Ward Davis Announces New Album “Black Cats and Crows”
The protracted wait for new music from country music singer, songwriter, guitarist and piano player Ward Davis will soon be over, as he’s announced the release of his latest record Black Cats and Crows via Thirty Tigers on November 20th. Produced by the legendary Jim “Moose” Brown, the 14-song album also includes songwriting collaborations with Cody Jinks, Kendall Marvel, and Shawn Camp.
“I could say this album took 4 years to make, which is how long it took to record, mix and master the project, but that wouldn’t be all the way true…. OR I could say this album took 16 years to make, which is the span of time between the day I wrote the oldest song, and the most recent song on the album, but that wouldn’t be the truth either…” Ward Davis says about the record.
“The truth is that this album took my whole life to make, pushing 41 years. I had to live and live and live before I even understood what these songs meant, or why I wrote them in the first place. So many of them were written with men of great perspective and empathy…about things that weren’t at all apparent to me when they were crafted, but have revealed their truths over thousands of days and nights of just being a human being, with every victory and failure being another lesson or trial, from which I’ve learned.”
A veteran songwriter who has composed tracks for the likes of Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Cody Jinks, and Trace Adkins in the past, it’s been Ward’s part recently in the True Grit family of artists that also includes Whitey Morgan, Sunny Sweeney, Tennessee Jet, and others that has put his personal music in the spotlight. And as an artist who is willing and able to put piano back in it’s proper place as a country music instrument, he plays an important role in saving country music.
“This record, albeit my second full length LP, is my first record. My first swing at the plate, with all my might, and eyes wide open,” Ward says. “It’s not a reflection of me, it is me, and it was made with the people who know me, and who were there for the worst days, and the best days, and the days that didn’t seem to matter at all.”
Also appearing on the record is Scott Ian of Anthrax on the murder ballad “Sounds of Chains.” But first up is the title track co-written with Cody Jinks and Tennessee Jet that has just been released to coincide with the album announcement.
Black Cats and Crows is now available for pre-order.
TRACK LIST:
1. Aint Gonna Be Today
2. Black Cats and Crows
3. Threads
4. Sounds of Chains
5. Get to Work Whiskey
6. Colorado
7. Book of Matches
8. Heaven Had a Hand
9.Where I Learned to Live
10. Papa and Mama
11. Lay Down on Love
12. Nobody
13. Good to Say Goodbye
14. Good and Drunk
October 16, 2020 @ 9:36 am
Not sure any quotes from an album announcement have ever gotten me so excited for the release. Thanks for highlighting this.
October 16, 2020 @ 10:58 am
I’m liking this song. Sounds like it could be a Black Label Society ballad.
October 16, 2020 @ 3:45 pm
Ever listen to Zakk’s Pride and Glory album? A different sound for him but very good.
October 17, 2020 @ 6:39 am
It does sound like something BLS would have recorded on their later albums. I always thought some songs from BLS and Zakk’s Book of Shadows albums would be good country covers.
October 16, 2020 @ 11:02 am
Was lucky enough to see Ward with Cody and Josh Morningstar last year in NJ. Never hearing him before I quickly became a fan. Love this song and so very excited for this album.
October 16, 2020 @ 6:43 pm
Josh just released a new video this morning as well. Great group of guys.
October 17, 2020 @ 7:45 pm
Similar story for me. I saw Ward on his 40th birthday with Lucero and Cody. He was sick as a dog (although, even sick his voice wasn’t nearly as gravely as Bens). Good show from start to finish except the venue only served hipster beer. The only cheap beer in the whole place were the ones the damn rockstars we’re drinking.
Anyways, that’s the last live music I saw before the world shit down and it was just a bunch of good humble people up on that stage. Ward seemed sincerely proud of Cody for selling out a huge venue. Lucero was overwhelmed by the size of the crowd and probably could’ve bombed with the “traditional country” fans but killed it and I think Cody hugged all 30 musicians from every band independently.
We left very happy with the show and remained fans of all those guys thereafter but, it didn’t seem like anything too crazy at the time. Just another good show after seeing Tyler in a dive bar the week prior.
A whole lot’s changed since then and looking back on it now, those guys were absolutely on fire. I’m not particularly worried about those guys changing too much but, I sure hope the fans haven’t. There’s a lot more hostility in the air these days and I really hope we as fans can rise above it so my son gets to see shows like that. Seems a million miles away right now although it’s certainly been a good week for my flavor of Country Music all things considered, until you really remember hearing Tyler play Purgatory to 150 people in a dive bar. Cody wasn’t quite so under appreciated at that time given Adobe but, I do think that should prove to be a historically significant moment in country music, especially independent country music, which I’m convinced is the future. I suppose those guys suffered the growing pains and certainly not all of them chose to stick with that route but, that’s exactly when I realized guys like that are capable of doing it with very little help from suits like me.
October 19, 2020 @ 7:41 am
I was at that show in Asheville, they all killed it! The Beer selection did suck. You would think Miller lite would have at least been available considering the amount of it those guys drink lol. I was fortunate enough to see Ward a few months later in Elkin, NC for my last show before the plague.
October 16, 2020 @ 12:45 pm
Awesome
October 16, 2020 @ 1:04 pm
He is awesome! He has come into maturity swingin!
October 16, 2020 @ 1:44 pm
Epic song! Can’t wait for the album. Ward never disappoints. He’ll be here in November (God willing) at an intimate cool little place south of here called the Law Office Pub where I saw the Moonpies. They’re billing it as “An evening with Ward Davis”. Whitey’s playing here Sunday, nice job True Grit. Keep up the good work!
October 16, 2020 @ 7:23 pm
How is that place? I’ve noticed it pop up a lot recently as a place where musicians are all playing. Is it new or was it named something else before?
October 17, 2020 @ 12:24 am
The place is very cool and small, it only holds about 75 people mostly standing. Moonpies played to about 50 of us on an off night near the end of the Steak Night tour when Mike told me he was about to drop another one (Cheap Silver and Solid Country Gold – SCM Album of The year). I have no idea what it might of been called before if anything. It’s 40-50 miles south of me but a very easy ride. For Ward they’ll probably cap it at 50 I would imagine. There isn’t a bad spot in the house!
October 16, 2020 @ 5:38 pm
Great to see Ward kicking butt.
October 16, 2020 @ 6:17 pm
Already pre-ordered. Ward is a talk drink of water filled with immense talent. Really looking forward to this one.
October 16, 2020 @ 6:20 pm
Finally! Hope this is worth the wait. Ward Davis is one of the best things to come out of my former home Monticello, Arkansas.
October 17, 2020 @ 3:12 am
Tumbs up for Ward! The guy is super talented and Scott Ian? C’mon!!!
October 17, 2020 @ 6:45 am
I think Ward has a lot to prove with this album. He is often tossed out there as one of the top current country artists, but I have to agree with Ward himself that his first album isn’t all that great. Not sure the song posted here, while pretty good, is a sign that he can become that next big thing, or remain the guy who is best known as Cody Jink’s buddy. I’m really interested to hear the rest of this album.