March 10th Can’t Get Here Quick Enough for Marty Stuart’s “Way Out West”
Yes, yes, and yes.
Those who dug deep into the hints and allegations present in Saving Country Music’s Most Anticipated Albums of 2017 post a few weeks back already knew to expect something big coming from Marty Stuart in this calendar year, and and new we’re finally getting the juicy details. The current Prince of Country Coolness will release his latest record called Way Out West on March 10th via his own Superlatone Records. And if you’re a fan of the Bakersfield twang and the transcendental magic of the California desert, this project will be right down your alley.
Don’t expect this to be just another Marty Stuart release simply because it’s been two years or so since his last record. This could be his most expansive work since his concept record The Pilgrim. To record Way Out West, Marty Stuart employed Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers fame for the 15 tracks that include many originals, a few instrumentals, and a cover song or two like Benny Goodman’s “Air Mail Special,” and the Johnny Cash-recorded “Lost on the Desert.”
Marty Stuart describes the record as cinematic. “If you go and sit by yourself in the middle of the Mojave Desert at sundown and you’re still the same person the next morning when the sun comes up, I’d be greatly surprised,” Stuart says. “It is that spirit world of the West that enchants me. Everything that came out of California captivated my kid mind in Mississippi.”
Another interesting wrinkle to the Way Out West project is long-time Fabulous Superlative auxiliary member Chris Scruggs has officially joined the band as bass player. Don’t be surprised to hear lots of steel guitar work on this record either. And of course you can’t have a record evoking the California country magic cut east of the Mississippi. Way Out West is a product of the famed Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, as well as at Mike Campbell’s M.C. Studio.
“Working with Marty and the Superlatives was a blast, and it was fast!” says Campbell. “My role was easy, just set up the sound and let them play. Great guitars, great grooves, great vocals, they just have it all. This record is one of my favorite things I have ever been involved with.”
Way Out West Tracklist:
1. Desert Prayer- Part1
2. Mojave
3. Lost On The Desert
4. Way Out West
5. El Fantasma Del Toro
6. Old Mexico
7. Time Don’t Wait
8. Quicksand
9. Air Mail Special
10. Torpedo
11. Please Don’t Say Goodbye
12. Whole Lotta Highway (With A Million Miles To Go)
13. Desert Prayer – Part 2
14. Wait For The Morning
15. Way Out West (Reprise)
January 18, 2017 @ 8:13 pm
I am extremely excited, this is going to be a great record by a band and artist at their peak. The first single Whole Lotta Highway is a great truckin’ song.
January 18, 2017 @ 8:26 pm
Just all the instruments in the preview is enough to get excited about, not inckuding Marty’s custom b/g bender Tele, resonator, 12 strings, TV Jones gretsch, and a fiddle. I can see why you would say “could be his most expansive work”, I know some guys that worship Marty, they probably already know about this, but we love to talk about his guitar work. Can’t wait to see what this album produces.
January 18, 2017 @ 8:26 pm
For what it is worth, U2’s The Joshua Tree was also intended to be cinematic in feel and inspired by the same deserts out here in California. Also, Way Out West is also the name of what is probably the greatest Laurel and Hardy movie. This sounds like a great album.
January 18, 2017 @ 9:49 pm
That’s pretty fucking awesome. That’s the best EPK I’ve watched in years! Campbell (with a cigar) is perfect to oversee this project (from what I’ve heard so far).
Whole Lotta Highway makes me want to get in the truck and just drive.
This definitely made my day.
January 18, 2017 @ 10:12 pm
Yeah, that EPK is spot on. It’s rare that you can find one that really encapsulates the theme of a record.
January 19, 2017 @ 12:55 am
The Pilgrim has always been one of my favorite country albums of all-time and I’ve never been anything less than thrilled seeing him live. Sat Night/Sun Morn was an awesome album too. Marty has always pushed boundaries while still staying traditional. Rare, these days for sure
I really love the EPK & the new song. My only slight concern is that after listening to the song, I hope Mike Campbell hasn’t missed capturing Marty’s lower register & coffee-growl. Of course, that could simply be cos I’m listening to the teaser on laptop speakers!
January 19, 2017 @ 1:52 am
Anyone know which studio the record was recorded at? My first thought was maybe Sound City, but I have no idea.
January 19, 2017 @ 1:57 am
Nevermind. Sound City closed in 2011. For some reason I thought it was still operating. Apparently Way Out West was recorded at Mike Campbells studio.
January 19, 2017 @ 1:40 pm
It was recorded at Capitol Studios and Mike Campbell’s place according to Stuart’s peeps.
January 19, 2017 @ 5:22 am
This is likely one of my top 3 albums for 2017. I’m a huge Marty Stuart fan so there is a little bias in my reckoning. As it is, I’m still waiting for a new season of the Marty Stuart show on RFD-TV. Twang On!
January 19, 2017 @ 6:27 am
I thought his show was retired. I hope I’m wrong because I love it too. Wish I could tell you where I read that. Google it and see.
Saw Marty live this year…he’s a country music treasure. And being right up front, I got to watch him play the clarence white telecaster up close in all its B bender glory. And yes Chris Scruggs is wonderful. He was great in Br549 many moons ago. I’m extremely excited for the new release.
January 19, 2017 @ 7:10 am
During some of the repeats last year, there would be a message saying something like ‘RFD is currently talking with Marty Stuart regarding a new season of the Marty Stuart show’. That had given me hope the couple times I heard it but I can’t find any news on any new seasons. I would love for it to come back. As far as this new album goes, I’m excited and can’t wait to get the album when its released.
January 19, 2017 @ 5:35 am
Country music. The Superlatives are national treasures. Love everything about this. Hope they get airplay.
This is also everything bro country is not.
Turn it way up.
January 19, 2017 @ 6:24 am
This sounds like a super cool project. Marty and the Superlatives bring it everytime! Im still loving his last record Sat. Night and Sun. Morning. I thought it was a very overlooked project by many and severely underrated. Like many readers of this site, you cant help but get a little giddy about this release or any of his for that matter!
January 19, 2017 @ 6:35 am
Can hardly stand waiting for March 10! Love Marty and the Superlatives. Their sound and musicianship is unmatched today. I see them live every chance I get. They are playing the Cumberland Caverns for Bluegrass Underground in March and the night before with Steve Miller at the Ryman. The Bluegrass Underground is a taping for PBS and should be outstanding with the acoustics there. This album looks to be another great listen.
January 19, 2017 @ 6:49 am
What’s happened to the Apostle Paul? Is he no longer with Marty?
January 19, 2017 @ 7:09 am
I guess not. Apparently, he’s been gone for around 2 years. Somehow, I missed that. I saw them in August 2014 and he was with them then. Not much longer after that, I guess.
http://www.tdpri.com/threads/chris-scruggs-as-new-bassist-for-the-fabulous-superlatives.550687/
January 19, 2017 @ 12:21 pm
I think he’s full time with his family gig, The Martin Family Circus. Hated to see him go; I wound up sitting and talking to Paul for awhile after one of their gigs, super cool guy, like all of the Superlatives…they hung out and shook hands, signed autographs, took pictures, everything you could ask for for a long time after playing a show in Marty’s hometown of Philadelphia, MS. But Chris Scruggs is solid, and I have no doubt that whatever the lineup of the Fabulous Superlatives, they’ll always make solid country music.
January 19, 2017 @ 7:08 am
This is very exciting.
It has Album of the year potential.
January 19, 2017 @ 7:16 am
Can. not. wait
I’ve seen Marty and the boys twice. They’re coming again to my neck of the woods in late April. More incentive to go.
I thought Cousin Kenny without the cowboy hat was Chris Masterson (Steve Earle’s Dukes, The Mastersons) for a second. He needs to keep that hat on. 😉
January 19, 2017 @ 9:36 am
Great band. Saw them last March. Went to see Connie, but I’m a Marty convert now. Scruggs is a great addition. When he plays steel, it’s the old style without the pedals.
January 19, 2017 @ 11:13 am
damn…. i got goosebumps during the “wait for the morning” part. Looks like a great one.
January 19, 2017 @ 1:06 pm
HELL YEAH, THAT’S MY KIND OF COUNTRY!
January 19, 2017 @ 1:25 pm
Take my money now.
January 19, 2017 @ 6:51 pm
This sounds great. it’s almost got a Grateful Dead vibe going on. I’m very excited for this record!
January 19, 2017 @ 8:26 pm
By the way I read yesterday that Marty has moved his country music memorabilia collection to Philadelphia Mississippi ( his hometown) where in partnership with the state he has received funding to build the Marty Stuart Country Music Museum. HIs collection is supposed to be full of wonderful rare items, I can’t wait to see the doors open.
To those earlier in the thread who asked about the RFD program it quit taping two years ago, they only play repeats. Marty mentioned he might do something else on TV but wanted to get back to touring and making the music for a while.
January 20, 2017 @ 2:51 pm
Wow, I live a hundred miles from there, and hadn’t heard about the museum.
January 19, 2017 @ 8:39 pm
Just got out of Marty and the Superlatives show tonight in Athens GA… They did three off the new one: Old Mexico, Quicksand (instrumental), and Time Don’t Wait. You guys are gonna LOVE this album!!!!
January 20, 2017 @ 9:48 am
Here’s a sample of Time Don’t Wait from last night in Athens. (& Kenny Vaughan is paying a Rickenbacker on this)…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYj2wKE2ZKA
January 20, 2017 @ 2:07 pm
Thanks Duane, that sounds good.what else was in the setlist?
January 20, 2017 @ 5:15 pm
From what I can remember Biscuit, it was
I Know You Rider (Grateful Dead/Blind Lemon Jefferson cover)
Country Boy Rock N Roll
The Whiskey Ain’t Workin’
Mojave (instrumental)
Tempted
Old Mexico (new song)
Country Music’s Got A Hold On Me (Kenny)
Hot Like That (Kenny)
El Paso
Old Souls Like You And Me (Chris)
Chris Scruggs Boogie
Orange Blossom Special (Marty)
Mama Tried
Hillbilly Rock
Pretty Boy For (Harry)
I Don’t Need You Back (Harry)
Tear The Woodpile Down
Quicksand (instrumental)
Time Don’t Wait (new song)
Angels Rock Me To Sleep
I think that about covers it. And as usual, it was another mind-blowing performance from the greatest band alive
January 20, 2017 @ 8:25 am
“Don’t be surprised to hear lots of steel guitar work on this record either.”
–
Woohoo! Long Live Steel Guitar!!
January 20, 2017 @ 5:53 pm
And I forgot, the guys did a great cover of In The Pines as well…
January 22, 2017 @ 10:07 am
I have never listened to Marty but I am highly intrigued by this article, sounds like a great release. Perhaps you kind readers and/or trigger can tell me where to start with his back catalogue. I am a rocker at heart and love great guitarists. I love stuff like Steve Earle, Mavericks, Dwight. Based on that, if you all think one of his albums in particular might intrigue, please advise and I can commence my discovery now rather than wait until march.
January 22, 2017 @ 10:16 am
If your main requisite is excellent guitar work, I would start with the 2010 record ‘Ghost Train: The Studio B Sessions.” The guitar work on that album from Marty Stuart and “Cousin” Kenny Vaughan is excellent, especially the instrumental “Hummingbyrd” played on Clarence White’s old guitar. It won a Grammy for Best Country Instrumental.
January 22, 2017 @ 5:08 pm
Ok, I’ll start there, thx!
January 24, 2017 @ 5:48 pm
I keep waiting for a full Marty Stuart-Connie Smith duet album. C’mon folks!!