Newest Adds to Saving Country Music’s Top 25 Current Playlist (#98)
2022 has us working overtime already to keep up with all the great songs coming out on high-caliber albums from artists old and new. The easy part is finding new songs worthy of being highlighted. The hard part is choosing which old ones to take off since they’re so many great ones.
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:
David Quinn – “Down Home” – Get your ass a heaping greasy skillet full of funky country goodness from the debut single of David Quinn’s new album Country Fresh coming out April 15th. Quinn’s been one of the best kept secrets in independent country for the last few years (despite SCM’s best efforts), but this new album just may be where the word gets out.
Dolly Parton – “Blue Bonnet Breeze” – Dolly Parton has written more songs that just about any other individual performer, but even at 76, she’s proves her well of passion is far from tapped. On March 4th, she will release her first ever novel, accompanied with a new album full of original songs, both called Run, Rose, Run. Radio won’t play it, but “Blue Bonnet Breeze” proves Dolly’s music remains as relevant as ever.
Zach Bryan – “From Austin” – Zach Bryan’s continued ability to deliver gut-punching and poignant lines in song has already ensconced him as one of the most prolific songwriters of our era, even in this early stage of his career. It’s uncanny. Maybe even improbable. “From Austin” is his first official studio-grade single, and he’s already packing out venues, and set to headline festivals this summer. New album American Heartbreak out May 20th
Drew Moreland – “Come On Loretta” – Just a perfect little Texas dancehall Saturday night boot scooter from Marion, TX’s Drew Moreland that will put your mood right where you want it to be. Written by Kris Smith, it’s a standalone single for the moment.
49 Winchester – “Annabel” – There’s just something about the chemistry of this band and the soul with which lead singer Isaac Gibson delivers these songs that makes them a band you want to buy stock in and root for. “Annabel” is the lead track off of 49 Winchester’s New West Records debut called Fourtune Favors The Bold out May 13th.
Mike Kuster – “Friends With Benefits” – And older songwriter from rural Maryland that is just now getting started trying to garner national attention, Mike Kuster has a knack for putting life into song, and then gracing those songs with great country melodies. “Friends With Benefits” has one of those choruses that goes on too long in the best of ways like “Blame It On Your Heart” by Patty Loveless.
The Wooks – “Butler Hayes” – Bluegrass continues to be on the rise off the backs of a new generation of performers bringing an renewed enthusiasm to the music. Tyler Childers tour partners The Wooks just released a new album entitled Flyin’ High, and this cautionary tale told through a central character illustrates the kind of spirited instrumentation and songwriting you can expect from the group.
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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)
- “Down Home” – David Quinn – Country Fresh (4-15)
- “blood” – Kaitlin Butts – What Else Can She Do? (4-15)
- “Butler Hayes” – The Wooks – Flyin’ High
- “Annabel” – 49 Winchester – Fortune Favors The Bold (5-13)
- “Fire Song” Jessica Willis Fisher – (single)
- “Friends With Benefits” – Mike Kuster – Better Late Than Never
- “River Fool” – Ian Noe – River Fools & Mountain Saints (3-25)
- “Roller Coaster” – Ellis Bullard – Piss Hot Freightlining Country Music (TBA)
- “Blue Bonnet Breeze” – Dolly Parton – Run, Rose, Run (3-4)
- “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)
- “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)
- “Come On Loretta” – Drew Moreland – (single)
- “From Austin” – Zach Bryan – American Heartbreak (5-20)
- “Long Gone” – Tammy Rogers, Thomm Jutz – Surely Will Be Singing
- “Colorado Blues” – Ryan Culwell – Run Like a Bull
- “Out of Control” – Addison Johnson – (single)
- “How It Feels to Be a Cowboy” – Hogleg Band – Country Paradise
- “No Mistakes” – Sarah Shook and the Disarmers – Nightroamer
- “Strong” – Charles Wesley Godwin – How The Mighty Fall
- “Nobody’s Business but Mine” – Kiely Connell – Calumet Queen
February 27, 2022 @ 9:57 am
As expected, David Quinn delivers!!
I am a huge, huge 49 fan, but having a tough time getting into the new single.
The new Headley single is great.
Love the new Noe single.
February 27, 2022 @ 10:46 am
Check out George Shingleton!
February 27, 2022 @ 9:59 am
Curious if you checked out the new Orville Peck music. Drastic improvement over what came before the way I see it
February 27, 2022 @ 2:37 pm
Yes, he has a full LP coming out on April 8th, and the EP is just the first part of that, so I will give it all a listen at that time and consider it for feature. The stuff I’ve heard so far does sound more country though.
February 27, 2022 @ 10:27 am
The Other AustralAsian Playlist
The News:
04/20 is the new date for the Toyota Golden Guitars (The Australian Country Music Awards) as part of the 50th Toyota Tamworth Country Music Festival (04/18 – 04/24).
One of the many highlights will be the Anniversary Concert with 50+ stars.
Best NEW Track: Brooke Taylor – “Good Man”
Very unusual aussie track…rhythm & blues.
– Best Australien Track 2022 (so far): Tori Darke – “Sit In A Bar”
– Most Played Australien Track 2022 (so far): Tori Darke – “Sit In A Bar”
Best Overall EP 2022 (so far): Suz Dorahy – Redemption Is Real
Best Overall Album 2022 (so far): Matt Daniel – All I Ever Need (NEW)
Best Overall Drive Track 2022 (so far): Robby Johnson – “It All Starts Tonight” (NEW)
Best Overall Bluegrass, Heritage Country, Bush Ballad & Western Swing Track 2022 (so far): Kristy Cox – “If Heaven Was A House” (NEW)
– The Current Australien Tracks:
Suz Dorahy – “Tell You”
Jade Gibson – “Soundtracks”
Alice Benfer – “Never Tasted Dirt”
McAlisterKemp – “After The Breakdown”
Colin Lillie & Catherine Britt – “The Road”
Michelle Gardiner – “Things I Don’t Have”
Tania Murray – “Follow Me Down To The River”
Raechel Whitchurch – “Sure Thing” (Reimagined)
Brooke McClymonts & Adam Eckersley – “Roll On Baby”
Chris Matthews feat. Benjy Pocock – “Fools & Newcomers”
– The NEW Australien Tracks:
Mike Carr – “Haircut”
Brooke Taylor – “Good Man”
Michael Waugh – “He Told Me”
The Weeping Willows – “House Of Sin”
Sammy White – “Friends With The Bottle”
Michael Carpenter & The Banks Brothers – “New Town”
– Playlist/Testing (Australia):
Copperline – “Lucinda”
Ella Powell – “Side Effects”
Siobhan Cotchin – “Tucson”
Paul Costa – “Drinkin’ Hours”
Anita Ree – “The Barber Shop”
Colin Buchanan – “In Real Life”
The Bushwackers – “This Little Town”
Natalie Pearson – “Lovin’ In The Fast Lane”
The English Rain – “Need Your Love Tonight”
February 27, 2022 @ 10:54 am
The Texas & Beyond List:
One of the NEW tracks is “Stand On Your Man” (Lavender Country).
Lavender Country was the first open gay country act in the 70’s & the guy who formed the band is still making music. Is it the best new track? No. But LC are also part of the history of country music…& should not be forgotten.
The Best NEW Track is the traditional ballad “Homeless In Heaven” (Matt Daniel).
– 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:
Ryland Fisher – “Space”
The Wooks – “Flyin’ High”
William Beckmann – “Follow”
Nathan Perry – “Looking Down”
Styles Haury – “Country Kids Do”
The Powell Brothers – “Buy A Ticket”
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”
Wyatt McCubbin – “I’m Drinkin’ She’s Drivin’”
Tanner Sparks – “Lightning Up An Old Flame”
Evan Ogden – “Everybody Knows Somebody”
Cameron Wrinkle – “Takin’ This Leaving Too Far”
Kylie Frey & Bri Bagwell – “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”
– The NEW Tracks:
Matt Kennon – “I Let Her Lie”
David Jameson – “25 To Life”
Cottonwood Crows – “Goodbye”
The Wilder Blue – “Wave Dancer”
Joey Greer – “Whole Lotta Heaven”
Matt Daniel – “Homeless In Heaven”
Robby Johnson – “Whiskey Woman”
Lavender Country – “Stand On Your Man”
Jacob Ryan Marshall – “Creek Don’t Rise”
Luke McKnight – “East Bound Freight Train”
Dallas Wayne – “I Hit The Road (& The Road Hit Back)”
Dale Watson feat. Lorrie Morgan – “I’ve Always Been Crazy”
– Playlist/Testing:
Jessica Willis Fisher – “Gone”
Ned LeDoux – “The Mountain”
Jake Bush – “Opposites Attract”
Sarah Buxton – “Rain Like This”
John Dempsy – “Hold On Sister”
Mason & The Gin Line – “Portales”
Trashy Annie – “Luv U Luv U Back”
Dale Phillips – “She’s Still In Dallas”
Chris Colston – “Goodbye Gasoline”
Chris Monhollen – “She’s Just Lonely”
Bart Crow – “Loves Got A Hold On You”
The Hound & The Fox – “Danny’s Song”
Carley Arrowood – “Jesus Drive The Train”
Curtis Grimes – “Ain’t Worth The Heartache”
Donna Ulisse – “Don’t Bury The Bible With Me”
Casey Donahew – “83 Chevrolet Time Machine”
Ty Laramore – “Fix Your Broken Heart” (Radio Edit)
Aaron McDonnell – “Too Many Days Like Saturday Night”
Sophie & The Broken Things feat. Logan Ledger – “Trouble”
Tammy Rogers & Thomm Jutz – “Five Winters More To Come”
February 27, 2022 @ 12:34 pm
I love Dolly’s music, I cannot wait to get the album and the book, but the book is supposed to be a thriller according to Dolly, I just wonder how the album is going to tie in with the book, maybe the album will have a darker tone? The first 2 songs don’t show that, so I will wait and see, but any way I love Dolly, and I cannot wait to get her album and book.
February 27, 2022 @ 1:25 pm
Loving that Gems on VHS is releasing field recordings on Spotify. Just released one by Matt Heckelr & the first one was Hill Country Devil.
February 27, 2022 @ 3:30 pm
I like the David Quinn tune, obviously he plays around here quite a bit. Saw him open for the Moonpies and Flatland Cavalry he’s always good. Looking forward to the album and maybe even the release party @ Carol’s. Like the Drew Moreland song as well but I was really blown away with Mike Kuster’s Friends With Benefits which led me to the album and I couldn’t stop playing it all the way through….. great on first listen, kept me smilin’, a lot of toe tappers…..right into the rotation it goes. Nice find Trig!!!
February 27, 2022 @ 3:34 pm
Yes that Mike Kuster album is a good one. Hope to get a review up.
February 27, 2022 @ 7:50 pm
D Quinn! Love to see him in here
February 28, 2022 @ 3:26 am
SCM is the best streaming playlist. Prove me wrong.