Newest Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist (#97)
What an amazing time in music we live in where you can compile a playlist of excellent new songs from living legends like Willie Nelson and Ray Wylie Hubbard, and place them right beside new songs from great contemporary artists like Joshua Hedley and Kaitlin Butts, and it all fits together so seamlessly.
The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist is built to keep you informed on all the best songs and albums coming out right here, right now in country and roots music. It’s available on most all streaming formats (see below), or you can just use the song, artist, and album recommendations to find something new to listen to.
Newest Additions:
Ian Noe – “River Fool” – The second song from Ian Noe’s new album River Fools & Mountain Saints out March 25th, this one is much more in the Appalachian country folk tradition that fits Ian Noe so well, with the top notch songwriting we’ve come to expect from the native Kentuckian.
Kaitlin Butts – “blood” – Co-written with Angaleena Presley, Kaitlin Butts says, “When it comes to family, it’s ‘normal’ to accept behavior that we wouldn’t from friends. And when a friend displays toxic, abusive behavior, we decide to cut ties and we may never see them again, but with family, it’s much easier said than done. I hope, of all my songs, that this one makes you feel like you’re not alone in it, if this is something you can relate to.”
Ray Wylie Hubbard w/ Lzzy Hale, John 5 – “Naturally Wild” – No, it’s not country. Yes, it will make you involuntarily grab a broom and blaze air guitar while standing on your couch, blasting this thing on 10 and pissing off your neighbors. Ray Wylie Hubbard is 140 years old, and still such a badass, he can rock out harder than kids 1/8th of his age. If you don’t want to hear this song on your country playlist, forward all feedback to Saving Rock Music dot com.
Hogleg Band – “How It Feels to Be a Cowboy” – HogLeg Band have just released their latest album Country Paradise, and it’s chock full of a diverse collection of country and roots songs that will get you laughing, crying, and feeling everything in between. The hot buttered twang and hardscrabble story of “How It Feels to Be a Cowboy” starts the record off, and screamed to be added to the playlist.
Joshua Hedley – “Neon Blue” – Well hot damn, Joshua Hedley has just stepped up and put all those posers trying to recreate 90’s country in their place with this song that could have been taken directly from a Brooks & Dunn recording session in 1992. Hedley proves once again he’s a master interpreter with the title track to his upcoming album.
Addison Johnson – “Out of Control” – Just a great traditional country heartbreaking drinking song from Greensboro, NC-native Addison Johnson, and one that accentuates his voice especially. It’s the first song we’ve heard from Addison since his 2021 album Dark Side of the Mountain.
Willie Nelson – “I’ll Love You Till The Day I Die” – How many 88-year-olds are still releasing relevant music that can touch you like you’re still in your 20’s? And how many iconic songwriters like Chris Stapleton and Rodney Crowell are saving their A-list stuff for someone else to release? This song doesn’t need to rely on the warm sentimentality that envelops you simply from hearing Willie Nelson’s voice to be good. But that happens anyway, and it arrives at your ears like a masterpiece.
Jesse Daniel, Jodi Lyford – “You Asked Me To” – Jesse Daniel has released a studio version of a song some have probably seen him play live, “You Asked Me To,” which is the one song from Waylon’s iconic album Honky Tonk Heroes he co-wrote with Billy Joe Shaver. Though folks paying close attention to Daniel have already known that his heart, his harmony, and his right hand woman is his partner Jodi Lyford, this version of this iconic song gives Lyford an opportunity for some deserved time in the spotlight too.
Aaron McDonnell – “Tell The Devil” – Imagine a country music universe built around the moody experience of Dwight Yoakam’s song “1000 Miles From Nowhere,” or the dour music of 90’s Chris Issak. Then infuse it with just enough 80’s-inspired New Wave goth to make it even more unique and nostalgic. This is the world where the songs of Too Many Days Like Saturday Night by Aaron McDonnell reside, and it’s as transportive as it is entertaining.
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The Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist primarily lives on Spotify, but is also available for those who use Amazon Music, YouTube, Apple Music, and Tidal. For those who don’t stream music, you can still find the song recommendations in list form below.
CLICK HERE to follow Saving Country Music on Spotify, and/or follow the Spotify Top 25 Playlist.
Please Note: The songs on this playlist are curated for listening pleasure and flow. Otherwise, they are not in any specific order.
Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist:
- “Neon Blue” – Joshua Hedley – Neon Blue (4-22)
- “Roller Coaster” – Ellis Bullard – Piss Hot Freightlining Country Music (TBA)
- “blood” – Kaitlin Butts – What Else Can She Do? (4-15)
- “River Fool” – Ian Noe – River Fools & Mountain Saints (3-25)
- “Fire Song” Jessica Willis Fisher – (single)
- “Calloway County” – Tony Logue – Jericho
- “She’ll Change” – Molly Tuttle – Crooked Tree (4-1)
- “The Ghost of Lincoln” – The Wilder Blue – Self-Titled (3-25)
- “I’ll Love You Till The Day I Die” – A Beautiful Time (4-29)
- “Long Gone” – Tammy Rogers, Thomm Jutz – Surely Will Be Singing
- “Tell The Devil” – Aaron McDonnell – Too Many Days Like Saturday Night
- “We’re Not Made To Love” – Vaden Landers – Lock the Doors and Close the Blinds (3-25)
- “No Mistakes” – Sarah Shook and the Disarmers – Nightroamer (2-18)
- “Naturally Wild” – Ray Wylie Hubbard w/ Lzzy Hale, John 5 – Co-Starring 2 (3-18)
- “Hour on the Hour” – Mike and the Moonpies – One To Grow On
- “Colorado Blues” – Ryan Culwell – Run Like a Bull
- “Out of Control” – Addison Johnson – (single)
- “The Fire On My Tongue” – Billy Strings – Renewal
- “Strong” – Charles Wesley Godwin – How The Mighty Fall
- “How It Feels to Be a Cowboy” – Hogleg Band – Country Paradise
- “Happy Hour (Shouldn’t Be So Sad)” – Matt Maverick – American Dream
- “Nobody’s Business but Mine” – Kiely Connell – Calumet Queen
- “Broken Shovel” – Tyller Gummersall – (single)
- “You Asked Me To” – Jesse Daniel, Jodi Lyford – (single)
- “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” – Carly Pearce w/ Ashley McBryde – 29: Written in Stone
February 13, 2022 @ 10:44 am
One of the best sets of additions to the playlist of all time. Every song on here rips tremendously hard. How bout RWH melting faces off at 100 years old?!
Only thing we’re missing on the playlist is *any* track off of the semi-recent jeremy pinnell album, which rips really hard.
February 13, 2022 @ 1:25 pm
Agree, this is a good one. And the guy rips.
February 13, 2022 @ 11:23 am
Need that new David Quinn single on the playlist
February 13, 2022 @ 11:57 am
I have to say not too bad. I really love that Ian Noe song. Went back and listened to his older stuff, not so much. Assuming he has a new album coming out so hopefully it’s closer to this quality. The Jesse Daniel song is really good too. I liked Willie’s song. Sounded something like Alan Jackson might write. I actually think it might sound better with a voice like haggard but maybe just me.
February 13, 2022 @ 12:30 pm
The Other Playlists
Australia,Texas & Beyond
– Best Australien Track 2022 (so far): Tori Darke – “Sit In A Bar” (NEW)
– Most Played Australien Track 2022 (so far): Tori Darke – “Sit In A Bar” (NEW)
Best Overall EP 2022 (so far): Suz Dorahy – Redemption Is Real
Best Overall Drive Track 2022 (so far): The Powell Brothers – “Buy A Ticket” (NEW)
Best Overall Album 2022 (so far): Tammy Rogers & Thom Jutz – Surely Will Be Singing
Best Overall Bluegrass, Heritage Country, Bush Ballad & Western Swing Track 2022 (so far): Anita Spring – “Not That Kind Of Girl”
– The Current Australien Tracks:
Suz Dorahy – “Tell You”
Javier – “Falling Deeper”
Jade Gibson – “Soundtracks”
Katie Brooke – “Wanted Man“
Alice Benfer – “Never Tasted Dirt”
McAlisterKemp – “After The Breakdown”
Colin Lillie & Catherine Britt – “The Road”
Katie Bates – “Wishing Away Her Happiness”
Tania Murray – “Follow Me Down To The River”
– The NEW Australien Tracks:
Hello Jane – “Never Alone”
Michelle Gardiner – “Things I Don’t Have”
Vixens Of Fall – “If You Don’t Want My Love”
Raechel Whitchurch – “Sure Thing” (Reimagined)
Brooke McClymonts & Adam Eckersley – “Roll On Baby”
Chris Matthews feat. Benjy Pocock – “Fools & Newcomers”
The Pleasures (Catherine Britt & Lachlan Bryan) – “Beginning Of The End”
– Playlist/Testing (Australia):
JoKeria – “6718”
Ben Ransom – “Livin'”
Lontano. – “King Street”
Ian Burns – “The Outlaws”
Darlinghurst – “Unforgettable”
Grayson – “Unsolved Mystery”
Michael Waugh – “He Told Me”
Kirsty Lee Akers – “Outta Here”
Casey Barnes – “Get To Know Ya”
Duncan Phillips – “One Way Ticket”
Michael Carpenter & The Banks Brothers – “New Town”
The Woodpickers feat. Rachel Hannan – “All Life Matters”
Justin Standley feat. Evelyn Bury – “Love & Happiness For You”
February 13, 2022 @ 1:14 pm
The Texas & Beyond List:
– Best Track 2022 (so far): Jarrod Morris – “Truth Like A Lie”
– Most Played Track 2022 (so far): Jessica Willis Fisher – “Fire Song”
– The Current Tracks:
Cory Kent – “Highways”
The Wooks – “Flyin’ High”
Keller Cox – “Strange Times”
William Beckmann – “Follow”
Jarrod Johnson – “Day To Day”
Nathan Perry – “Looking Down”
Styles Haury – “Country Kids Do”
David Adam Byrnes – “I Find A Reason”
The Southern Satellite – “One Heart Town”
The Ransom Brothers – “Why Does It Rain”
Donna Ulisse – “Livin’ Large In A Little Town”
Tanner Sparks – “Lightning Up An Old Flame”
Evan Ogden – “Everybody Knows Somebody”
Pecos & The Rooftops – “Last Night’s Lashes”
Kylie Frey & Bri Bagwell – “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”
– The NEW Tracks:
Ryland Fischer – “Space”
Susan Hickman – “A Dream”
Presley Drake – “Fooled Around”
Pat Green – “Miles & Miles Of You”
William Clark Green – “All You Got”
Zack Neil – “Long Live The Cowboy”
Tyler Short – “Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet”
Jordan Robert Kirk – “Hung The Moon”
Wyatt McCubbin – “I’m Drinkin’ She’s Drivin’”
Cameron Wrinkle – “Takin’ This Leaving Too Far”
– Playlist/Testing:
Trey Russell – “Pipeline”
David Jameson – “25 To Life”
The Wilder Blue – “Wave Dancer”
Kendi Jean – “Your Eyes Are Lyin’”
Rich O’Toole – “Low Hanging Fruit”
Joey Greer – “Whole Lotta Heaven”
Robby Johnson – “Whiskey Woman”
Whitney Duncan – “You & The Horse”
Jacob Ryan Marshall – “Creek Don’t Rise”
Muscadine Bloodline – “Down In Alabama”
Luke McKnight – “East Bound Freight Train”
Ri Wolf feat. Justin Johnson – “Blood Red River”
Dale Watson feat. Lorrie Morgan – “I’ve Always Been Crazy”
February 13, 2022 @ 3:13 pm
Dolly parton and Kelly Clarkson are going to re-record 9to 5, and Dolly said it is going to be a more slow and somber version? Sigh , I am worried, but in the mean time I would like to add, Dolly’s new song BLUE BONNET BREEZE, from her album. It is a beautiful song and I really like it and think with all these other great songs , you should give it a listen. I heard it on YouTube. So go there and give it a listen.
February 13, 2022 @ 3:18 pm
Right now I have more songs to add to this playlist than slots to put them in. The Dolly Parton song (and the David Quinn song mentioned above) are definitely in the kitty and will be considered for future updates.
February 13, 2022 @ 5:58 pm
I think you will really like it. I cannot wait to hear all of her new album.
February 13, 2022 @ 9:20 pm
https://open.spotify.com/album/5QiagfAO0QLSvmIhxITrp7?si=EPg2qZ0DQFmaNiAPvoisHg&utm_source=copy-link
Here is my new album for consideration of playlists or review!
Thanks AmberLynn Browning
February 13, 2022 @ 7:14 pm
140, huh? oh well. I do appreciate the review. now wait till you see and hear the next one..
February 14, 2022 @ 6:07 am
Ray is a living legend and the whole idea of the feat. albums is cool but this is the first time i had to skip a song on a SCM playlist.
Looking for savingrockmusic.com though….ahahaha
February 14, 2022 @ 6:49 am
Screw Spotify.
Just a modern day ‘middle man’ legally stealing artists’ income.
No need for these entities with the Internet available to all musicians.
Learn how to take full advantage of the Internet… even if you are relatively unknown.
There is a better way!
February 14, 2022 @ 8:29 am
Just to play Devil’s Advocate, so many people find their favorite artists through these streaming services, and they need them to do that because the marketplace is more crowded than ever. That is why curation is still important, if not more important than ever. Most any true music fan uses some streaming service. Then when they find an artist or band they like, they buy merch from them directly.
February 14, 2022 @ 12:42 pm
Congratulations for all new artists on this list! This is a really great acknowledgement. Very few artist share it on their Social Media. Anyway, each artist has a way, or not, of gratitute. The good point is that is a great chance for artists get notice for true fans of Real Country. Just on Spotify this playlist has more than 7,5k followers. Congrats!