New Josh Turner Tribute Record to Feature Randy Travis

When you start listing off some of the best voices to ever grace the medium of country music, make sure you don’t overlook ol’ Josh Turner. That can be somewhat easy to do after the powers that be on Music Row tried to put him out to pasture a few years ago by delaying his album releases indefinitely.
But all for the better. Now without any pressure to perform for radio, he can do what he wants, which in 2018 was record a Gospel album called I Serve A Savior. And for his next trick, Turner will release a bevy of country music classics in an album called Country State of Mind due out on August 21st via UMG Nashville.
You may ask yourself why we need even more new versions of old country classics. The answer is that Josh Turner is singing them. From well-known standards to some deeper album cuts, Turner is ready to grace them with his signature bass tone, and is bringing a few guests along with him, including John Anderson, Kris Kristofferson, Allison Moorer, Maddie & Tae, and Randy Travis who will be participating in his first studio recording session since 2013.

“Randy has always been my hero,” Josh Turner says. “He was the reason I wanted to become a country singer. He’s an inspiring figure, not just to me but to a lot of people, so to have him sing on this record is pretty special.”
The two collaborate on Randy’s iconic “Forever and Ever, Amen,” which Randy has been captured on video adding the final “Amen” to live since suffering a stroke and health setbacks in 2013. Whether it’s a little or a lot Randy Travis lends to the song, it will be good to hear his voice on record once again.
Along with Randy Travis, Josh Turner calls John Anderson, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, and Vern Gosdin the “Mount Rushmore of Country Music” from his perspective. All five artists have songs that were made popular by them featured on the new Josh Turner record. “I’ve always said that any song you hear coming from my voice, you’re going to hear bits and pieces of those five guys,” Turner says. “They taught me how to be Josh Turner.”
Country State of Mind is now available for pre-order.
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Country State of Mind Track Listing:
1. “I’m No Stranger to the Rain”
2. “I’ve Got It Made” (Duet with John Anderson)
3. “Why Me” (Duet with Kris Kristofferson)
4. “Country State of Mind” (Duet with Chris Janson)
5. “I Can Tell by the Way You Dance”
6. “Alone and Forsaken” (Featuring Allison Moorer)
7. “Forever and Ever, Amen” (With Special Guest Randy Travis)
8. “Midnight In Montgomery”
9. “Good Ol’ Boys”
10. “You Don’t Seem To Miss Me” (Featuring Runaway June)
11. “Desperately” (Featuring Maddie & Tae)
12. “The Caretaker”
June 27, 2020 @ 10:43 am
He better kill midnight in Montgomery. Looking forward to hearing some of those
June 27, 2020 @ 11:45 am
Uh oh, a Mount Rushmore reference? 😉
This project should be great; really looking forward to it! I always felt that Nashville was a little puzzled with how to handle Turner. His image wasn’t an easy fit into any of their preferred marketing templates. I think he would’ve been much more successful in that earlier era.
Trigger – where’s the review on Lund’s new one? I’m kinda dismayed that a Canadian ex-rocker is becoming my hero on rural life songwriting. I mean, ‘Muricans should have that market cornered, eh? Growing up in the Midwest with corn and soybeans, I can’t relate directly with Lund’s ranching background, but everything he writes about life out of town has a rare level of authenticity.
June 27, 2020 @ 12:27 pm
I’m sure a Corb Lund review will be forthcoming.
June 27, 2020 @ 12:04 pm
After many years we finally get a million dollar voice singing million dollar songs.
June 27, 2020 @ 12:16 pm
Wow. Right in my wheelhouse. If the rest of the cuts are that good I can’t wait.
June 27, 2020 @ 12:17 pm
Great song selection. Really looking forward to this CD.
I agree that Music Row never seemed to figure out how to promote Josh.
June 27, 2020 @ 12:29 pm
Thats a very solid selection of songs he chose. I’m looking forward to it
June 27, 2020 @ 12:34 pm
Is it the George Strait song desperately or a different one?
June 27, 2020 @ 12:41 pm
I assumed it was the George Strait song as soon as I saw the title (written by Bruce Robison), but I guess I don’t have any confirmation. I’d say it’s a very good bet, though.
June 27, 2020 @ 3:22 pm
How in the sweet heck I’m I supposed to know?
June 28, 2020 @ 7:37 pm
Possibly a Don Williams song tht was released as a single in about 1988
June 28, 2020 @ 7:50 pm
I know that Josh has covered some Don Williams tunes in the past
June 27, 2020 @ 12:37 pm
I’ll buy the album.
The first song is out: “Country State Of Mind” feat. Chris Janson.
In The Pipeline too:
Ashley Ray – Pauline – Album (08/14)
Skip Ewing – Wyoming – Album (08/21)
Golden Shoals – Golden Shoals – Album (08/07)
Craig Moreau – Under The Covers – Album (06/30)
Travis Collins – Wreck Me – Album (08/07) (Australia)
The Buckleys – Daydream – Album (08/21) (Australia)
Caylee Hammack – If It Wasn’t For You – Album (08/13)
Carolina Blue – Take Me Back – Album (08/07) (Bluegrass)
Stephen Mougin – Ordinary Soul – Album (07/31) (Bluegrass)
Lindley Creek – Freedom, Love & The Open Road – Album – (08/07) (Bluegrass)
&
Jonny Houlihan – Hey Girl – EP (07/01)
Granville Automatic – Tiny Televisions – EP (09/11)
+
Bobbie Gentry – The Delta Sweete (Deluxe Edition) – Double Album (34 tracks & demos) (07/31)
The Caylee Hammack album features Reba McEntire on “Redhead” & Ashley McBryde & Tenille Townes on “Mean Something”. “Redhead” was released on 06/25.
June 28, 2020 @ 7:43 pm
Skip Ewing was/is quite underrated. Check out his song “The Gospel According To Luke”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xnLlpvegjg
June 30, 2020 @ 3:02 pm
I agree Skip Ewing is underrated. His version of ‘Every Other Weekend’ with Reba is much better than Kenny Chesney’s lifeless monotone.
June 27, 2020 @ 1:38 pm
Yep, sounds good out here.
June 27, 2020 @ 2:53 pm
Maddie and Tae? Are y’all kidding me?
Don’t those two millennials have something to protest?
Damn you all for making me eat my words and willingly buy something that they’re a part of!
Because I do wanna hear this album!
Also surprising that josh turner knows and cares who these two punk twenty somethings are
Fun fact: I have three country singers’ autographs on my wall.
David Ball, David Frizzell and Josh Turner
So no I
Don’t think I’m some old windbag who wants to listen to Hank Snow forever
I just feel like looking at all the guests he’s tapped for this project and wanting to do a big bird voice
Ok kids one of these things is not like the other
June 27, 2020 @ 3:04 pm
I kinda wanna walk back this comment because I don’t wanna sound ageist.
Because I do, in fact, listen to Daniel Donato for instance. I bought his book on tele solos and his CDs.
But ever since that girl ina country song song was revealed to be a big sham, a joke, I’ve never been able to take Maddie and tae seriously or as anything more than “sugarland but marketed at people who don’t like sugarland”
June 27, 2020 @ 4:26 pm
We are told that one of the best country voices is releasing a (more or less) standards album and the only thing you can focus on is Maddie and Tae?
What the hell is your problem???
You don’t have to like them or their music, nobody’s forcing you to. But every time their names come up you act like they’re escaped convicts who murdered your wife or something. Get a life.
June 27, 2020 @ 8:08 pm
fuzzy …..your ire reminds me of ME when the dreaded “Swift ” word creeps into an otherwise rational , and honest conversation of country music . or ANY music . i’ve learned to ignore it in the same way i’ve learned to ignore the opinions of someone who tells me she’s a good ‘singer ‘ . its just not worth my energy – life’s too short -truth will out ……y’know …take your pick of whatever cliche keeps you calm and just carry on , my friend.
saying that , I’m still a fan of M and T ,….they can write, they can certainly sing and they’ve remained truer to trad than most newbies . AND they’ve hung in through the label bullshit for as long as josh has .
July 1, 2020 @ 3:48 pm
Man, Fuzzy, they sure do get triggered by your dislike of Maddie & Tae.
June 27, 2020 @ 3:41 pm
I think some of the best voices in country should do some Marty Robbins tributes. I mean his singing is so complex and nuanced and he was MASSIVE (like the face of the Opry for 20+ years) but his legacy was damaged by his untimely death. And not just El Paso or Big Iron – some of his proper country heartbreak songs from albums like RFD and I Walk Alone. Maybe they don’t dare tamper with perfection!
June 27, 2020 @ 5:42 pm
Love Josh Turners voice. Especially on country productions. I am looking forward to this record and expect country music!
June 27, 2020 @ 7:02 pm
Great voice, but he has mostly chosen thoroughly mediocre material to record in the past. That won’t be the case with this one, so I’m looking forward to it.
June 27, 2020 @ 7:35 pm
Josh is one of the good guys. This will be great. Thanks for the review Trigger.
June 27, 2020 @ 7:39 pm
I wasn’t paying a whole lot of attention to current country in the early aughts, so I missed what I’ve surmised was his heyday. I checked out the Deep South disc when it came out a few years ago and wasn’t impressed, though I did note the quality of his voice. I’ll give this a stream on one of the services when it’s released and give it a chance.
June 29, 2020 @ 6:29 am
“Deep South” needs context to be understood. It was delayed for two years. It is not a great album but Josh didn’t sell out on it and that was the big concern.
His older albums are better but “Deep South” is a win just because he didn’t follow the paths of other sellouts (Gary Allen, etc)
June 27, 2020 @ 7:45 pm
Country State of Mind is a Bocephus song! Jr, not Sr. The song appeared on Montana Cafe album which is excellent by the way. Always loved this song. Turner has a golden voice and nice to hear him sing something worthy of it.
June 27, 2020 @ 7:47 pm
count me in ….but ….
josh can sing and SELL a real COUNTRY song as good or better than just about anyone out there .
there are so many writers still writing GREAT REAL COUNTRY songs and not getting cuts .
seems as though josh still looking to cut trad country is THE man to hook up with some great material and the trad writers who can’t seem to get the time of day from nashville .
josh is the guy they need in their corner and vice versa . and so I’m perplexed by his decision to cover older stuff .
just the same …..I’m in .
June 28, 2020 @ 5:25 am
If the sun don’t come up tomorrow people I’ve had a good time!
June 28, 2020 @ 1:39 pm
The sun will come up tomorrow, DJ, and we’ll be here. Be well.
June 28, 2020 @ 8:02 am
I’m interested. The issue I have always had with Josh Turner is that the material he has recorded has typically been pretty tepid, especially lyrically. Him recording an album of well-written songs would “solve” the one issue I have typically had with being excited about his music.
June 28, 2020 @ 11:33 am
Wonder if I can find a promo
June 28, 2020 @ 12:58 pm
I’ll go there…. I wish it was all new original songs!! Josh Turner is an incredible artist and the fact that this is some type of “tribute cover album ” with a few originals sprinkled in – is quite disappointing for this fan. His label notoriously delays his albums and he doesn’t receive as much exposure as he should … Anyhow, I’m looking forward to this album. I’m sure it will be amazing. If this was a passion project idea for Josh, then I’m all here for it. I just hope his label didn’t make him do covers so it would be cheaper to produce or something?!!
June 28, 2020 @ 1:12 pm
Now that I think of it… It’s probably more expensive to release covers than it is to release originals. But I’m sure covers sell/stream more favorably than non-single originals for Josh Turner.
June 28, 2020 @ 1:43 pm
I don’t see any ‘original’ songs on the collection. And Turner was a huge priority for his label when he was having hits. Once radio was no longer interested in his music, the label did what all labels do to artists on the downward trend, they move their attention and money elsewhere. It’s the nature of the beast. Josh had his time, and did well. I’m sure has few complaints.
June 28, 2020 @ 2:41 pm
I believe he had a #1 with “Hometown Girl” in 2017. That wasn’t that long ago. I’m sure radio isn’t totally done with him.. Several neotraditional artists have had current success (Pardi, Justin Moore, Scotty McCreery). Now would be the time for Turner to release a great new song to radio!!!
And my bad, I thought the single “Country State of Mind” was an original effort (with the same name as a classic) – didn’t listen to it yet. Now I’m even more upset that it is a full cover album lol…
June 28, 2020 @ 4:37 pm
Josh needs to do a Statler Brothers tune, RIP Harold.
June 28, 2020 @ 7:48 pm
Yes!
June 28, 2020 @ 9:33 pm
I’m most interested in hearing Josh duet on “Why Me, Lord with Kris Kristofferson.
“Why Me” is a huge song in the Kristofferson canon. While it’s not as well known as Kristofferson-penned classics like “Me and Bobbie McGee,” “Help Me Make It Through the Night” or “Sunday Morning Coming Down”–“Why Me” is the ONLY #1 hit that Kristofferson had as the recording artist. There’s an excellent latter-day performance of the song by Kris–with backup by Willie and Janie Frickie (not too shabby)–on the Ralph Emery Country Legends series. Kris also tells how he came to write the song. Even I–a non-Christian–found it very touching and interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tA7E7pbUws
August 21, 2020 @ 8:08 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihETeywxwTo
Best version I’ve ever heard.
June 29, 2020 @ 6:27 am
As the resident Josh Turner fan, I am pumped to hear this album. I think with Josh’s radio career all but over we are going to see more artistic expression. He tried his best to keep traditionalism on the dial but to no avail. Time to transition into an excellent non-commercial career.
June 29, 2020 @ 7:10 am
Bruce Robison is the man. ‘Desperately’ is becoming the ‘Yesterday’ of country music. How many times has that been covered now?
July 3, 2020 @ 9:48 am
Josh’s previous live cover of Randy Travis’s Three Wooden Crosses is also worth a listen on YouTube.
Josh undeniably has the voice and I hope that he’ll follow up this covers album with an album of original material that showcases great songs from traditional-leaning contemporary country writers who are often overlooked in mainstream Nashville.