Jack Ingram Signs with Rounder, Will (Finally) Release New Album “Midnight Motel”
The incredibly long drought for new music from one of the biggest names in Texas country is finally coming to a close. After releasing two records with Big Machine—the last being Big Dreams & High Hopes in 2009—Ingram pulled a disappearing act for the last seven years or so when it came to studio work, but will be returning in a big way this summer, and with a label known for letting artists do what they do best.
Announced on Thursday (3-10) Jack Ingram has signed with Rounder Records, and will release a new record Midnight Motel in June. The album is produced by Jon Randall, and features contributions by guitarist Charlie Sexton, drummer Chad Cromwell of Neil Young and Dire Straits fame, as well as work from members of Ingram’s long-standing Beat Up Ford Band.
“Jack Ingram speaks from his heart, whether on a stage or in the studio,” says Rounder Label Group COO Cliff O’Sullivan. “‘Midnight Motel‘ is a return to the kind of raw songs and performances that made Jack fans from the early days of his career in Ft. Worth and all over Texas before becoming a nationally known artist in the past decade. We’re thrilled to have him join the Rounder Label Group family.”
Jack Ingram mutually parted ways with Big Machine back in 2011, but there had been little word about what direction his career might take after the split. After releasing a few albums independently in the mid 90’s, Ingram signed with Warner Bros. for a while, who re-released some of his earlier works. His work with Big Machine resulted in a Top 5 album and a #1 single, but like many Texas country artists, the relationship was not meant to last.
Jack will also be participating in the upcoming Kris Kristofferson tribute on March 16 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, and will also be playing select shows next week at SXSW.
Ryan
March 10, 2016 @ 2:45 pm
Good news! ” .. with a label known for letting artists do what they do best.” What do you know about Rounder?
Mike W.
March 10, 2016 @ 3:10 pm
They are a big name in the Bluegrass genre, a lot of that genre’s biggest names are signed to Rounder including Union Station, Steeldrivers, Steve Martin, etc. etc.
They also have a lot of Folk and Blues artists on their label.
The closest current band on their label to Jack is probably Blackberry Smoke. I think this is a good choice by Jack, though I admit I am a bit surprised he didn’t go with Thirty Tigers since they seem to be one of the “hottest” labels going right now.
Trigger
March 10, 2016 @ 3:22 pm
Yeah, I think Rounder’s recent track record has been really solid. I’m not saying there’s not some skeletons in the closet or something, but it’s a roots label loved by most of its roster. Are The Earls of Leicester being oppressed by intrusive producers while label executives stick their nose into the creative process? 🙂 I think this will be a fine home for Ingram and will hopefully give him the latitude to return to pre Big Machine form if he chooses.
Ryan
March 10, 2016 @ 4:27 pm
Sean McConnell too?
ElectricOutcast
March 10, 2016 @ 4:41 pm
OH HELL FUCKING YES!!!
It will be ten years on 9/11 that this man rescued me from suicide, so this is definitely an icing on the cake.
some old guy
March 10, 2016 @ 6:43 pm
i’ve been covering his “Jonesin’ for Haggard” for a few years now, hope it is on the new record… great song.
Summer Jam
March 10, 2016 @ 7:34 pm
HELL YEAH!
sweetie
March 11, 2016 @ 8:09 am
Jack Ingram is one of the biggest sellouts in the Music Biz. He decided to play ball with Country Radio when he did those Big Machine albums. I can’t remember the names but they were crap, especially the top 5 single. Very nursery rhyme-diddy territory.
Mike W.
March 11, 2016 @ 9:13 am
Eh, the guy went to make some money. I agree it’s a bit of a shame, but I also don’t begrudge someone like Ingram or Pat Green or whatever for taking a chance and trying to make some major cash. I know we all want our musicians to avoid doing so, including myself, but the vast majority of us if presented the offer would probably do the same in regards to getting offered an Nashville deal and trying to play ball.
The best way I can describe it is something akin to the Brock Osweiler contract situation. My Bronco friends are upset he took the money and went to Houston, but the way I look at is NFL players careers are so short they should absolutely take the money and run since they are one or two bad hits away from never playing again. In a way, the Music industry is the NFL in the sense that a guy like Ingram only has a small window where they can make themselves into a national, household name. He tried, has mixed results and now we will see what he can produce now that his mainstream dreams are dead.
For what it’s worth, his segments on the Texas Music Scene TV show are good at highlighting some lesser known Texas songwriters. I have hope this will be a damn good album since recent history of guys failing in Nashville and going back to Texas has produced some damn good albums (see the latest Wade Bowen and Randy Rogers Band albums).
Whiskeytown
March 12, 2016 @ 9:39 am
I agree. Did I like the music Jack came out with while he was with big machines? No, but he took his shot, made some money and now he gets to do it his way and won’t have to worry about the business part of it as much.
I always give this analogy to my friends when the Sell Out conversation comes up. You play high school sports to play college and then go to the pros. Why is this any different for musicians? You get one shot at this, do it the best you can with no regrets. For as many fans he lost for being a “sale out”, he gained so many more because he became a bigger name. Like it or leave it, but it’s a business. At least he didn’t release any bro country crap. Lips of an angle was brutal but it could have been worse.
ElectricOutcast
March 12, 2016 @ 5:32 pm
That same era where he “sold out” was the same year where I was at a point in my life to where I thought about quitting the thought of breathing. Yeah I was in that bad a place. Prior to me picking up “Live Wherever You Are” I never really heard of him up until that point, but that album contained a good chunk of his past work. With that body of work hitting the mark on what I was feeling at the time, that CD flat out saved my life.
Bottom line: I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Jack Ingram hitting the Nashville big leagues.
Whiskeytown
March 12, 2016 @ 8:26 pm
First off let me say I’m glad you are here and posting. It’s pretty crazy what music can do for people at different times.
Ive been lucky to get to see jack early on in his career, multiple times. I saw him do his fist acoustic motel tour at the cactus cafe and hands down one of my favorite shows. I’m glad he’s still making music and I look forward to this release. I don’t hold a grudge against a person doing what’s best for his family and we’ll being.
musicfan
March 11, 2016 @ 10:19 am
Not that it probably matters in the long run, but several years ago I chatted with someone who played with Jack some, back in the day, and we briefly discussed what happened to his career when he decided to “go Nashville” –like a lot of artists who take that route, he wanted the increased success for his band, not necessarily for himself.
Rounder is also the longtime home of Alison Krauss and Union Station, Mary Chapin Carpenter and now most recently, Sean McConnell–there are way worse places he could be.
PETE MARSHALL
March 11, 2016 @ 5:27 pm
That is great news he will be on Rounder Records and make a new cd. YES!!
Mark Currey
May 2, 2016 @ 3:04 pm
Todd Snider recently said, while on stage with Jack… “hey Jack… nothing bad will ever happen to either one of us just because you had a hit record”. Or something to that effect.