Song Review – Tyler Childers – “They Oughta Name a Drink After You”

As highly revered as Tyler Childers is throughout the country music world, he’s not exactly known for his beer-soaked honky tonk tearjerkers. Then again, neither is John Prine. Childers is more a creature of the Kentucky hills and hollers, having to do much more with Appalachian folk, and the sun setting over his native coal country. And though he wrote quite a few country standards (“You Never Even Called Me By My Name” for one), John Prine isn’t exactly the kind for cowboy shit kickers either.
But over a year past Prine’s death, and over a year since we’ve heard any new recordings from Tyler Childers, the pair has collaborated to bestow us all with this new version of John Prine’s rather obscure, but well-loved whiskey swiller “Yes I Guess They Oughta Name a Drink After You.”
The song and its fiddle start off originally appeared on John Prine’s sophomore studio release Diamonds in the Rough from 1972. Coming in at barely over 2 minutes, you can tell this is one of those songs Prine wrote as a silly premise for a country song, but didn’t see enough value in it that he wanted us to take it too seriously. That’s why he made the title nearly as long as the song.
Tyler Childers and his Foodstamps take this kernel and premise of a country song, and presuppose it could have been a big hit in the 70’s if shown proper regard. Childers sings it in the original key, which initially seems a little high for him. And then to help elongate the track by some 40 seconds over the original, Tyler actually modulates it to a key even higher at about the halfway point, along with adding a piano solo. This higher register is where the emotion of Tyler Childers is often best rendered, and such is the case for this tribute song.
Embracing and the cliché nature of what is otherwise an excellent country song, switching out some honky tonk piano at the start and then revisiting the fiddle start off later in the song allows Childers to smear his own DNA on the track, while still being respectful to the original composition. The ultimate result is something that nobody requested, but we all might now deem as essential for our musical diets.
The Tyler Childers version of “Yes I Guess They Oughta Name a Drink After You” comes from the John Prine compilation Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine, Vol. 2 out on October 8th. Sturgill Simpson has covered “Paradise,” and Brandi Carlile contributed “I Remember Everything” for the comp as well, though no track list for the 12-song album has been revealed so far. The first volume was released in 2010.
Two Guns Up (9/10)
October 1, 2021 @ 10:30 am
I have goosebumps!
What a great job he does on this one.
October 1, 2021 @ 11:02 am
You just can’t go wrong with a John Prine song. ANY John Prine song.
October 1, 2021 @ 11:18 am
Fiddle has a little Cajun feel to it, love it.
October 1, 2021 @ 12:15 pm
Sounds like a 45 someone found in their attic, put it on their record player and started playing it. I am not his biggest fan, but I admit, wow this sounds soo cool, I like it when artists go Retro, like the oak ridge boys did with their 17TH AVENUE REVIVAL, GOSPEL album, that sounded like an album from the 40s. I like it when artists do stuff like this, if the rest of the album is like this, then it maybe the first album of his I actually purchase. And I mean CD, I just do not like streaming music.
October 1, 2021 @ 11:56 am
Fantastic. I had it on repeat this morning.
I have few theories about Childers. I think we are seeing him reinvent himself and going through a reincarnation of sorts. He may just be that way by nature, but I have two theories of why: 1. his sobriety/ pandemic/ shoulder injury and 2. I think he wants to distance himself from the “Americana” label.
The instrumentation of this version of this song is stone cold country. His recent shows set lists have leaned heavy on more mainstream country themes of religion, small town life, heartbreak, and love and less (absent) the heavy drug themes.
Is he making a play of the more mainstream? His appearance and mannerisms seem to suggest so. Or Maybe he just wants to shed the Americana label.
I’m very excited to see where Tyler goes next.
October 1, 2021 @ 12:33 pm
Trigger, will you be reviewing the new Asleep at the Wheel cd that released today “Half A Hundred”? Some old stuff, some new stuff and appearances by Willie, George Strait and many of the past members of AATW celebrating 50 years of music.
Should be interesting.
October 1, 2021 @ 1:24 pm
Hey Terry. Thanks for the recommendation of asleep at the wheels new album, I use to not care for their music, but I love this new album, I would give it a 10. It is so good, just like I use to never like the mavericks, but I love their music now. But the AATW album is such a breath of fresh air, and I love all the singers who are on there. So yeah it is a must buy in my opinion, and trigger if you see this, then I agree with Terry, it would be interesting to see you review this great album.
October 1, 2021 @ 2:06 pm
Glad you like them!
They sometimes fall under the radar, but have been swingjng for 50 years. And in person, they are just an amazing group to see! They were up here in NH in May, a small theater but they have so much energy! Ray Benson just surrounds himself with fun, talented musicians.
As they say, “Western Swing Ain’t Dead, its Asleep at the Wheel!”
October 2, 2021 @ 6:28 am
I love seeing Asleep at the Wheel live, but they don’t tour heavily outside the red dirt region. I’ve seen them 4x opening the George Strait Country Music Festival (98-01) and at Willie’s 4th of July Picnic (2015). Incredible. I’d love to travel to see them as headliners at Cains or Gruene Hall.
October 1, 2021 @ 4:18 pm
The new Asleep at the Wheel is on my radar and being considered for review.
October 1, 2021 @ 8:24 pm
Would also throw the new Larry Fleet album out there for consideration, if it’s not already!
October 2, 2021 @ 9:08 am
If I’ve listed a album on the release radar:
https://savingcountrymusic.com/release-radar-most-anticipated-albums-for-last-of-2021/
then it means it’s on my radar and being considered for review. I do appreciate folks letting me know what’s resonating with them, or if something slipped under the radar. But please understand I’m only one person, and especially over the last few months, there has been an extreme amount of releases due to so many records being made during COVID. I will get to as many as I can.
October 1, 2021 @ 2:23 pm
Here, here! I agree with that statement.
October 1, 2021 @ 2:25 pm
Just a side note, this was produced by his steel guitar player, James Barker at his home studio. He’s also done some recent songs there with Arlo McKinley, amongst others.
October 1, 2021 @ 3:49 pm
GET IT, TYLER!!!
THIS IS FANTASTIC!
October 1, 2021 @ 3:54 pm
Hey Daniele?
What do you think?
This sounds like a great Spaghetti Western song.
OR, maybe we need a Blazing Saddles, Part Deux, JUST for this song.
Tyler absolutely kills it!
October 4, 2021 @ 7:11 am
ahahah agreed. Tyler is great.
October 1, 2021 @ 5:16 pm
i’m not really a huge TC fan but this thing works CAUSE IT WAS NEVER BROKE.
why do so many country ‘artists’ not get that simple fundamental truth about this music ?
October 1, 2021 @ 9:58 pm
He’s starting to look a little yuppie in some pics I’ve seen lately.
October 2, 2021 @ 5:20 am
Oh, for goodness sake…
October 2, 2021 @ 6:28 am
It was meant to be light hearted. I live in the same town as Tyler, Irvine, KY. I’ve met him a few times, and he’s a great guy. He helps out our area(Appalachia) a great deal. We have serious drug issues; one county doesn’t even have enough clean drinking water. He’s helped a ton. He does it quietly, but it’s been great. I’m all in for people that help out in our area. We have a bad reputation, but some of the best people on earth live here!
October 2, 2021 @ 10:31 am
I met Tyler after a Red Barn Radio show. He’s a gem.
October 2, 2021 @ 6:33 am
He looks like he did before Purgatory. He’s also fit. When he joined Margo and Sturgill to sing backup during Willie’s encore at Va Beach, he looked like their security/ bouncer. He looks so healthy and comfortable.
October 2, 2021 @ 7:44 am
You are exactly correct. He gave up
Drinking. I heard him talk about it somewhere. It was a few months ago! He’s a grateful dude, and he’s worked his ass off. He didn’t get fame by singing on the voice. When he was at Rupp in Lexington, Kentucky, right before Covid hit, he nearly broke down in tears. I think he had that moment where he realized his dream had come true and his hard work had paid off!
October 2, 2021 @ 8:35 am
This is good. I have to say though I found the Red Rocks performance to be lackluster. Part of it is that he’s lost some of the intensity he had before and that’s probably life changes he’s gone though that may require some recalibration musically. But he sounds like he’s having some voice problems as well. He notably struggled with pitch at times and sounds like he’s doing some damage when he gets gritty. I’m afraid that he really needs a pro vocal coach before he end up with the kinds of problems Sturgill is having.
October 2, 2021 @ 8:59 am
I heard those issues with the Red Rock stream. But not the Farm Aid stream or in person at Va Beach. I thought Sturgill’s voice was strong in Raleigh before he blew it out.
Trig (or anyone else) are these voice issues (Sturgill, Mike and the Moonpies, Dwight Yoakam) related to the COVID layoff?
October 2, 2021 @ 9:05 am
Definitely think the time off has resulted in some rusty voices. Vocal chords are muscles, and need to be stretched and exercised. We’re seeing this all across music. Tyler was not planing to play a string of shows like this and has been off the road for a while, so I wouldn’t be surprise if his voice is getting a little taxed. Did not see the Red Rocks stream (yet), so can’t speak for that.
My understanding is Dwight Yoakam’s last minute cancellation last night was due to food poisoning, not a voice issue.
October 2, 2021 @ 10:04 am
I only saw the “Non COVID” statement issued by Dwight’s camp and assumed voice issues.
October 2, 2021 @ 9:21 am
Maybe but I saw Sturgill live 5 times in years past and during three of them he notably struggled with his voice. My impression was that he has some sinus issues that make for frequent infections or something along those lines. But there are major professional hazards as well. Brandi Carlile talked about his in her memoir. She’s given to frequent voice affecting illness as well but she also had to get a vocal coach to keep from destroying her voice. They don’t talk about it much generally but pro musicians are like athletes in what they demand from their bodies night after night. Aside from vocal problems repetitive stress injuries are common particularly for guitar players.
October 2, 2021 @ 1:47 pm
Sturgill’s vocal and mic technique was poor, and those two things are related.
I think Tyler can do whatever he wants. His talent is undeniable. Personally I like him closer to the Kentucky hills than to Nashville. His Red Barn set is as real as it gets.
This particular song is meh and sounds clocked in. Tempo is too slow, too. You win some, lose some. Still better than radio.
I want to hear more about the people he grew up with.
October 4, 2021 @ 10:13 am
I was at the Red Rocks performance and it sounded great in person, that said. Performers often struggle when playing out west when the air is particularly arid. It was very chilly that night and very dry, which can really mess up a singer’s voice.
I remember Elton John saying that whenever he played Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Salt Lake, etc that he made sure to include really long instrumentals like “Funeral for a Friend” because it gave his voice a break during shows.
October 2, 2021 @ 1:50 pm
hmmn ,sounds familiar, but maybe not.
I like it.
October 2, 2021 @ 7:53 pm
I hope he puts out a good album to make up for the last one. This is good stuff here
October 3, 2021 @ 8:03 am
Steve Goodman wrote “You Never Even Call Me By My Name”, not John Prine.
October 3, 2021 @ 8:09 am
They both wrote it.
https://savingcountrymusic.com/country-history-x-john-prine-the-perfect-country-western-song/
October 3, 2021 @ 11:37 am
This is killer!
October 3, 2021 @ 2:01 pm
For clarity sake Tyler does not sing the song in the original key, which is an A, but rather a step up in a b, this was a little jaring for me at first, but I’ve come to enjoy his version of the JP tune!