Joshua Hedley’s Long-Awaited Third Man Debut “Mr. Jukebox” On The Way

If you don’t know who Josh Hedley is, you have until April 20th to get right with that ahead of the release of his debut album on Third Man Records, Mr. Jukebox. A long-time favorite of country fans that know their stuff, a fixture of Lower Broadway before and after it became a tourist hellhole by holding forth at Robert’s Western World and other haunts to attempt to keep traditional country alive in that godforsaken corridor, and a fiddling sideman for Justin Townes Earle and Jonny Fritz just to name a few, Joshua Hedley is finally cashing in on years and years of dues paid.
“It’s not a throwback,” Hedley says of the fiercely classic sound of the new album. “It sounds new because it is new, and it sounds the way it sounds because it’s the only thing I know how to do. I can’t write a song that sounds different. Classic country is like a suit. Nothing about a men’s suit has changed in like 100 years. Classic never goes out of style. Something can’t be a throwback if it’s never been out of style.”
Originally from Florida, Josh Hedley began playing at local VFW and American Legion halls at the age of 12 with fellow bandmates all in their 40’s. At 19-years-old, he moved to Nashville and began sneaking into Robert’s Western World where he became a sideman, performer, and eventually a frontman, earning the moniker “The Mayor of Lower Broadway” (from Saving Country Music, at least).
Known primarily as a fiddler for years, Hedley hid a great country voice that he lends to original songs he’s released sporadically over the years on EP’s and short-run releases. His new release on the Jack White-owned label will be Hedley’s first shot at capturing a national audience. The nine originals and a cover of “When You Wish Upon A Star” were produced by Skylar Wilson and Jordan Lehning, and fleshed out by the instrumentation of Jeremy Fetzer (Steelism) on guitar, Eddie Lange on steel guitar, Michael Rinne on bass, Jon Radford on drums/percussion and Micah Hulscher on piano/organ.
“I just want people to remember they have feelings, and that they’re valid,” says Hedley. “Not everything is Coors Light and tailgates. There are other aspects of life that aren’t so great that people experience. They’re part of life, part of what shapes people. And that’s worth noting.”
Joshua Hedley has released the title track ahead of the April 20th release, and it’s an absolutely scorching and staunchly traditional country crooner (see below). The album is also available for pre-order.
MR. JUKEBOX TRACK LIST
1. Counting All My Tears
2. Mr. Jukebox
3. Weird Thought Thinker
4. Let’s Take A Vacation
5. These Walls
6. I Never (Shed A Tear)
7. This Time
8. Don’t Waste Your Tears
9. Let Them Talk
10. When You Wish Upon A Star
February 1, 2018 @ 7:50 pm
If there is anyone that claims to be a fan of country music, and can’t like this, I really don’t know what they’re looking for. Seems like as real a deal as you can get.
February 1, 2018 @ 7:54 pm
Looking forward to this, and just in time before I see him with Colter Wall in LA. But what about his song Broken Man? That’s the best song and he didn’t put it on there! Bummer! Look up his live version on YouTube. It’s great!
February 1, 2018 @ 8:08 pm
I mean, isn’t this supposed to be an interactive format anyway? Why don’t you tell readers and pr firms to submit articles on bands and artists they want to promote. Get paid, take a vacation. State in the rules that the likes or whatever are hidden then get paid to reveal the most readers the most votes whatever what people like. There’s got to be a way to make money off this typing thing connected to phone lines or whatever.
February 1, 2018 @ 8:14 pm
Good for Third Man Records. Jack White makes the world a better and weirder place.
February 1, 2018 @ 8:16 pm
Thanks Trig! Josh is the real deal. Have seen him live and he’s authentic country, great fiddler and singer. I have been eagerly awaiting this album I think Jack has assembled quite a good country roster on Third Man with label mates Lillie Mae Rische (last year’s album was overlooked) and Margo Price. See Josh live, you won’t regret it if you like traditional country music.
By the way, I happen to love Robert’s Western World’s fried bologna sandwiches and I discovered the wonderful Sarah Gayle Meech there.
February 2, 2018 @ 8:36 am
Amen to that! Robert’s is about the only place I still visit on Lower Broadway when I’m in town. They still play good music there, and the Recession Special always hits the spot!
February 1, 2018 @ 8:18 pm
“Not everything is Coors Light and tailgates”.
Amen.
…And I much prefer Coors Banquet to the swill that is Coors Light.
February 2, 2018 @ 11:39 am
Sam Elliott is the only thing that makes Coors a respectable beer.
February 2, 2018 @ 10:19 pm
Well yes, that, and the rocky mountain water of course!
February 1, 2018 @ 8:37 pm
Ahhhhhhh. And all is right in the world tonight.
February 1, 2018 @ 9:25 pm
Country Music is alive and well in 2018!
February 1, 2018 @ 9:29 pm
YES.
Have been impatiently waiting for this news for so long. I’ll definitely be driving my happy ass to Third Man in Nashville on April 20th to get it.
February 1, 2018 @ 11:56 pm
The hype for this is real. If the rest of the album is anywhere close to Mr. Jukebox it’s going to be a classic.
February 2, 2018 @ 5:29 am
I heard about this guy a while back, and about his “great Country voice”.
I wanted to like him, but I just don’t get it. He sounds like any karaoke singer that can carry a tune.
And it’s hard to take him seriously when he’s wearing thrift store clothes, and trying to make his album cover look dated.
The music is Country though.
February 2, 2018 @ 8:40 am
Well folks, check the box beside the obligatory contrarian comment from Honky…
February 2, 2018 @ 10:48 pm
I’m not sure I recall Honky making one positive comment here in recent memory.
February 3, 2018 @ 9:42 am
+1 on that, Honky. I guess I’m getting old.
February 3, 2018 @ 1:54 pm
Oddly enough, Honky, I somewhat agree with you. I think I probably like him more than you (I think that the music/songwriting is great), but I do wish there was a bit more depth to his voice, or maybe just some reverb. That being said, I think his voice works well when it’s just him and his guitar playing a quieter tune.
February 2, 2018 @ 5:29 am
Bought the song, pre-ordered the album.
2018: it’s possible to write, sing, play, produce & release COUNTRY music.
Craig Gerdes will release his debut album (Smokin’, Drinkin’ & Gamblin’) soon (02/16). First single is out: “Slide Off Of Your Satin Sheets”. Sounds very promising & country.
February 2, 2018 @ 6:21 am
This is what I’m looking for in new music. TRADITIONAL Country. Can’t wait for this one to drop.
February 2, 2018 @ 6:38 am
Oh, just love this so much and can’t wait for the record! Between Joshua Hedley and Zephaniah Ohora, country music is taking a turn in the right direction. Excellent country music! Twin fiddles! Are you kidding me? Love, love, love it.
This is what country music sounds like kids. This isn’t a southern rock/country hybrid (stapleton) or a folk/rock/country hyrbrid (Isbell). This is the real motherfuckin’ deal right here boys and girls.
February 2, 2018 @ 9:03 am
Check out Valcour Records down in Louisiana. First-rate.
February 2, 2018 @ 7:29 am
+1 on all the positive comments!
February 2, 2018 @ 9:02 am
“Something can’t be a throwback if it’s never been out of style.”
Preach it, brother.
February 2, 2018 @ 10:07 am
Classic country isn’t good because it’s classic country. It’s good because it’s good. A lot of contemporary stuff gets a pass because it’s classic. But it needs to be good. And this is getting close to being really good.
February 2, 2018 @ 11:37 am
All these tatted, bearded, hipsters are starting to look alike; I can’t tell them apart. Is this the leader singer of The Night Sweats? Or is this yet another version of JP Harris?
With that said, I’ll give this project a fair shake because I love Johnny Fritz and Third Man did a god job with Margo Price’s debut album.
February 2, 2018 @ 10:49 pm
HIpster is an attitude, not a beard or tattoos. I suspect you don’t know him personally and cannot make an accurate judgment as to whether or not he is a “hipster”.
February 3, 2018 @ 3:40 pm
I have no idea what’s a hipster. But, I know one when I see one – like porn! This look – and let’s not argue Hedley isn’t promoting an image – is cliched. Everyone’s been dressing and tatting up like this in east Nashville for almost a decade.
February 3, 2018 @ 7:49 am
Never judge a man by his shirt you gotta see thru the dirt and judge him by his work….
That’s racist bruh all bearded hipsters don’t look the same, and fwiw he looks nothing like either of them…guarantee dude is better dressed than yourself btw
Aside from that very few people have put in the work time etc that he has, have seen him touring with various folks for years now and has been involved with a huge range of projects fests etc (jonny Fritz to yelawolf is a wide soectrum for anyone much less fiddle player),, respects and is respected by numerous legit country/ bluegrass legends always been nice & talked with fans after shows etc, and from what I’ve seen keeps good company that all are extremely talented musicians which in itself tells me a lot (ie the company u keep)
Stoked about album tho been a long time coming, and hope he finally gets some of the attention he deserves bc he’s the real deal regardless of yr opinion of dudes personal style
February 3, 2018 @ 3:55 pm
Racist? He’s selling an image. It’s fair game to critique it was being cliched or hackneyed. No different than critiquing an artist for using a drum kit or recording an album to make it sound vintage.
February 3, 2018 @ 8:09 pm
Was a joke dude and fwiw appreciate yr comments, was trying to be sarcastic may have been poor wording either way not meant as an insult…everyone is walking on eggshells so hard right now all I can do is laugh
February 2, 2018 @ 9:17 pm
Helllllll yeah. I’ll be getting new Josh and Jinks records this year. Whitey, you’re up, son.
February 4, 2018 @ 5:40 pm
Am I the only one that thinks this sounds like a Johnny Bush recording when he was past his prime, except it’s an east Nashville guy with a nice suit? I 100% believe this guy has a deep love for country music, and I wanted to like it so bad, but this is just not good.
February 5, 2018 @ 11:48 pm
I remember Joshua from many moons ago at Roberts and I’m sorry, it just seems funny to me that he’s trying to be a front man. I certainly appreciate his nod to real country music but his voice is too thin, high and nasal to be taken seriously. Plus I always thought him a bit snotty and full of himself. Stick to fiddling, Josh. You’re better at that.
February 22, 2018 @ 2:23 pm
High nasal voices are certainly out of place in traditional country music.
Okey dokey.
February 6, 2018 @ 12:02 am
As an aside, I’m pretty much over these East Nasty wannabes co-opting old school country attire. His get-ups are just as insulting as Kacey Musgraves’. ????