Travis Tritt’s 1st Album in 14 Years Features Formidable Songwriters
Travis Tritt’s long-anticipated first album of original music in nearly 14 years now finally has a name and a release date. The Dave Cobb-produced Set in Stone will officially arrive on May 7th, 2021. Said to be recorded in a “No frills, classic Outlaw country sound,” a new single called “Smoke in a Bar” will be released on March 5th.
Travis Tritt announced in mid March of 2020 that he’d signed with the Big Noise Music Group, and was working with Dave Cobb as producer on a new album—his first of original music since 2007’s The Storm. But perhaps most notable in the details for the album just revealed is the songwriters Travis Tritt has chosen to work with.
Along with picking one of the hottest and most well-respected producers from the independent side of country for his comeback record, Tritt has also called on some of the best songwriters and performers at the moment. Don’t expect a dated retrospective from Tritt. Expect an album infused with some of the blood of the latest country music revolution.
We first learned in February of 2020 that Travis Tritt was working with songwriters Brent Cobb and Adam Hood, but who knew they would both get multiple cuts on the record. Along with all three writing the title track together, both Cobb and Hood also write individual songs with Tritt, and then Cobb and Hood land the cut “Ain’t Who I Was” they wrote with each other.
Also a player in the liner notes is the well-respected Nashville-based songwriter Channing Wilson landing a couple of cuts. From the performer class, both Dillon Carmichael, and Ashley Monroe contribute words, while Tritt himself is a co-writer on eight of the tracks. Troy Seals, B. Durrett III, Aaron Raitiere, JB Strauss, and Anthony Robbins are also contributors.
Travis Tritt was a massive star in his heyday, selling more than 30 million records, and becoming of a member of the now legendary “Class ’89” which took country by storm and helped set up its resurgence throughout the 90’s. But after releasing six platinum and multi-platinum albums for Warner Brothers and Columbia Nashville, mainstream country moved on, and so did Tritt, preferring to sit out spending time in the studio as opposed to spinning his tires on albums labels wouldn’t promote.
However, the resurgence of interest in 90’s music has put Travis Tritt back in the spotlight. He was recently featured on the single “Pick Her Up” from Dierks Bentley’s Hot Country Knights project, and was also featured last year on a rock single from Cory Marks called “Outlaws and Outsiders” that became a Top 10 on rock radio.
Set In Stone Track List:
1. “Stand Your Ground” (Travis Tritt, Wayne B. Durrett III, Channing Wilson)
2. “Set In Stone” (Travis Tritt, Brent Cobb, Adam Hood)
3. “Ghost Town Nation”(Aaron Raitiere, JB Strauss)
4. “Smoke In A Bar” (Jeremy Bussey, Derek George, Tim Montana)
5. “Leave This World” (Travis Tritt, Ashley Monroe)
6. “They Don’t Make Em’ Like That No More (Travis Tritt, Matthew Dillon Carmichael)
7. “Better Off Dead” (Travis Tritt, Adam Hood)
8. “Southern Man” (Travis Tritt, Channing Wilson)
9. “Open Line” (Travis Tritt, Brent Cobb)
10. “Ain’t Who I Was” (Brent Cobb, Adam Hood)
11. “Way Down In Georgia” (Travis Tritt, Dennis Anthony Robbins, Troy Seals)
February 28, 2021 @ 12:12 pm
He’s still an asshole, right?
Yeeeahhhheeeahhheeeeaaaaahhhhhh
(How TT would answer)
February 28, 2021 @ 12:15 pm
“Ghost Town Nation” was rather forgetful and album art work is awful (he’s had some laughable album covers over the years), but I’m still hoping for the best for this album based on this intel.
March 5, 2021 @ 6:57 pm
Love Travis’s music from back then, but yea, that art work is laughable!
February 28, 2021 @ 12:57 pm
Hes a trumpster. No thanks. Like Isbell said, there just aren’t any good conservative singers.
February 28, 2021 @ 1:26 pm
There’s no doubt creative types tend to lean left. But I can’t imagine how political alignment would in any way affect vocal ability. Perhaps songwriting ability may play into that, which is what Jason Isbell said. But it’s still a bigoted statement, and illiberal to cast off an entire segment of people for their creative contributions based off of their political beliefs. Besides, this article is about Travis Tritt calling on some of the best songwriters around for assistance, not who he voted for.
February 28, 2021 @ 1:51 pm
I’m not sure who blocked who on twitter first, but Tritt and I used to go back and forth over gun control/ legislation and about artists (Tim McGraw) performing for Sandy Hook benefits until one of us had enough. He’s an asshole, but a talented asshole who defined my childhood, so I still listen and enjoy his music.
March 2, 2021 @ 4:45 am
Have you ever in your lifetime seen sk much unadulterated idiocy?????
February 28, 2021 @ 1:46 pm
Gotta love it Trump still consuming your mind even though he’s out of office????????????
March 2, 2021 @ 1:38 pm
Because we’re not going to rest til that asshole ) Trump) faces consequences. So sit down little man. Sorry that in your world you like criminal traitorous white dudes.
February 28, 2021 @ 2:01 pm
elias, here are some good conservative singers: bocephus, d.a.coe; moderate republicans larry gatlin and brooks and dunn; and maybe the late jan howard (I used to be more of a fan of hers). but you’ll notice all of them are old school.
February 28, 2021 @ 2:28 pm
Hi Elias,
There’s actually tons of great conservative singers.
There are definitely more great leftist songwriters though. Being a great songwriter requires the type of creativity that only emotional instability can bring. For the most part, one must be emotionally insane to write great songs.
February 28, 2021 @ 4:07 pm
I disagree with the “emotional insane” thing. Though many great songwriters are emotionally unstable, and quite a few liberals are also emotional unstable, but I mean, Willie Nelson, for example, is a liberal, and a phenomenal songwriter, and I wouldn’t say that he is emotionally insane or unstable.
February 28, 2021 @ 5:14 pm
The heck he ain’t. Willie’s nuttierdna fruitcake. Bless his heart.
March 1, 2021 @ 3:51 pm
Lotta truth to this. The “You Know What, Things are Pretty Alright Blues” is not a terribly interesting song. Has a lot to do with empathy, too, IMO. Empathy is a trait that leans both liberal and songwriterly, for better or for worse.
March 5, 2021 @ 6:59 pm
I wouldn’t call Mick Jagger and Keith Richards emotionally insane, despite Keith’s drug use. And they’ve written a ton of great songs
February 28, 2021 @ 2:34 pm
He’s a great country singer and a better actual singer than Isbell. Interestingly enough, the first time I saw Isbell (2013) he mentioned how he was a fan of country artists like Marty Stuart and Travis Tritt. And how when he saw Tritt in concert, people would throw quarters at the stage when he played Here’s a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares).
February 28, 2021 @ 4:11 pm
You are essentially saying that Charlie Daniels, Hank Williams Jr. and David Allan Coe, aren’t talented.
March 2, 2021 @ 10:16 am
Jason Isbell’s opinion on who is and who isn’t a good singer should be taken with a grain of salt.
February 28, 2021 @ 1:13 pm
Saw him play “Smoke in a Bar” last night on the Opry. Sounds like a redo of “Country Ain’t Country.” I’ll buy this album and give it a listen, but afterwards I suspect it will collect dust next to The Storm.
February 28, 2021 @ 1:53 pm
That’s about where I have the bar set for this album, anything else would be a pleasant surprise.
March 1, 2021 @ 12:35 am
Personally don’t get all the hate for The Storm (or I suppose The Calm After). There are some good songs on there. Not a great album overall, but several good songs I still listen to regularly.
February 28, 2021 @ 2:38 pm
Just like many people are waiting to hear how this album sounds I’m waiting as well but the difference between them & myself is that I am a TT fan through & through. From the first time I saw him preform at The Omni in Atlanta GA (thanks to my oldest brother) to the last time I saw him live in Athens GA (in which I was front row & handed him the only rose of the evening) I’ll never tire of hearing his music. Granted that there’s some songs that are better than others but it still has that rock you outta your seat or make you cry like a baby Travis Tritt feel to each & every one of them. Contrary to what his political views are this man is one helluva musician, songwriter & overall performer & he knows that it’s the fans like myself who will be with him until the end & I’m not even gonna apologize for loving him the way I do.
March 1, 2021 @ 5:09 am
Exactly. He was my first concert and most everyone here is wrong. Listen to his songs, some of his hits and a ton of his deeper cuts, they are well written songs not to mention he is a great performer and can sing and play solo than most. Sure Isbell is a great songwriter but anyone who mentions him and how great he is just don’t want to actually listen to Tritts output to hear real country, well written
March 2, 2021 @ 12:55 pm
I saw TT for the first time in 2008 at our San Joaquin County Fair for only a $6 general admission fee and he put on one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. I don’t think I ever saw a musical act that performed for more than an hour at the fair and he played for almost 2 1/2 hours. I also watched his one man show last year in February which was the last show I’ve been to since Covid (I live in California) and it was also great. I consider myself very liberal (open minded) but that’s never stopped me from enjoying someone’s music because of their political beliefs. Great music is great music and a lot of so called assholes have made great music throughout history. It will be sad to see what music sounds like in the future if the only people that are allowed to be popular and well known are the ones considered politically correct. Give me the gritty offensive truth any day instead of the watered down whitewashed PC version of reality.
February 28, 2021 @ 3:48 pm
Don’t care who he supports, it is his right to support who he pleases. I am much more interested in his music. Looking forward to the new album, I have been a fan for years. I hope it is better than his last one. I should say I am also a fan of Isbell as well regardless of his politics. Both great. Both talented. Tritt though is for me a better singer.
February 28, 2021 @ 3:58 pm
Fuck all you derivative assholes. TRAVIS IS THE MAN.
February 28, 2021 @ 7:31 pm
TT is a derivative asshole. ????
March 1, 2021 @ 8:18 am
Traditionalist (relatively speaking, at least) sounds so much nicer. 😉
February 28, 2021 @ 4:10 pm
Isbell is a mediocre singer at best. See Morgan Wallen’s cover of “Cover Me Up” for the obvious ass-handing. But whatever.
Tritt can vote as he sees fit. It’s still a free country, sort of, no thanks to urban nanny state totalitarian wokesters who hate country people and their own wealth.
For me, the real issue is Trigger’s use of “formidable.” I startled the horses as I laughed at imagining conversations in Na$hville:
“Should we get Childers to co-write?”
“He’s too formidable.”
“True, hoss. How ’bout Combs?”
“Too normie. People like him personally.”
“Aw, right. McAnally?”
“Truly formidable. Everything eighth-grade level and sex-obsessed. Perfect.”
“So Isbell is out.”
“He checked the sex box, but can you imagine him hanging with Travis?”
“They’d hang purty well together in North Korea! Haw haw!”
“Hank Junior is still alive, unfortunately.”
“That’d be awesome!”
“Which is why it should never be allowed to happen.”
“I reckon the same goes for Coe.”
“I’m going to pretend you never said that. It’s time for my latte and massage. Please ring up Maren Morris and tell her she’s not getting any younger. And where is the phone number for our Dominion rep? We have awards to coordinate.”
March 1, 2021 @ 9:09 am
OK, flatbread.
February 28, 2021 @ 5:21 pm
Isbell must be a closet conservative
February 28, 2021 @ 5:25 pm
I’m a Bernie Bro and I don’t care who Travis voted for. Ghost Town Nation is a killer track, and I’m gonna spin this album for sure. Stop politicizing everything, you losers!!!
February 28, 2021 @ 7:01 pm
Liberals used to be the defenders of opinions that were deemed offensive and out of the mainstream. It’s actually part of the bedrock of being an American to stand up for the rights of people to express their political views, even if you don’t agree with them. The Left is now the McCarthyism of the 21st century — judgmental, Puritanical self-righteous hypocrites. How times have changed…
February 28, 2021 @ 7:08 pm
Wow come on here to talk about the songwriters and all the comments are about artists politics and songwriters politics. Who cares as long as the music is good. I never understood why you can’t just enjoy a song even if you don’t like a singer.
February 28, 2021 @ 8:23 pm
Tritt can sing the dictionary and it be better and more interesting than most other singers.
Corncaster, your post was hilarious and very true.
Elias, not so much.
I wish Tritt and Stuart would do a new full-on duet’s album and a new country tour. That would be over-the-top awesome. There would be more talent on that stage than any award’s show could handle.
February 28, 2021 @ 10:49 pm
Leave your politics at home!! PLEASE !!!! Just let him sing.
March 1, 2021 @ 1:44 am
I agree with trigger. I am a Green Party Socialist and Iike all types of singers. Tami Neilson on the left and The oak ridge boys and Travis on the right.
I hate the message in Smoke in a bar. you can hear it in you tube, but it is a great sounding song. I will be getting this album. I can like a Great singer and not agree with their politics.
March 2, 2021 @ 1:41 pm
That’s your choice. The personal is political to me 100%. Not going to support artists who support dismantling our country and handing it over to a fascist.
March 2, 2021 @ 3:48 pm
Then you certainly do not like the current administration
April 24, 2022 @ 11:22 am
Kim, nobody values your opinion, move on
March 1, 2021 @ 7:40 am
cool.
I have all of his albums, lots of good stuff on there, some are better than others depending on your mood. As he got older, he had some more chilled out, mature songs on there.
I’ve caught him live at least three times, back in the day, great shows and he sounds like himself live.
I’m looking forward to this, I hope it is a good one.
March 1, 2021 @ 7:55 am
When Travis recorded “A Man and His Guitar” back in 2014 (released in 2016), he mentioned on one of the tracks with Marty Stuart that he had been in the studio working on a mostly acoustic album and that it would be arriving soon. Whatever happened to that?
March 6, 2021 @ 7:58 pm
I’ve wondered the same thing for years. It kinda makes me wonder if Travis and Marty had a falling out or something, or couldn’t agree how to release it. Otherwise, why sit on it? He was still playing “Pickin’ At It” (one of the songs from that unreleased record) when I saw him live two or three years ago.
March 1, 2021 @ 8:00 am
Garth: “I’m so full of myself,” Travis: “Here….hold my beer.”
March 1, 2021 @ 11:03 am
I’ve never seen someone as egotistical as Garth while still trying to play the regular guy role.
March 2, 2021 @ 9:24 am
Good ole Garth, Mr. Fake Tears.
March 2, 2021 @ 4:01 pm
I think Garth (who turned me on to country music when I was 10) and Taylor Swift have to be the worst (and by that I mean the most obvious) at faking the act of being surprised. And why is it every time he performs Friends in Low Places, he has to spend time talking and setting up the crowd for the 3rd verse? The song is over 30 years old…everyone knows there’s a 3rd verse by now. Just sing it and quit stretching out the most played out song in your catalog.
March 1, 2021 @ 8:35 am
looking forward to this. those are great song writers that I’ve been fortunate enough to see play live many times. this should be a fun one.
March 1, 2021 @ 12:06 pm
I just kind of notice the more that liberal ideas become more and more of the mainstream, the more our country is going to hell.
March 2, 2021 @ 1:43 pm
Well the ignorant rednecks can’t handle change and their fragile masculinity crumbles.
March 2, 2021 @ 1:46 pm
Kim,
Please don’t run through my comments section screaming at everyone of their political beliefs. You don’t like Tritt because he’s a Trump supporter? I totally get it. But this is a music website, not the comments section on CNN. State your opinion—which is welcome—and move on.
March 3, 2021 @ 1:15 am
It must really suck to be so angry all the time. Also, my masculinity is far from fragile.
March 1, 2021 @ 6:26 pm
Looking forward to his new music. He was a superstar in his heyday and with the blend of his vocal delivery and new contemporary songs from these writers his new album could be special. I enjoy his music and jason isbells. I don`t care what their politics are.
March 2, 2021 @ 5:48 am
Seems like I probably disagree, politically, with a handful of my favorite artists. Hank Jr, CBD, etc. Doesn’t matter. I don ‘t care how they vote. I admire these performers for their talent, and ability to deliver a song. They have worked hard to be at the level of excellence they have achieved. None of them were helped along by who they voted for. This is true of TT. Have seen TT live twice. Blown away both times. One show TT opened up for Hank Jr. What a fantastic night! Anxious to hear the new album. Just like this SCM website. The music discussed here on this website is, hands down, music from of high level artistry. If I want to discuss politics, I will go to an appropriate website. SCM is all about the music. Happy for your return, Travis. And thank you ‘Saving Country Music.’
March 2, 2021 @ 6:21 am
Travis is a star, in my eyes. I love him more than I should. My husband recently died recently. I still feel so sad, but Travis really is great to take my mind off it for awhile. I have been a fan of TT since a long time back. I intend on staying that way.
March 2, 2021 @ 9:03 am
Wow some of y’all are rude af! Guess if Travis is sooo bad of an artist he’d be broke, oh yeah that’s right he’s loaded!! He has more talent in his pinky then most of y’all will ever dream of having! He’s one hell of a singer, songwriter and musician!! He’s not an asshole, he’s a honest man and tells it like it is. If he has ever been an asshole,someone deserved it! He’s an amazing and kindhearted, one of the most respectable men I’ve ever known! My hero FOR LIFE!! Cant wait for this album T!
March 2, 2021 @ 1:35 pm
He’s a gaslighting Trump supporter and liar. And his music has always sucked.
March 2, 2021 @ 9:49 pm
Can’t wait for Travis Tritt’s new cd! He is the absolute best singer there is!!
March 5, 2021 @ 5:35 am
Wasn’t this supposed to come out today? I remember looking earlier this week and could have sworn the article said the 5th.
March 5, 2021 @ 8:51 am
May 7th is the release date for this, but originally Travis Tritt said it would be out in 2020, though we never received a solid date.
March 5, 2021 @ 9:06 am
You might be thinking of the “Smoke in a Bar” song, which is out today.
March 5, 2021 @ 9:56 am
Thanks trigger. That must be it. I’m just very excited to hear the Cobb co-written tunes. Man sure knows how to write em!
March 5, 2021 @ 7:51 pm
How do we by one here in Australia.
May 5, 2021 @ 10:46 pm
Im actually stoked for this record. Its like a old friend wakes up and meets my new ones. This should outclass every new release out there cept Willie n sons and Rowdys new cd. God Imiss you man !
May 6, 2021 @ 1:05 pm
Ya’ll can say what you want! Besides GOD, TRAVIS TRITT is my HERO! His music has inspired me since I first heard Country Club! I went to the No Hats tour in Charlotte NC and several others. I have wondered through the years can this man be reading my mind? There are too many of his songs that speak for me and say exactly what I want to or have been trying to say to someone. My Dad died 7-8-08 his last words to me were I LOVE YOU MORE!!! GOD, MY 3 children, Family, friends and Travis I LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU’LL EVER KNOW! And some day it will be set in my stone! THATS FOR SHORE!