one of my first SCM inspired purchases. I imagine they’ll on the R.L. Burnside tribute once or twice. Left Lane Cruiser, too.
September 9, 2022 @ 3:55 pm
You imagin correctly.
September 9, 2022 @ 6:59 pm
Chuck D pops up in the most unexpected places.
September 9, 2022 @ 9:24 pm
Thanks for noticing..
September 10, 2022 @ 3:23 am
Chuck D. is an avowed racist. He human garbage.
September 10, 2022 @ 8:48 am
How racist can he be if he collaborated with a white guy on a song in tribute to a white guy, on a compilation full of white artists released by a white-owned record label?
I really have no idea of Chuck D.’s politics or proclivities. I’ve got my nose too deep in country music to know, or really care. But we all know Johnny Cash’s influences goes well beyond country, and I’m not going to fault a guy for showing his respects.
September 11, 2022 @ 3:48 am
Congratulations on the dumbest comment I’ve read on here in a while. Do you understand his music, or are you just repeating what your fellow human garbage friends and family say?
September 13, 2022 @ 7:24 am
Oh yeah! Both of these are gonna be so good
September 13, 2022 @ 3:40 pm
been waiting a long time for this. what up Triggerman?
September 13, 2022 @ 8:46 pm
Good to hear from you Lunchbox.
September 14, 2022 @ 2:53 pm
I thought Hillgrass folded… Theyve had some great stuff in the past .
Maybe we’ll get a Boomswagglers anniversary edition on vinyl finally?
September 14, 2022 @ 4:14 pm
* Or, some New stuff from the ‘Swagglers.
Damm, who do they think they are, Jamey J.?
September 14, 2022 @ 6:43 pm
Just about….. Needed to finish what we said we’re going to do. The privileges of parenthood, obligations of day jobs, Self Care…. Life changes … Growth…. We think the quality is timeless with our recent efforts here… Not quite sure how we’ll end up. These tributes are some tough stuff, but definitely several years behind schedule for us… And a couple to wrap up everything we did. legally… Thanks for your support. The vinyl editions of our releases are top of the list.
September 15, 2022 @ 9:08 pm
Just curious If anyone knows if the James Hand album will come out on cd? I can’t find a store for the record label? thanks for your time……
September 16, 2022 @ 6:59 am
Howdy. We have no plans on making CDs ever again… but may do a short run on CD / Vinyl… in the future
November 12, 2022 @ 8:20 am
9.8 / 10 – Two Guns Up
November 1, 2023 @ 6:49 pm
Interestingly enough, James Hand was never paid by Hillgrass Bluebilly for the first Edition of Mighty Lonesome Man to the tune of about $10K, and said album DID include “You’re an Angel” and permission was NOT given for the second release of MLM by the copryight and publishing/royalty owner of the music and song rights which is me. And that is WELL known by the entire Hand family. Hillgrass Bluebilly is folding because they stole from artists like James Hand who couldn’t afford lawyers to sue them and fate has come full circle. IT’s amazing what happens to a person’s so called life and business when all they do is rip the people off they’re supposedly helping. God gets em. I’ll see if Triggerman leaves this comment up since he’s best buds with Keith Mallette of HBB, stealer of copyrighted material.
November 4, 2023 @ 5:19 am
The Director of the Slim Hand Music Foundation aka Deborah Jean Perry (rolls eyes)
▪︎James and his band has / was paid so many times. We have the receipts. You’ll never be able to own this record, nor do you own the two Rounder Records, Evil Things.etc etc etc You cannot own anything we’ve done, which is why you’re here. You’ve been shut down repeatedly, and you can’t find a Lawyer that would even entertain your claims to Hillgrass Bluebilly works. You tried, we sent them, and you packing on 3 separate occasions.
▪︎ Hillgrass Bluebilly did not fold, we actually stopped our services years ago. We just hung around for the 10th year anniversary of MLM, so we could redo the entire album from scratch, to give it a proper release.
Our lives are awesome.. always have been. You’re the miserable one and always have been. Hahaha. Our 2 James Hand albums will always be with us, Hillgrass Bluebilly, the rightful owners.
November 8, 2023 @ 11:04 pm
Geeez….guess that why James left all his rights and royalties to me. I own all his music – past, present and future that he wrote, recorded, or created in any manner. ???? As far as MLM, you never paid anybody. I did. And yes, I have the receipts. I’m sure there are other people on your hillbilly “label” who haven’t gotten their money either. Hows that 10th anniversary mess you came up with selling for you anyway? I hear its tanking. And keep believing your own lies. It makes you an even bigger laughing stock of the few people that even know your name. Most of them just call you “that idiot”. You’re a joke. You still a broke ass pool boy? ???????? you couldn’t even do that right.
November 9, 2023 @ 7:10 am
You don’t own all of his music. The shitty gospel album is the only thing you have any attachment to. He loosely wrote everyone wills, with the exact sane verbiage. You’re nothing special to him. Funny you weren’t at the Celebration of Life, nor his Funeral. That’s right, your were banned, and not allowed to attend. You made a cash grab foundation, selling Shot Glasses and Flasks at the “Who’s My Buddy Awards” in the name of James Hand. Talk about “that idiot”!!! Marty at Rounder and Danny at Coldsping have taken an interest in you illegally selling their albums with the “Foundation”. Your control issues and manipulation is widespread. You didn’t pay fhe musicians, or any of the recording sessions. I have ALL the receipts, from Will, Speedy. Bobby, Cary, the Studio, James, Darren, McGlothlin. EVERYBODY. The only person I did not personally pay was Cindy, which was because I handed you the cash to give to her. You… spend money… what a joke. Let’s have an open forum publicly, showing receipts. We’re ready to go on our end!!!! Haha, well??? The Hillgrass Bluebilly “Stormclouds” has over 20,000 plays in one year. YOUR “Stormclouds” has less than 3,000 plays in WAY over 9 years. That’s the difference between our label, and you. So I’d say we’re doing better. Plus this album was sanctioned by the family, and the family OWNS the album. The Pool Business is doing great. 22 years at it. Weird how ya make fun of the working class. I remember you making fun of bartenders and illustrators affiliated with us, solely because of their profession. How old are you again? No mention of us shutting down 3 of your lawyers? Why aren’t you coming after us again? We are very proud to work with James Hand and his family continuously, and we are all very ashamed that you have any attachment whatsoever. The family made their decision, the copyright office made their decision too last week. You’re out, HB is in. These public displays are extremely boring, and you’ll never 1up Hillgrass Bluebilly…. again, and otherwise… you wouldnt be here, on this platform doing this. Off to clean pools! Adios, lady…..
December 7, 2023 @ 2:41 pm
Listen OJ…just cause you say it don’t make it so but carry on wichyo badsef..everyone knows what a loser you are…..ROFLOL Where were those 20,000 plays you brag about??? I need to know so I can see where they’re sending the checks for more royalties you stick in your pocket. I hear Hillbilly Records is closing shop. Hmmmmm. All my predictions came true about you. Karma’s a beaotch, ain’t she? You’re a joke and always will be.
December 14, 2023 @ 10:22 am
Whatever you gotta say lady. We’re all doing great, managing our releases… especially the 2 James Hand albums.