Jon Pardi’s “California Sunrise” & William Michael Morgan’s EP to Bring Tradition to the Mainstream
There’s talk within country music circles that traditional country might be poised to make a resurgence in the mainstream in the coming months and years, and if it is, it will rely on young new talent rising up in the major label ranks to make it happen. With Chris Stapleton selling albums like crazy and sitting atop the album’s charts, and the surprising success of artists like Sturgill Simpson, it’s not surprising that in the copycat world of major labels, everyone else would be scrambling to get their piece of the pie. The recent success of the single “My Church” by Maren Morris is another promising sign for mainstream country prospects. Despite the bluesy, edgy sound of the song, it’s now cracked the Top 10 and could go even higher.
Three of the most promising male artists in the mainstream are William Michael Morgan, Jon Pardi, and Mo Pitney. If there’s a traditional country insurgency looming in the wings, it might be carried on their backs. But with so many albums getting delayed by acts that are unable to prove their ability to launch a big debut single, the big question was if any of them would see a proper album release, or be stuck in limbo like so many other artists. Luckily, there’s been some movement.
Though there hasn’t been a formal announcement, William Michael Morgan will be releasing an EP on March 18th through Warner Music Nashville. It will include his debut single “I Met A Girl” and five other songs, and is currently available for pre-order on Amazon. Even more promising is the word that the EP is a precursor to a debut full-length album to be release “later in 2016.” William Michael Morgan has been proving his muster as a traditional country artist on the Grand Ole Opry and other places recently, and looks to be one of those rare birds that is willing to stick to his roots, and won’t be persuaded otherwise by his label. It’s pretty customary these days to release a debut EP first for a major label artist, and hopefully it gauges public sentiment favorably for Morgan and his career can move to the next step.
Track List:
Meanwhile Jon Pardi, who already has a debut album under his belt, but had us worried he might get stuck at the back of the line by his label Capitol Nashville after his single “Head Over Boots” has only reached the Top 25, has announced he will have a new album out on May 13 called California Sunrise. Originally from Dixon, California, Pardi showed a lot of promise with his debut album Write You A Song in 2014. A bit more hip and seasoned than Morgan, Pardi still finds the sensible ground that could help make more traditional-sounding country music popular again. It will be interesting to see how the new LP is received.
And just as promising as any artist when you’re talking about traditionalists signed to major labels is Mo Pitney. Unfortunately, we’re still waiting for the announcement of his debut album from the notoriously slow-moving Curb Records, but there is at least some promising news. Mo will be one of three artists featured on Opry 9.0, Vol II: Discoveries From The Circle. It is the second in a series of projects from The Grand Ole Opry spotlighting new country music artists who’ve performed during the Opry’s 90th anniversary year. Mo Pitney has been a fixture at the Opry recently, and along with William Michael Morgan’s participation in the institution, it emphasizes how the Opry is slowly stepping in to help grow some of the traditionalists of tomorrow.
Mo will have two songs on the six-song volume—“Cleanup on Aisle Five” and his version of “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes.” Chris Janson, who has been making as many Opry appearances as anyone, along with Lindsey Ell, will also contribute to the compilation.
You can hear Mo Pitney sing “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes” below. Hopefully the answer to George Jones’ age-old question is the new generation of old-soul artist who are looking to make their mark in country music in 2016.
February 25, 2016 @ 7:49 pm
With a song called Beer Drinker, no need to check that garbage out
February 25, 2016 @ 8:11 pm
Or maybe we should wait to hear it before we dismiss it outright.
February 25, 2016 @ 9:11 pm
Yeah, I think that one might be the feel good track in what looks to be a pretty solid EP.
February 25, 2016 @ 10:14 pm
Jon Pardi single moved 24-22* on Mediabase this past Monday. Definitely has not peaked. Song is at 17 on iTunes. SPS ratio strong.
February 25, 2016 @ 11:08 pm
Sorry, didn’t mean to imply the single has peaked. I think it’s a good sign of commitment to Pardi from his label that they’re moving forward with the album even though the single has yet to enter the Top 20. Ideally, the single will peak right as the album is being released. It’s showing all the signs of being one of those slow burners.
February 26, 2016 @ 12:20 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNL73GuV574
This is Beer Drinker, or more accurately Thank a Beer Drinker.
February 26, 2016 @ 1:24 pm
Nice.
February 26, 2016 @ 7:28 pm
It’s actually not bad, it’s more a tribute to someone not afraid to get dirty to get things done.
February 26, 2016 @ 6:32 am
There are good country songs about beer and bad ones. Calm down.
February 26, 2016 @ 4:29 pm
its actually not that bad. Ive heard them all on youtube except the last one. Interested to see the sound of the final product. They sound good with just him and his guitar.
February 26, 2016 @ 4:33 pm
To add to my previous comment I think that both Lonesomeville and Cheap Cologne are great throw backs to the country revival and sound in the 80s/90s. Love both of the songs.
February 27, 2016 @ 7:52 am
I looked up Jon Pardi on youtube and I didn’t like him at all. So I looked up Beer Drinker on youtube and it was actually surprisingly good. “Thank a beer drinker, in an old ball cap, with dirt on his hands and an ache in his back, so let’s give it up for the guys on the clock who work all week and then twist one off, thank a beer drinker”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWEZriTnDdk
February 25, 2016 @ 8:04 pm
Mo Pitney’s mom said April is hopeful date when I saw him in concert earlier this month. Said thry are shooting art for it now.
February 25, 2016 @ 8:09 pm
If that’s the case, then we should be hearing an announcement very soon. Here’s hoping.
February 25, 2016 @ 8:17 pm
I saw a couple of amateur videos of Mo Pitney at the recent SPBGMA. Good stuff ! The fiddle player won our local fiddle contest last year.
February 26, 2016 @ 10:10 am
I sure hope so. I saw Mo play in December and asked him when he expected it out, he said right around first of the year”¦ and here we are. Certainly not saying it’s his fault – more an observation that with the pace with which Curb moves, I have my concerns
February 25, 2016 @ 9:09 pm
I think… And this is only one perspective, that we owe all of this to Chris Stapleton. These three guys were here for a while, but they really didn’t make an impact in the greater Country Music sense until after Stapleton’s big November win. He’s been on top of the charts, and the bigwigs who run the machine are falling all over themselves trying to make money.
We’ll never know for sure, and I don’t want to belittle these three, or M.M. Goodman, or Jason Boland, one of my favorites, but I think Stapleton is the one who really opened the doors and proved that real Country Music still moves units, and I think every one of these guys, and Maren Morris, and the whole lot of the establishment-based traditionalists will benefit from the success of “Traveller.” They may well have been on the outside looking in otherwise; There’s been talk for a long time about a traditionalist resurgence, but it never materialized until November 4th when Stapleton did something that shouldn’t be possible in the mainstream music industry anymore, it’s really even more impressive than what Taylor Swift did with her last album breaking the sales records, and after that I think the issue stopped being “will traditional Country ever bounce back” and started being “how will the industry respond to traditional Country bouncing back.”
February 26, 2016 @ 7:29 am
I disagree on “all of it.” Without the mind-blowing success of Isbell and Simpson, or the resurgence of good songwriting spawned by Kacey Musgraves (I’m talking about in the mainstream market, mind you), Chris Stapleton is probably still in the shadows. He did blow the doors open, though.
February 26, 2016 @ 7:50 am
I don’t know if i’d call Simpson’s success “Mind-blowing.” In the greater Country Music sense his impact has been minimal. All of 2014 the critics were praising him, but the industry carried on more or less as it always did.
February 25, 2016 @ 10:32 pm
Trigger where did you see the announcement about Jon Pardi’s new album? I follow him on social media stuff, and I’ve never seen a thing. I’m not criticizing you whatsoever, but I just can’t believe that information would slide by me.
February 25, 2016 @ 10:51 pm
There has not been an official announcement on either the Jon Pardi or William Michael Morgan albums. Pardi mentioned the album back in November to Country Outfitter, and according to numerous reports he announced the album name and release date at a show in Bakersfield recently. http://thatnashvillesound.blogspot.com/2016/02/jon-pardi-to-release-california-sunrise.html
Of course, info is subject to change until an official announcement is made.
February 25, 2016 @ 10:54 pm
Thank you so much, Trigger! I appreciate it. I really like Jon Pardi, and I’m excited to get the new album!
February 25, 2016 @ 11:03 pm
Head Over Boots is still rising on the country airplay and mediabase country charts. it’s gaining quite a significant amount of airplay each week, so I would say Jon will at least get that single to #15. That’s a victory for real modern country music IMO. I will be out prowling around at stores the night that Jon’s album will be released I want it immediately….he’s one of my favorite artists. Chris Stapleton’s single seems to be stalling out at #13, which is still great. I hope it goes higher but I don’t think it’s going to crack the top 10. We will see.
February 26, 2016 @ 5:34 am
Trig…thanks for getting me turned into Mo Pitney. Hoping that new album comes out in April as rumored above.
February 26, 2016 @ 7:27 am
A little off topic, but has there been much mention of Sam Outlaw? His latest album “Angeleno” was one of the best country albums of 2015 in my opinion.
February 26, 2016 @ 9:03 am
Agree! Saw his video for Ghost Town and got the album for $5 on amazon. A very Don Williams vibe. I was hoping someone else would bring him up.
February 27, 2016 @ 5:47 am
Thanks for bringing this up, not sure how I missed this album, but just added it to the stable. What a great sound!
February 26, 2016 @ 9:22 am
Just hearing about the next new Jon Pardi album has already brightened my day immensely. I have been a huge fan of him since day 1. I’m also excited to hear whatever William Michael Morgan has to offer.
Long live Traditional Country music!
February 26, 2016 @ 10:08 am
The William Michael Morgan EP is also available for pre-order on iTunes, with a tentative release date of March 18.
February 26, 2016 @ 10:42 am
I never listen to country radio anymore so I didn’t know who Maren Morris is. I checked out the YouTube video of “My Church” and really liked it. I was briefly excited until I played the iTunes samples of the other songs on her EP — all of which suck.
February 26, 2016 @ 12:05 pm
Kree Harrison recently finished an album. I’m not sure if there is a release date, but I’m looking forward to seeing how it turned out. I’ve been waiting for an album ever since she somehow finished 2nd on her season of American Idol. If you aren’t familiar with Kree, she’s been performing in Nashville for years and is good friends with Lucie Silvas, Brothers Osborne and Maren Morris. Misa and John Osborne played guitar for her on her Opry debut. https://youtu.be/QyUMiNJIEds
February 26, 2016 @ 1:47 pm
Had the opportunity to see Mr. Pardi live a few weeks back. Easily one of the best live country shows I have ever been to. He played a new song called “As Long As She Ain’t In it” that is pure country gold. The kind of song that forces you to dance. Hopefully I will get to hear it again on the radio…as a nice cleanser after listening to Luke Jason rap about drunk sexting their ex in a small town.
February 26, 2016 @ 2:13 pm
My favourite Song by far from William Michael Morgan is “She Don’t Like Old Country No More”. Absolutely amazing song, and even sounds great on a phone video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6zrq8cKeg0
February 26, 2016 @ 11:51 pm
Just out of curiosity and maybe a little off topic, but how come this site gives no mention to Jon Wolfe. I think he’s a good example of an artist with a traditional background with a good possibility of having mainstream appeal.