Track List / Songwriting Collaborators Revealed for Ashley Monroe’s New Album “Sparrow”

Ashley Monroe’s much-anticipated new album Sparrow will be arriving on April 20th via Warner Bros. Nashville. Produced by Dave Cobb and recorded in Nashville’s historic Studio ‘A’, the record is said to take a very Countrypolitan approach to the music, with lush string arrangements and other accoutrements to give it a more classic sound. This would be very appropriate for the Studio ‘A’ venue, which compared to other studio spaces is a cavernous room that was specifically built to facilitate the recording of orchestral arrangements during the original Countrypolitan era of the 60’s.
That style is not exactly indicated in the album’s lead single, “Hands On You,” which is much more similar to the throwback R&B, Muscle Shoals sound Dave Cobb has evoked with artists such as Anderson East, Brent Cobb, and others. Inspired by a trip Monroe took with some girlfriends where she was banished to a hotel room due to illness, the song is very much centered around sensuality.
Ashley Monroe is an artist often harped about by critics and close fans, but who regularly gets overlooked by country radio and awards despite a great record of quality output.
“Hands On You” was co-written with Jon Randall, who is one of multiple recognizable songwriting contributors just revealed with the full track list for Sparrow. Though Monroe co-writes every song on on the record, she gets a helping hand from some hot names in the songwriting world such as Waylon Payne, who shows up with four co-writes. Payne also received a sizable amount of songwriting credits on the latest album with fellow Pistol Annies member Miranda Lambert. Speaking of the Pistol Annies, Angaleena Presley receives a co-write on the new record as well. As does Anderson East, and revered Texas music songwriter Ryan Beaver, along with a host of others.
Track List for Ashley Monroe’s Sparrow:
1. “Orphan” (Monroe, Gordie Sampson, Paul Moak)
2. “Hard On A Heart” (Monroe, Moak, Blu Sanders)
3. “Hands On You” (Monroe, Jon Randall)
4. “Mother’s Daughter” (Monroe, Brendan Benson, Ryan Beaver)
5. “Rita” (Monroe, Moak, Nicole Galyon)
6. “Wild Love” (Monroe, Benson, Waylon Payne)
7. “This Heaven” (Monroe, Aaron Raitiere, Anderson East)
8. “I’m Trying To” (Monroe, Randall, Kassi Ashton)
9. “She Wakes Me Up” (Monroe, Payne, Moak)
10. “Paying Attention” (Monroe, Payne, Benson)
11. “Daddy I Told You” (Monroe, Angaleena Presley, Josh O’Keefe)
12. “Keys To The Kingdom” (Monroe, Payne)
February 27, 2018 @ 1:07 pm
Harping diehard fan here! ????
Can’t wait for all of these albums coming out… Ashley, Lindi, Kacey ????
February 27, 2018 @ 4:58 pm
Absolutely agree. Three of my favorite artists with new music on the way. Very excited to hear their new material!
March 1, 2018 @ 7:45 am
I feel the same way! I was excited that Kacey and Ashley were releasing albums, but I didn’t know about Lindi! 2018 is gonna be awesome.
March 1, 2018 @ 8:50 am
Lindi’s got a couple songs out from the album already! Definitely give them a listen!
You should also definitely check out the lyric video for “Comeback Kid”. It perfectly showcases the Spaghetti Western theme and is a total throwback to Mid Century Modern graphic design!!! (sorry I geek out over stuff like that haha). The music video rocks hard too!
February 27, 2018 @ 1:18 pm
If Ryan Beaver is involved, you know it will be good.
February 27, 2018 @ 1:34 pm
I’m really looking forward to this release. It looks like a great spring for albums from female artists.
February 27, 2018 @ 2:09 pm
Nice tune! Looking forward to the rest of the album (especially “Daddy I Told You”)… 🙂
February 27, 2018 @ 2:39 pm
Ok, she’s given us an overly studied fantasy. And she’s alone — there isn’t even an image of her imagined lover. Likewise, the music never takes advantage of its minor key. Dissonance, like real life, is risky. She’s sexy, but this isn’t fresh. Sure sounds good, though.
February 27, 2018 @ 2:54 pm
I am so over the Dave Cobb sound. So many great artists have been turned to mush.
Like this song. Not offensive but totally forgettable.
February 27, 2018 @ 3:00 pm
Hoping this is the least country song on the album.
February 27, 2018 @ 3:08 pm
The lead single (Hands on You) sounds incomplete without the context of an album. I’m excited for the album regardless…
Brothers Osborne’s sophomore album will be released the same day
February 27, 2018 @ 6:57 pm
Really like Ashley as an artist. I’m so excited for new music. She is such amazing song writer and has such sweet beautiful voice.
February 27, 2018 @ 8:46 pm
Very excited for this spring with both Ashley and Kacey releasing new albums! I still love listening to The Blade, which I personally think is one of the best country albums to come out in recent years. It just had the right balance between modern and traditional. While I do like “Hands On You,” I’m glad to hear that’s not what the rest of the album will sound like. As others have mentioned, I’m a bit burned out on that sound, though I’ll still take it over bro anyday. Since I actually love the 60’s Countrypolitan sound and orchestral arrangements, I’m now even more excited for this album than I was before!
February 28, 2018 @ 1:23 am
Interesting that you mentioned Kacey, seeing that 3 years ago they were also about to release albums
February 28, 2018 @ 8:41 am
Completely agree about The Blade!
February 28, 2018 @ 4:35 am
12 tracks & no songwriting credits for busbee, Copperman, Gorley & McAnally?
It’s possible!
February 28, 2018 @ 4:59 am
I would not call this country music. It puts me more in mind of a Chris Isaak thing. I do like the tremelo on the guitar and the moody feel though. It’s listenable. And pleasant. I enjoy The Pistol Annies quite a bit so I’m hopeful there’s still some country sounds to be found on the record.
What’s with this cultist fascination about Cobb? Are there no other producers out there? Why is everyone hiring him? Is this what the cool kids do, get Cobb?
Is this because of Stapleton and Simpsons success? I genuinely wonder and am trying to understand why he is so sought after.
February 28, 2018 @ 5:02 am
Oh, yippee. Another Dave Cobb record.
Seriously, he is becoming the next Shane McNally; everyone keeps using him, and his production is so blah.
February 28, 2018 @ 7:39 pm
That’s a pretty smoking hot take, David. Particularly since all Cobb does is stay out of the way and let the artist just do his or her thing. He saved Stapleton from a horrific solo career, which is exactly where he was heading with dumb ass production. I’m not tired of Cobb, because the best artists are picking him. Yes, at some point, the pendulum is gonna swing too far to the singer-songwriter side. maybe we’re there already and don’t know it. i’ll give you that. But if Prine wants to do a record with Cobb, David, sorry bud, i’m in. It’s probably gonna be great. And most of the people going to Cobb already know they got the juice.
February 28, 2018 @ 6:26 am
Probably wouldn’t like Hands on You performed by anyone else, but it’s Ashley Monroe, for God’s sake.
February 28, 2018 @ 6:39 am
I sure as hell don’t get all the Dave Cobb hate I am seeing. Sure, they may all have the same “sound” but to me that “sound” is greatness. Who is doing better?
February 28, 2018 @ 7:48 am
Oh I don’t hate Cobb. Some of his work is quite good. He’s definitely the flavor of the minute. But it’s getting to be clichéd to announce your new album and then the obligatory produced by Dave Cobb. Just saying that there are other guys out there. Lloyd Maines comes to mind as just one example.
Here’s a thought, Cobb produced a record for Nikki Lane and it was ok. Auerbach also produced one for her, it was alright. But her latest was self produced snd it’s by far her best. Sometimes the golden boy isn’t always the answer.
But I won’t knock his success, he’s racked up a stack of grammys.
February 28, 2018 @ 7:47 am
Well. I’ll say this. I like the lead single a lot more than whatever it was that was the lead single on The Blade. That album was hit and miss for me. The more commercial songs sort of left me cold. Perhaps this is an indicator that she’s done trying to cater to radio, even if this single might be indicative of the rest of the record? I mean, countrypolitan doesn’t seem to be what country radio wants.
February 28, 2018 @ 7:49 am
*might NOT be indicative*
February 28, 2018 @ 7:54 am
Hey Dave Cobb haters, Get a Life. Seriously. wtf. He is at the Top of his Game and quality artists are seeking him out. AND HE IS PRODUCING GREAT RECORDS! Can your faux hipsterism be any more apparent?
I loved Ashley’s first two records which were produced by Vince Gill. I giver her major kudos for seeking out a new sound. I will buy this one ahead of time without even bothering to hear a note
February 28, 2018 @ 9:13 am
Haters? I don’t think so.
February 28, 2018 @ 10:18 am
I think they’re closet Joey Moi fans.
February 28, 2018 @ 11:59 am
I understand that Cobb might have overplayed his hand. The rule of thumb is you have 6 years at best to make your mark and money. Cobb has but his production now is kind to my years well dry. All music right now is going through this dry ear thing, just the sounds of the times
February 28, 2018 @ 9:33 pm
I’ll take another several years of him being to the go-to.guy…and it sill won’t make up for all the over produced shitty sounding, overly compressed and lifeless records that he is saving us from. Thank you Dave Cobb. Long may you ride.
March 1, 2018 @ 8:44 am
Amen Brother.
February 28, 2018 @ 2:57 pm
I’m a shameless fan of Ashley, it’s so hard for me to not get hyperbolic about it. This song is ok. I don’t get the backstory though. Nevertheless, I’d buy this album sight or sound unseen because I think Monroe is the ish.
March 1, 2018 @ 8:35 pm
She is my favorite artist. I totally agree that she is extremely underrated and criminally overlooked by country radio and awards shows (which totally sucks). As a young female aspiring country singer and songwriter myself, she is my biggest inspiration. In fact, Like a Rose is my all-time favorite album. I look forward to hearing this album, as I have a feeling it will be great.
March 7, 2018 @ 2:32 am
My sweet LORD almighty, “Hands On You” is dead SEXY. I’ve adored Ashley’s vocals on everything she’s put out, and this one is no exception. She’s effortlessly perfect. Can’t wait to hear the rest of this album!!! Is it too early to predict another Grammy AOTY nomination?! ????????