What’s The Scoop Behind Dale Watson’s New Album “Under The Influence”?
Dale Watson is not only one of the most dedicated torchbearers and gatekeepers of authentic country music—or as he would prefer to call it, Ameripolitan—he also happens to be one of the most prolific. It’s not unusual for him to release two or three records a year, some of which are full-featured albums with a big media push paralleled with a big tour like what just happened with Live at The Big T Roadhouse – Chicken S#!+ Bingo released back in August before Dale took his legendary Chicken Shit bit on the road.
And then Dale will release an album on you with absolutely no warning, no press, no info, and if you blink you would miss it. That was the story with his Elvis-inspired album released a few years ago called Dalevis, and that’s the case with a new album he just released on Friday, September 30th called Under The Influence. Unless you follow Dale on Instagram and were paying attention on Friday, you probably didn’t even know about it.
So what is the scoop with the album? It’s the long-rumored project where Dale covers some of his favorite artists and most influential tunes from classic country to throwback rock and roll. Or as Dale himself says, it’s “an album dedicated to all of my influences, from Elvis Presley and Ray Price, whose songs are not included here but have had as much or more of an influence, on my music, to Merle and Lefty and Johnny whom have had an obvious influence. I feel blessed to have grown up exposed to their music and around to have heard most of them live. I feel very sad for the artist to come that have and likely will never hear of these legends and their songs.”
On the album Dale covers songs such as Buck Owens’ “Made in Japan” to Little Richard’s “Lucille.” Under The Influence was recorded in Austin with Dale’s backing band, The Lone Stars, and was released by Red River Entertainment.
Under The Influence hits the market right as Dale’s Ameripolitan Awards have opened up nominations for their 2017 shindig. The categories can be found at ameripolitan.com, and folks can submit their nominees via info@ameripolitan.com. The awards will once again be held at the Paramount Theatre in Austin on Wednesday, February 15th, 2017.
“Country music of their time is gone, but luckily it lives in Ameripolitan Music, and that my friends is where you will find artists that still carry the torch that these influences lit,” says Dale Watson.
Biscuit
October 3, 2016 @ 6:39 pm
Thanks Trigger i saw this on a site Friday and was wondering if it was a compilation since “Chicken” just came out and he is still touring behind it. I will never complain about more new Dale, one per quarter each year works for me. He matches Prince’s once prolific output!
hoptowntiger94
October 3, 2016 @ 6:47 pm
Wasn’t Alan Jackson’s cover album also entitled ‘Under the Influence’? I could google it, but my point is a covers album is the least original project to the market – they’ve even run out of titles! Maybe that’s why there wasn’t any pub ahead of its release.
With that said, it’s Dale Watson so I’ll give it a spin.
Justin
October 3, 2016 @ 6:59 pm
Same knee jerk reaction. And yes it was. Put some respek on it.
hoptowntiger94
October 3, 2016 @ 9:19 pm
You sent me to the google machine with “put some respeck on it.”
Shawty Lo aka Birdman RIP
Trigger
October 3, 2016 @ 9:13 pm
I’ve said many times that I discount live albums, cover albums, tribute albums, and EP’s. Doesn’t mean these can’t be good projects, but they start at the back of the pack. As I tried to explain above, Dale has always had albums like this that he seems to release on a whim, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t put a lot of heart and time into it, and it would be worthwhile letting folks know it’s out there. Seems strange that basically I am the only person to write about it whatsoever. It seemed like someone at least needed to explain what it was.
hoptowntiger94
October 3, 2016 @ 9:24 pm
I agree. I didn’t hear anything about this project until you wrote about it – thank you!
ValiantSpacemanSpiff
October 5, 2016 @ 6:51 am
Mike Ness of Social Distortion also has a solo album of country covers called “Under the Influences”.
Andrew
October 3, 2016 @ 7:57 pm
What the hell, I didn’t hear anything about this! Looks great, can’t wait to listen to it!
Kev
October 4, 2016 @ 12:30 am
Looking forward to getting a copy!
RD
October 4, 2016 @ 5:42 am
Sounds good. I’ll have to pick this one up. Has Dale ever talked about the influences on his vocal style? I sometimes hear a lot of Elvis. Lucille and That’s What I Like About the South are great songs. I can’t wait to hear full versions. I could do without another Long Black Veil cover, though. That song is played out way beyond its useful life and I hope I never hear it, or any of its related songs again in my life.
Kev
October 4, 2016 @ 6:55 am
If it’s similar to the version he recorded a few years back you’ll love it! Great homky tonk version!
RD
October 4, 2016 @ 11:12 am
If Hank Williams came back from the grave and sang that song on my deck, I’d have a hard time listening. In country circles, its like Stairway to Heaven. Great song, but I just can’t bear to hear it one more time….
Jonathon
October 4, 2016 @ 2:51 pm
Ever since I heard Jamey Johnson perform it at one of his shows, I don’t want to hear any other version.
truth5
October 5, 2016 @ 7:48 am
Jamey does a great version of Long Black Veil, however I think Daryle Singletary has the end all best version of Long Black Veil. Probably my two favorite versions of the song. Of course John Anderson and Merle’s version is outstanding, as is Lefty’s.
Jack Williams
October 4, 2016 @ 6:21 am
I had heard about this, maybe via a Dale Facebook update, but haven’t picked it up yet, mainly because I wasn’t sure I needed a covers album from Dale. Maybe that’s a little silly, since I love a lot of the covers I’ve heard him do on his other albums, especially Live in London. Just listened to the samples on Amazon and it sounds really good. Even that old warhorse Long Black Veil, which he does as a shuffle.
Kevin Smith
October 4, 2016 @ 7:16 am
It’s Dale Watson people! DALE WATSON! No more explanation needed, you know it’s gonna be great, don’t fight it, buy it for goodness sake. He’s the main dude these days consistently recording real country…er..Ameripolitan music. Twangy telecaster, steel guitar a la Don Pawlak….do we need any more reasons, who cares if it’s covers, it’s still 250 percent more country than SAM stinking Hunt.
Lunchbox
October 4, 2016 @ 11:37 pm
fans of Garth Brooks would really like Dale Watson’s music
Biscuit
October 6, 2016 @ 12:02 pm
Kevin, you are spot on sir.
Does anyone have a link to a complete Dale diacography? It seems he has about 30 releases. I think he manages himself now so maybe word didn’t get out because he is so busy playing, booking concerts, driving his tour bus, running two honky tonka, etc.
Just got Truckin Songs Vol 3 last week, good stuff.
I saw where he’s on the same bill with Elizabeth Cook in FLA next year. That would be awesome. Hope they have other coheadline dates.
Jen
October 4, 2016 @ 8:06 am
I actually like this…I don’t pay a lot of attention to a lot of these covers and never heard Dale Watson before, I don’t believe. This is good.
gtrman86
October 4, 2016 @ 8:25 am
You have no idea what you have been missing! If you like real authentic no disappointment Country Music Dale is the man!
Kevin Smith
October 4, 2016 @ 8:40 am
Jen, this is the beauty of this site. You just discovered Dale Watson, yeah!!! Now, do yourself a favor and dip into his back catalog, check out Call Me Insane, Live in England, Cheating Heart Attack, The Truckin Sessions vols 1-3 and any others for that matter. My wife who admittedly is biased against country music mainly due to the dreck on the radio, is now a HUGE Dale fan and consequently is discovering how good real country can be. I’m having a ball turning her on to Waylon, Johnny, Merle, Ernest, Hank and so on. So glad to see a new convert!
Jen
October 4, 2016 @ 9:00 am
Well, I love the Outlaws and have, for years. Just didn’t know Dale Watson. LOL! I did enjoy this. Milk Music is gone, but download Slacker Radio, and find their oldies country stations…they are awesome!
Ryan McDuffee
October 4, 2016 @ 9:04 am
My wife and I drove 500 miles to see Dale in Lincoln Ne 2 wks ago .We met him in Austin in 09.I told him then that I had nevery heard of him ,but would never spend another day without him .We love him ,he has spent time with us ,great laughs ,music and pics .My wife is recovering from cancer surgery and he was so kind and loving to her .Can’t say enough about him
We travel to Austin to see him often ,he is the best .
Kev
October 4, 2016 @ 10:41 am
My copy popped through the mail box today and it is indeed his honky tonky take on Long Black Veil.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
October 5, 2016 @ 9:53 am
I want this, I want this bad.
Rockies
October 5, 2016 @ 3:22 pm
Damn!
It’s like going back in time listening to this.
Great job Mr. Watson!
Biscuit
October 9, 2016 @ 5:55 pm
I just got my copy and this is a dang good album. Dale’s albums are always like a cold beer on a long, hot day. Highly recommended.