Ray Wylie Hubbard to Release New Album “Tell The Devil I’m Getting There As Fast As I Can”
Ray Wylie Hubbard will add to his legacy of bone-rattling grit and groove, and hymnals that speak to a weary soul torn between the battle of good and evil when he releases his latest record Tell The Devil I’m Getting There As Fast As I Can on his own Bordello Records via Thirty Tigers. The brand new 11 self-produced tracks will be brought out in the light on August 18th.
“There’s a definite beginning, middle, and end to this record,” says Hubbard. “It starts with ‘Genesis,’ and at the ending, there I am trying to plead my case before the court of heaven, hoping I’ve got a good lawyer.”
In his recent run of albums, Ray has delved increasingly deeper into the holy and profane, not afraid to evoke the name of the Archangel, just as much as a religious entity as a folk character. “You kind of give him a personality, you know?” says Hubbard from his “Shangri-la” home in Wimberley, TX just outside of Austin. “Like in ‘Lucifer and the Fallen Angels,’ you pick up this guy hitchhiking to Mobile, Alabama, and he’s just this colorful kind of smart-ass, funky cat. It reminds me of ‘A Streetcar Named Desire,’ where you’ve got Marlon Brando as this brute in a torn T-shirt, but what he’s saying is brilliant, because his words are from Tennessee Williams. I always enjoy that.”
Ray Wylie has just released the title track from the album (listen below), which features contributions from Eric Church and Lucinda Williams. Church and Hubbard have become chummy over the last year or so after Eric unexpectedly name dropped Hubbard in the song “Mr. Misunderstood”—the title track from his latest album. Church then invited Hubbard up on stage at a show in Dallas in February. Like much of Hubbard’s music, the song finds Ray Wylie talking shop about a blues musician’s tools of the trade, as do other songs from the new album like “Dead Thumb King,” “Open G,” while “Old Wolf is an ode to blues player Howlin’ Wolf.
Also making guest appearances on the album are Austin’s Patty Griffin on the album’s final track “In Times of Cold,” and the Bright Light Social Hour on the psychedelic “The Rebellious Sons.”
“So I basically sat down with the intent to write this mythological, Holy Grail/Games of Thrones kind of thing,” Hubbard explains about the song. “I knew they’d be perfect for it.”
The album was recorded at The Zone in Dripping Springs, Texas, with Hubbard’s son Lucas on lead guitar, touring drummer Kyle Schneider slapping skins, as well as Jeff Plankenhorn on dobro and mandolin, Bukka Allen on B3 organ, and studio owner Mike Morgan and engineer Pat Manskee on bass.
Ray Wylie Hubbard will also be on tour for much of 2017 promoting the album.
- God Looked Around
- Dead Thumb King
- Spider Snaker and Little Sun
- Lucifer and the Fallen Angels
- Open G
- House of the White Rose Bouquet
- Tell The Devil I’m Gettin’ There As Fast As I Can
- The Rebellious Sons
- Old Wolf
- Prayer
- In Times of Cold
June 1, 2017 @ 7:30 pm
A new Ray Wylie Hubbard album is the best news I’ve heard all day.
June 1, 2017 @ 8:18 pm
Damn, that’s a good song, and video
June 1, 2017 @ 8:57 pm
That sure is great news, I remember attending a Ray Wylie Hubbard life show years ago, at least 10 years, I hope he will tour Europe some day again.
June 2, 2017 @ 4:57 am
Eric Church pretty good. Lucinda and Ray Wylie pretty great!
June 2, 2017 @ 8:26 am
I knew Ray Wylie Hubbard about 35 years ago and had contact with him back then off and on over a few years. Ray was well known then like he is today for his excellent original song lyrics and his unique style of music. He had a great fan base who recognized him wherever he went. But, what impressed me as much as his talent was his fine character. He always showed himself to be a kind, humble person (with a great sense of humor) who related to others without ever putting on airs, like so many other famous people do. He really is one of the greats. I have heard him perform (from out in the crowd) many times since then and he hasn’t lost a lick (and truly gets better and better). He’s a classic. I am predicting this new album will be a great success.
June 3, 2017 @ 12:50 pm
Ray Wylie Hubbard…………………..all yall need to know.
June 4, 2017 @ 1:07 pm
Just saw him Thursday for the first time. Played before Billy Joe. Just him and his drummer. Sounded like a 4 piece band. He killed it.
June 4, 2017 @ 2:15 pm
Dead thumb. Who needs bass? The only person who ever knew how to play bass for Hubbard was George Reiff.
June 4, 2017 @ 2:57 pm
Haha. Well Bee Spears is such an inspiration. He made me want to be a bass player. Imagine those songs without him!!
June 4, 2017 @ 3:02 pm
I should have rephrased that. Of course bass players are important, Bee Spears being a great example. He also helped run Willie’s band for many years. But the way Ray Wylie Hubbard plays guitar with his thumb plucking the low E string, you don’t miss the bass in his band.
June 4, 2017 @ 7:51 pm
Absolutely right. I was amazed how full it sounded and a bassist with him would just muck it all up. He’s got an amazing sense of humor too, Trig.. Love the guy. Real deal. His drummer has some great chops and really compliments his riffs.
June 4, 2017 @ 7:53 pm
….And when I said “those songs” Of course I meant the Hinky Tonk Heroes album….but I know you knew that.
June 4, 2017 @ 7:54 pm
Typo apologies….
June 4, 2017 @ 3:54 pm
I also saw Ray open for Billy Joe. Incredible as always. Just a little bone to pick. Why the constant referencing of vintage guitars and amps? It’s been going on for a few years now.
June 5, 2017 @ 3:11 pm
The album title alone is reason enough to buy this one!