Cody Jinks Co-Write Helps Relaunch ’90s Country Band Sawyer Brown
’90s country is back in vogue, and that means one of the era’s most defining bands is getting back to business, and doing it with some big names helping them out. Sawyer Brown sent songs such as “The Walk,” “Some Girls Do,” “Thank God For You,” and “This Time” to the top of the charts behind the enthusiasm of front man Mark Miller, and also won the CMA’s Horizon Award in 1985 (now called Best New Artist), as well as the ACM’s 1996 Vocal Group of the Year.
Formed in Apopka, Florida with keyboard vocalist Gregg “Hobie” Hubbard and drummer Joe “Curly” Smith, the band originally started out as the backing band for country artist Don King before he retired. They signed to Capitol Records in 1984 after winning Star Search. Mark Miller has also worked in the Christian music space for years, but Sawyer Brown hasn’t seen much use for stepping into the studio recently with the direction country music was going … until now.
Sawyer Brown has just released their first new single in many years called “Under This Ole Hat,” and there are some interesting names behind it. Sifting through the writing credits, you find the names Cody Jinks, Thomas James McFarland (aka Tennessee Jet), as well as Mark Miller.
“Under This Ole Hat” is the first taste of a new album coming from Sawyer Brown called Desperado Troubadours, which will be released on March 8th, 2024. It will be the first album from the band on their long-time label home of Curb Records in 20 years. Along with Mark Miller being credited as a producer, another big name has come on board, some guy by the name of Blake Shelton. Hopefully the results are more “Austin” and less “Boys ‘Round Here.”
“It’s the ‘90s. It’s new. It’s here. And it’s now!” says the band succinctly about the new song and album.
Along with their big radio hits, Sawyer Brown is know for their enthusiastic covers of classic country songs. Mark Miller is recognized as one of the most dynamic and animated front men in country music. Even then, for years a band like Sawyer Brown would struggle to find an audience. But with the resurgence of interest in ’90s country and some big names behind them from both the independent and mainstream world, Sawyer Brown is finding a second wind.
The band is marking their 40th anniversary, and a documentary called Get Me To The Stage On Time that premiered at the Nashville Film Festival on October 1st. Just like the new album, the documentary was produced by Blake Shelton.
Meanwhile, Cody Jinks is teasing something big himself on October 20th. It very well could be a new single, and perhaps an album announcement along with it. Stay tuned.
This story has been updated.
October 3, 2023 @ 11:18 am
My questions are: will radio play it and will it be a hit on the Billboard Country Airplay chart? Radio tends to ignore veteran artists sadly.
October 3, 2023 @ 11:18 am
Meredith is Cody’s given name.
October 3, 2023 @ 11:36 am
Interesting. In the metadata, Cody Jinks is listed, and then “Meredith Cody Jinks” is listed separately. I’ll see if I can get some clarification.
October 3, 2023 @ 1:37 pm
Just got confirmation that it was a typo in the metadata.
October 3, 2023 @ 6:32 pm
With a name like that he would have to learn to fight growing up.
October 3, 2023 @ 11:36 am
Cody’s full name is “Meredith Cody Jinks”. I don’t think his daughter had a hand in it but I could be wrong
October 3, 2023 @ 11:44 am
I’m seeking clarification on that. Cody’s name is listed in the metadata, and then there is a completely separate name that says “MEREDITH CODY JINKS.” I took that part of the article out until I can verify. Might just be a typo.
October 3, 2023 @ 8:44 pm
Wikipedia has his full given name as Meredith Cody Jinks
October 3, 2023 @ 8:55 pm
I tell you, life ain’t easy for a boy named… Meredith.
October 3, 2023 @ 12:07 pm
Today I learned, Sawyer Brown was a band, and not just the lead singer’s name.
October 3, 2023 @ 7:29 pm
Named after a road west of Nashville out past Belle Meade. They started using the name after seeing it in the phone book.
October 4, 2023 @ 4:22 am
I agree that modern country is awful, but citing Sturgill Simpson and Zach Bryan as your examples is beyond foolish. They are both original and write great songs.
October 5, 2023 @ 11:50 pm
Sadly, I can NOT tell th difference in ANY of the current singers. They all sound exactly the same. — when Marty Robbins, cash, Williams, lefty, Jim Reeves, Conway, Jones, haggard, Conley, belemy brothers… etc, when THEY sang, they had different great voices.
October 3, 2023 @ 12:33 pm
I don’t love the lead song, but I’m stoked to see them in action again. I don’t know that they’re exactly under-rated, but they do seem to be under-recognized when people talk about the greats of ‘90s country.
October 3, 2023 @ 4:50 pm
Sawyer Brown got a not-altogether-undeserved reputation as a bubblegum band, but they were capable of surprising depth. My wife bought their greatest-hits album a couple of years back, and I remember hearing ”Cafe on the Corner” for the first time in decades, and thinking, this song is a LOT more bleak than I remember it being.
All these soldiers without wars
And hometown boys without a home
Farmers without fields
Dealers without deals
And they sit here drinkin’ coffee all alone
What a picture that song paints. Mac McAnally is such a great songwriter
October 3, 2023 @ 5:46 pm
Yeah, for all their manic energy in some tracks (e.g., Mission Temple Fireworks Stand, This Thing Called Wantin’ and Havin’ It All), they could go deep dark.
All These Years, for example, is a bleak, bleak song.
October 3, 2023 @ 6:11 pm
Well, I’ll be. I had quit listening to country radio by the 90s. I only know the Paul Thorn version of Mission Temple. Had no clue it was associated with Sawyer Brown. Looking on the interwebs, I see like they also had a bit of hit with 800 pound Jesus. Learn something new everyday.
October 6, 2023 @ 3:34 pm
Tap,
Paul Thorn co-wrote Mission Temple and it is killer! Same here, I don’t know any Sawyer Brown so did not know they covered it.
October 3, 2023 @ 9:05 pm
All These Years is probably the most depressing song of all time.. its simply harrowing to listen to.
The Walk is also heart wrenching for anyone who loves their father..
Man 90’s country kicked ass. Makes anything Sturgill Doucheson or Zch Bryan puts out sound so amateurish and hacky
October 4, 2023 @ 10:58 am
Early 90s country wasn’t edgy, depressing, and outlaw enough for this site and its readers.
October 4, 2023 @ 11:14 am
…except I just wrote an article about Sawyer Brown, and included an image that I took after attending and reviewing the ’90s-theme Key Western Fest last year.
Sometimes I wish you would take a little more time to leave more thoughtful comments, CountryKnight, as opposed to racing through the comments to just leave whatever cynical thought first enters your brain.
October 4, 2023 @ 2:00 pm
Still waiting on the Zach Top coverage.
Perhaps, it will arrive after the next article on the hardly-country Bryan or whatever musically dull Americana artist arrives next.
October 4, 2023 @ 2:16 pm
Another great example, absolutely.
October 3, 2023 @ 1:57 pm
Love Sawyer Brown since day one seen them in concert twice and met Mark and love to hear from them and was a member of their fan club.
October 3, 2023 @ 2:10 pm
Loved Sawyer Brown and this song fits them very well, the kind of song that is very high energy live. I liked a lot of their songs back in the day, one of my favorites not mentioned was “Cafe on the Corner”.
October 3, 2023 @ 3:17 pm
One of my favorites was “All These Years’. I always thought they were trying to sound like Gordon Lightfoot on that one.
October 3, 2023 @ 2:13 pm
Road trip music for sure. Always liked them. From Betty’s
Being bad, Leona, the dirt road and now this old hat. Great stuff
October 3, 2023 @ 5:11 pm
One of my favorite bands back in the day. The lead song is ok, kind of catchy. I prefer their slower songs like the aforementioned cafe on corner, all these years and the walk. But any new stuff by them is great
October 3, 2023 @ 6:31 pm
Cody Jinks should put Confederate Railroad back on the map next year.
October 3, 2023 @ 9:08 pm
That might be a tough one because Confederate Railroad kind of got cancelled for their name. You’d think they went around yelling the enword from the stage, the way they got hammered.
October 3, 2023 @ 9:12 pm
Yeah, that’ll go over super well in 2023.
October 4, 2023 @ 9:37 am
Cancel culture is irrelevant to me.
Hope that helps.
October 4, 2023 @ 10:59 am
Anything normal doesn’t go super well in 2023.
We live in a clown world.
October 5, 2023 @ 8:16 am
While that would be great, Danny Shirley’s voice is in awful shape. When I saw them live in 2019, his voice struggled to sound anything like their recordings. Everyone has to make a living somehow, and the right producer might be able to use what he’s got. However, you will likely be disappointed by their live sound.
October 7, 2023 @ 7:43 am
Ricochet is back with new music as well. Heath wright sounds great as ever. Released a new album not too long ago with reimagined stuff and believe a few new songs on there. Heard an interview for it on prime country.
October 3, 2023 @ 6:38 pm
I LOVED Sawyer Brown because they successfully limned the line between Country rock and Country. I’m glad they’re having a renewal .
October 4, 2023 @ 2:44 am
First Ed McMan on star search and now 40 years later Cody Jinks , happy to see the longevity with Mark and Sawyer Brown
October 4, 2023 @ 2:59 am
Trig, you have finally made it. You can keep going if you want to, but your work is finished. You wrote an article about Sawyer Brown and in 25 comments, three mention All These Years. It just shows me you have created a legitimate community for country music.
October 4, 2023 @ 5:36 am
Always liked their cover of Six Days on the Road. The lead solo on that recording is badass.
October 4, 2023 @ 7:02 am
Well,luckyoldsun,I think the name Confederate Railroad doesn’t jibe with the inclusive zeitgeist of 2023.
October 4, 2023 @ 11:00 am
But the song “WAP” does.
Which tells you all you need to do about the zeitgeist.
October 5, 2023 @ 9:14 pm
Not the same at all. Just another idiotic comment from you.
October 6, 2023 @ 7:19 am
So you think “WAP” is acceptable?
Pretty telling.
Go play elsewhere.
October 12, 2023 @ 5:35 am
I occasionally post the video for “Trashy Women” on Facebook, especially during inclusive “months” or industry virtue-signalling, as the wokest moment in country history.
October 4, 2023 @ 8:00 am
I’m old enough to remember watching them win Star Search.
October 4, 2023 @ 8:42 am
LOOKING Forward To Cody’s New LP & Songs !, Also, The Steel Woods New LP, Friday Oct. 6, 2023. I Hope You Review and Give it a Thumbs Up !!!! Jobi.
October 4, 2023 @ 8:47 am
Wow, I’m glad for this article and more so these comments, bc I can now call myself fortunate to have discovered Sawyer Brown. I hated most 90s country back then, but learned to appreciate some of it now. Bc of the comments I jumped on YT and just cried listening to All These Years and Cafe on the Corner. Now I’m watching their Live from Black River on YT, and they’re killer! Not bad for a slow Wednesday 😉
October 4, 2023 @ 2:30 pm
Happy 63rd birthday,Sawyer Brown keyboardist Gregg “Hobie” Hubbard.
October 4, 2023 @ 2:34 pm
Blough,the “New Traditionalists” of the 1980’s and 1990’s were making their presence felt on rario,TV,in sales and at concerts.Most of it was really good. (Though I wonder what happened to Doug Stone.)
October 4, 2023 @ 2:34 pm
I mean,”radio,” of course.
October 4, 2023 @ 7:34 pm
First concert I ever attended was Sawyer Brown. I was 2-3 years old and they were at Dollywood. I have no recollection, and my folks swear I slept through most of it. Glad to see them dropping some new music!
October 4, 2023 @ 8:11 pm
Man I remember seeing them as a kid years ago and they put on a hell of a show. I always liked them and they are for sure on the underrated acts of the 90s people tend to skip over. Like others have mentioned “All these years” is so damn sad it could bring a tear to a glass eye
October 5, 2023 @ 8:33 am
Sawyer Brown is one of my all-time favorite bands, and this recent news has been exciting. While their live show has always been electrifying (and as of the concert I saw in 2022, Mark Miller hasn’t missed a beat either vocally or energy-wise), they seemed to give up recording for the past decade. However, I think it’s great that they waited to record more material until they had the right partners and promotional boost, and the new song is right in line with their sound and energy (along with Mark Miller’s own production chops preventing the freewheeling of the other producers… take some notes, Brandi Carlile with Tanya Tucker). Let’s hope the rest of the album is even better than this sneak peek!
October 5, 2023 @ 4:18 pm
Love Sawyer Brown since I was 8 that was 1985 always loved Mark and them he’ll be having a birthday on the 25 th he’ll be 65 can you imagine. That my favorite song is heart don’t fall now. Seen them twice and meet them once was a fan club member from 90 to 05. Have many CDs tapes and records of them. A concert video and other merchandise.
October 6, 2023 @ 2:52 am
Another “written by committee” song
October 6, 2023 @ 3:32 pm
I am pretty sure that I have never heard a Sawyer Brown song until now. This song would not make me want to listen to any more.
October 12, 2023 @ 12:04 pm
Happy 65th birthday,Tanya Tucker !!!!!!!(Well,it was Monday,but…….) I was awakened at age 14 when my father,who met him in 1925 just before he (Dad) turned 12 ,told me that Babe Ruth’s THREE STDs (one fewer than Kid Rock,but that was almost a century ago) not a stomach ache,sidelined Ruth for the first third of 1925.I immediately thought,”If the Babe Ruth story is a lie,what else is ? Through the years,I discovered that a good many shibboleths (especially concerning us POC) are false;hence a 14-year-old lad became “woke” and has remained “woke” starting his 70’s.
October 12, 2023 @ 2:16 pm
“WAP” is the acronym for something which CERTAINLY isn’t OK to me,even if I weren’t 70.(What’s pretty telling about me,Country Knight,is that my ignorance until today of the meaning of the acronym “WAP” means that like most even mildly intelligent folk,I loathe 95% of rap .(And “bro-Country,” most of which is at least catchy,if stupid.)