William Michael Morgan to Release Debut Album “Vinyl”
This fall will be a big period for mainstream country’s new traditionalist resurgence. Recently we got the news that Mo Pitney’s long-awaited debut album will be released October 7th, and the week before, on September 30th, traditional country singer William Michael Morgan will also release his debut.
Titled Vinyl, the album was produced by Scott Hendricks and Jimmy Ritchey, and is led by his debut Top 20 single “I Met A Girl.” Vinyl is also the name of a William Michael Morgan song that was featured on an EP released in March by his label Warner Music Nashville.
“I can’t believe it’s already about this time for me,” William Michael Morgan said in a statement. “Right now we’re sitting at about 11 songs that’s gonna be on the album. That could change, but it’s all country, true to the EP of course, and I just can’t wait to share this with you guys. We’ve been working so hard to try and find and write to get these songs out to the public.”
William Michael Morgan has been proving his muster as a traditional country artist on the Grand Ole Opry and other places recently, and looks to be one of those rare birds that is willing to stick to his roots, and won’t be persuaded otherwise by his label. It’s pretty customary these days to release a debut EP first for a major label artist to gauge public sentiment before the full LP.
August 3, 2016 @ 6:53 pm
I seen him a few weeks ago at jamboree in the hills he was excellent. He did do a Rhett Akins cover of “people like me” off his down south album- I seemed to be the only one that knew it. Not sure if that will be on the album or not. Looking forward to it and he’s a great guy.
August 3, 2016 @ 6:55 pm
It’s about time! William Michael Morgan is one of my favorite new artists. I’m beyond excited about this. His EP is absolutely excellent. Real country music.
August 3, 2016 @ 7:08 pm
Pulling for William Michael Morgan although I know commercially it won’t happen. Big fan here. He’s got a good Southern country voice.
Remember when it was o.k. to be Southern? I miss those days. What is sad is the nasality sound is gone forever. Dwight Yoakam, Randy Travis, Keith Whitley, Vern Godsin- it is “illegal” to have that sound anymore. O.k. I’ll give you Chris Young and I guess Justin Moore…but those are two of the how many? And they will be extinct sooner rather than later. Enter the rock voices like Brantley Gilbert #Facepalm
August 3, 2016 @ 7:12 pm
There’s nothing “nasal” about those voices man. Nasal singing is like post-hardcore shit like Silverstein.
Also, the best thing that could ever happen to country music is for fake twang artists like Jennifer Nettles and Justin Moore to disappear forever. A drawl is fine, but when you ham it up for effect you’re being disrespectful.
August 3, 2016 @ 7:42 pm
I’d take fake over Brantley Gilbert, Tyler Farr any day of the week.
August 4, 2016 @ 11:41 am
Don’t give in to the Eeyore syndrome. Buy the music you like, and encourage all your friends to do the same. There’s ZERO shame in being Southern. Be who you are!
August 3, 2016 @ 7:53 pm
I am stoked about this, as he is certainly one of my favorite newer performers. I have said this before but I will say it again, he reminds me a lot of Wade Hayes. Heartaches & Highways is one of my favorite albums from the 90’s (I know it was released in 2000 but it capped his 90’s career prior to taking an extended break). I hope we see more of these bread and butter guys that can sort of perform the role of the NCO in the new ranks of country traditionalists. Maybe not a superstar, but solid, reliable and competent.
August 3, 2016 @ 8:33 pm
really dug the ep excited to see hear some new stuff on the record
August 4, 2016 @ 2:56 am
You know what I’m hoping he includes on his album? I hope he includes a rendition of “So You Can’t Hurt Me Anymore”. I thought both he and Mark Chesnutt created a beautiful track on Mark’s “Tradition Lives” album (yes technically Mark didn’t write it but you get my point), I would love to hear WMM come out with his own version of that song.
Hell I may need to lobby both him and whoever runs the Biloxi Cajun Crawfish Festival to have him play over there and bring in some twang to the the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard “House Party” while waiting for Travis Tritt to show up, hell they got Neal McCoy singing that fucking song now.
August 4, 2016 @ 6:22 am
I saw WMM last month at the Opry. He was fantastic. He absolutely killed a cover of Merle’s Ramblin’ Fever during his performance. This guy has big time potential, as long as the record label heads don’t screw with him. Can’t wait for the album release.
August 4, 2016 @ 6:40 am
Great news and I absolutely agree with ElectricOutcast about the Chesnutt-song. One of my top 5 this year!
August 4, 2016 @ 9:13 am
Lonesomeville is a hell of a song.
August 4, 2016 @ 10:54 am
I’ve yet to get around to listening to his EP songs, so all I’ve heard is I Met A Girl. That song itself doesn’t exactly kick my chicken, but I love the voice. I don’t know if its the lyrics, the list delivery of them, or his non-excited vocal performance of it. Idk, I’m not 100% sold on this guy, but like I said, I love his voice and presence. I’ll have to hear this one before I buy it, unlike Mo’s who I plan to pre-order if I can find a link to get a CD copy shipped to me. Exciting times for traditionalist country music fans!
August 4, 2016 @ 11:17 am
Happened to be channel surfing radio stations a couple Sundays ago and came across “I Met A Girl” on American Country Countdown. After the song ended, Bob Kingsley started talking about it, and then said it was written by “…Trevor Rosen, Shane MacAnally, and surprisingly, Sam Hunt.”
I thought it was pretty cool that ol’ Bob got that jab in there to knock Sam Hunt.
August 4, 2016 @ 11:38 am
Good ole Bob Kingsley.
August 4, 2016 @ 8:17 pm
He has a great voice. As long as I can HEAR that great voice over the instrumentation and the production of his full-length album, I expect to really enjoy this.
Now off to listen to “So You Can’t Hurt Me Anymore.”
August 5, 2016 @ 12:39 am
I saw him live at a small county fair a few weeks ago. He put on an awesome show and was really cool with the fans afterwards. He seems like a down to earth good kid. I really enjoy his music. If the album is anything like the EP I will be happy to own it.
August 6, 2016 @ 12:54 pm
Good to hear. I’ve checked out some of the songs on YouTube and was waiting for a full album. By the way, I work part-time at the country station here in Buffalo (WYRK) and “I Met A Girl” is still not being played. But of course, the likes of LoCash, Kelsea Ballerini and Chris Lane get played to death.
August 8, 2016 @ 12:11 am
Maybe since Sam Hunt sees the decent success with this neo-traditional single that he helped write, that he will pull his head out of his ass and have at least a few pop country songs on his next album instead of the near pop music that Montevallo is.
August 8, 2016 @ 9:36 pm
His EP is great. Real country music for a change. I sure hope he sticks with it!