So Gavin Adcock Recorded a Traditional Country Tribute Record?

News 40 Comments

photo: Madelyn Ormond

Well now. Country music’s wrestling heel and town drunk has hauled off and recorded himself an entire record of classic country music covers, and in a classic country sound, and in alleged tribute to all the past greats that this guy might as well be prancing on the grave of every night when he takes to the stage in a drunken shirtless mess.

Gavin Adcock even has the audacity to record “Only Daddy That’ll Walk The Line”—the breakout single of the sainted Waylon Jennings, who a guy like Gavin Adcock shouldn’t even be allowed to sniff to boxers of.

Who does this guy think he is? Is he carpetbagging off of classic country’s rising popularity? Is he a boot licker doing the industry’s bidding by trying to re-incorporate actual country music fans back into the Music Row system? Shouldn’t we all be incensed this mouthy blowhard believes he has the gravitas to sing timeless songs from greats like Hank Williams and George Jones?

Country Never Dies, my ass. Gavin Adcock’s the guy who’s killing it. Right?

Or is he?

I still wouldn’t want Gavin Adcock dating my sister or daughter. But if he wants to record a tribute album of country classics, I see absolutely no reason to get in his way. Hell, I applaud it. In previous eras, releasing an album like this was darn near a requirement in country music. It’s how you paid dues, proved your knowledge and loyalty to country, and only then could you grace the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, or release albums of your own original material.

For his next album Gavin Adcock is partnering up with neotraditionalists like Jake Worthington and Braxton Keith, cool roots artists like The Creekers, and interesting risers like Vincent Mason and Shelby Stone to record songs from folks like Johnny Cash, Johnny Paycheck, Merle Haggard and Keith Whitley, including top classics like “Mama Tried,” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”


This is what we want the big mainstream artists of today doing. Gavin Adcock releasing a classic country covers album is yet another sign that the traditional country resurgence we’re currently in the midst of isn’t waning, it’s elongating, and deepening. Of course none of these versions will be as good as the originals. But that’s not the point.

For many Gavin Adcock fans, this will be their first time hearing some of these songs, and of some of these artists, both the ones being covered, and the collaborators he’s chosen. It was also smart that he chose younger artists like him. Many other performers like Koe Wetzel have promised to do something like this for years. Gavin Adcock actually did it.

In truth, this move is devilishly genius. Gavin Adcock was on the trajectory to becoming a country music fart knocker, flaming out after his fourth trip to rehab without ever having even a true hit single. He needs people to take him seriously. He needed to ingratiate himself to the country community. He does this in multiple ways with this album. Its commercial performance will probably be mild. But that’s not the point.

Instead of just trying to use the guy’s larger-than-life persona to siphon up money now, they’re starting to think about where this thing might be six or seven years down the road—something Treaty Oak Revival might start thinking about. Otherwise, you might end up like Florida Georgia Line, meaning in country music’s perennial bargain bin.

Of course we still have to hear the album itself, and who knows, maybe it will be rough. But the music of Gavin Adcock has always been the least offensive part about the Gavin Adcock experience, and his version of “Only Daddy That’ll Walk The Line” ain’t that bad, neither is the snippet of “He Stopped Loving Her Today” with Jake Worthington we’ve heard.

Maybe there is hope for Gavin Adcock, and country music. “There’s a bunch of people that these songs mean the world to them,” he says. “They grew up listening to these songs, hearing their parents or grandparents play them. I think it is important in country music to remember the people who paved the way for us.”

Amen to that.

Gavin Adcock’s Country Never Dies is out March 13th.


TRACK LIST:

1. “Only Daddy That’ll Walk The Line” (Gavin Adcock) *Originally performed by Waylon Jennings
2. “Slow Hand” (Hudson Westbrook) *Originally performed by The Pointer Sisters / Conway Twitty
3. “He Stopped Loving Her Today” (Jake Worthington) *Originally performed by George Jones
4. “Southern Nights” (Ashley Cooke) *Originally performed by Glen Campbell
5. “Slide Off Your Satin Sheets” (Braxton Keith) *Originally performed by Johnny Paycheck
6. “Wayfaring Stranger” (Lanie Gardner) *American folk song, performed by Johnny Cash
7. “You Win Again” (Vincent Mason) *Originally performed by Hank Williams
8. “Kentucky Bluebird” (The Creekers) *Originally performed by Keith Whitley
9. “Simple Man” (Austin Snell) *Originally performed by Lynyrd Skynyrd
10. “Big City Blues” (Shelby Stone) *Originally performed by Keith Gattis
11. “Mama Tried” (Gavin Adcock) *Originally performed by Merle Haggard


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