Dwight Yoakam Announces New Album “Second Hand Heart”
Rockin’ West Coast country music legend Dwight Yoakam has a fresh new set of tracks ready to be offered to the listening public under the collective title of Second Hand Heart, scheduled to be released on April 14th.
The new album is said to hearken back to Yoakam’s early cowpunk days, when the caramel-voiced singer was coming up in the ranks touring with punk and rock bands as a throwback country music artist a little left of center from what commercial radio was looking for in those days. But with one of the best voices country has ever heard, and unmatched style and smootheness, and a sharp songwriter’s pen, Yoakam soon became a big star doing it his own way, eventually selling over 25 million records.
After spending a few years focused more on his acting pursuits, Yoakam released 3 Pears in 2012—his first album in seven years. Second Hand Heart will see Yoakam return to Reprise Records where he spent most of his early career, including releasing his 1986 classic Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. The new album was produced by Yoakam with Chris Lorde-Alge, and Yoakam wrote eight of the ten songs. One of the exceptions is the bluegrass standard “Man of Constant Sorrow.”
Also announced, Dwight Yoakam will be appearing on Sunday’s Grammy Awards in a duet with Grammy nominee Brandy Clark. Clark is up for two awards on the night. Both artists also share the common experience of opening for Eric Church on a recent tour.
As renewed interest continues to build around artists from an older era such as Dwight Yoakam, and infrastructue continues to build from outlets such as NASH Icon and the general splitting of the country music format, Yoakam could find fortunate surroundings to present his music to a new generation of country fans.
Below is Yoakam performing the title track from the new album. Pre-Order now and you get a free download of the new song.
TRACK LIST:
- In Another World
- She Dreams of Clay
- Second Hand Heart
- Off Your Mind
- Believe
- Man Of Constant Sorrow
- Liar
- The Big Time
- V’s of Birds
Owen Mays
February 4, 2015 @ 9:31 am
This is such strange news. I’ve been on a Dwight bender all morning, and just saw this on my Facebook feed. Great news! The world needs more Dwight Yoakam, and less of everything else.
Charlie
February 4, 2015 @ 9:40 am
Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. brought me back to country music in ’86. (I had grown up playing country with my dad, and started playing Rock at some point.)
And then I left again when Garth came along.
And then I’m back again, since Rock music finally died.
But anyway–Pete Anderson. Love his guitar work on that album. It seems that some people have trouble with him as producer (was it Sara Evans that complained about him being overbearing?), but he is one of the best.
Dave Cobb could learn a few things.
Any D-white music, regardless of producer, will always be very welcomed!!
J
February 4, 2015 @ 10:29 am
“Well I’m back again (bow bow bow) for another night”
Sorry….had to
Spoony
February 6, 2015 @ 12:27 am
He (Pete Anderson) can also serve as a helluva co-writer, see Jason Boland & The Stragglers “The Bourbon Legend” at allmusic.com. Not sure where Boland picked him up or why he disappeared, but they did some great things together.
Billy
February 4, 2015 @ 9:49 am
Odd how he no longer gets the attention he once did yet his music is better than ever. the new song is awesome and I cant wait for the album.
Bigfoot is Real (and had a cameo in Slingblade)
February 4, 2015 @ 10:12 am
Great news!!! Was listening to This Time last night with a friend and we were recalling what an amazing run Dwight was on in the 1980s and 1990s. And is just me (as it often is) but has he ever release a bad album? Seems to me his body of work is staggeringly great.
Cobra
February 4, 2015 @ 11:26 am
I took a roadtrip recently, and put the entire Dwight catalog onto shuffle on my iPod. It was amazing.
hoptowntiger94
February 4, 2015 @ 12:48 pm
How many miles was your road trip?
Ryan
February 4, 2015 @ 12:50 pm
Probably took ’em a thousand miles from nowhere …
Cobra
February 4, 2015 @ 2:27 pm
Went down to a couple different places in Kentucky, so I did drive close to 1,000 miles, actually. And in some of the areas I hit, I sometimes did feel like I was a thousand miles from nowhere!
gtrman86
February 4, 2015 @ 10:14 am
This could be huge for the Country music world. Dwight opened up the gates to Traditional Country in the 80’s when things were in an awful state and hopefully this could help again. The Country music world really needs something to happen like what happened in the 80’s with Dwight, stripped down and raw to the bone Country!
Trigger
February 4, 2015 @ 10:51 am
Dwight Yoakam sits in the 25-year window of what is retro and cool. I think that’s why Eric Church brought him out on tour with him, why the Grammy Awards are having him perform, and he’s going back to his older sound, which I think there’s a lot of appetite for but not a lot of options when it comes to today’s performers.
Cobra
February 4, 2015 @ 10:50 am
Been waiting for this news for a LONG time. Heard him perform “Second Hand Heart” when I saw him open for Eric Church. I cannot wait for this album.
Cobra
February 4, 2015 @ 11:09 am
Gotta thank you again for this news, Trigger. I got it in time to place my pre-order in time to get a signed copy.
karen
February 4, 2015 @ 11:20 am
Oh this is such great news. Love Dwight He should be top bill everywhere. I was digging around trying to find THESE ARMS today because his music just make me feel so good. THANKS TRIGGER, for the great news, made my day!!!
John
February 4, 2015 @ 12:14 pm
Dwight is the man. I can never get enough of his music. Heck of an entertainer!
CapnWain
February 4, 2015 @ 12:36 pm
Just announced this week, DY will be playing at Merlefest in Wilkesboro, NC, end of April
hoptowntiger94
February 4, 2015 @ 1:11 pm
This is good news. 3 Pears didn’t do it for me, so maybe this will.
Holly
February 4, 2015 @ 2:03 pm
News like this only brings a smile to my face. To me, Dwight is one of country’s many best. (smiles)
God bless you and him always!!!
Holly in East Tennessee (a fan of Dwight since I was just four years old)
JF
February 4, 2015 @ 2:21 pm
Thought “3 Pears” was a damn great record. Not sure the world needs another version of “Man of Constant Sorrow” though. One is enough. But not big deal to just skip that one.
Applejack
February 4, 2015 @ 3:59 pm
Excellent. This is great news. I’m intrigued to hear more of the neo-cowpunk sound Dwight is talking about. The new song posted here isn’t necessarily his most country track, but it kicks ass nonetheless.
Great news about Brandy and Dwight performing on the Grammys too, although I wish they would let both of them perform separately. Not that the two of them together won’t possibly make for a cool collaboration, but I’m guessing this means they will probably be duetting on a classic country song or something as opposed to Brandy getting to perform one of her originals, which is unfortunate. The Grammy people still haven’t caught on that trying to squeeze people together for duets, collaborations, and weird medleys often actually detracts from the quality of the performances. Instead, they would rather cram as many names into the lineup as possible, presumably to reach the widest possible range of demos. Oh well… at least both Brandy and Dwight will get some national TV face time out of this, so I reckon I shouldn’t complain too much.
AJ
February 4, 2015 @ 4:18 pm
After listening to the lead single, it sounds like Dwight is picking up right where he left off, which is a good thing. “3 Pears” is one of the most unique-sounding records I’ve ever heard, and I’d argue it’s Dwight’s best album.
Also, I’m excited to see what direction his songwriting takes. I’ve always thought Dwight’s songwriting is criminally underrated. It blows my mind to think he can write songs like “Guitars, Cadillacs,” ‘A Thousand Miles From Nowhere,” & “Buenas Noches,” and then turn around write a song like, “Waterfall,” or “The Pocket of a Clown.”
Matsfan
February 4, 2015 @ 6:37 pm
For my money Dwight is the best country artist of the last 30 years. I think 3 Pears was one of his best and look forward to Second Hand Heart. Plus, his live shows are, as Dwight would say , “so country that they rock”.
Canuck
February 4, 2015 @ 10:42 pm
Love Dwight’s studio stuff, and I agree he’s one of the best country artists of the last 30 or so years, but he’s absolutely terrible live. Probably the worst concert I’ve ever been to. A massive disappointment from an artist whose work I respect and enjoy. And from the sounds of it, bad shows are a regular thing for him. Sad. I’ll keep buying his music, though….it’s great. It’s just the live shows that aren’t so great.
Cobra
February 5, 2015 @ 5:26 am
That’s surprising, because I’ve seen him live twice, and he has put on a great show both times. High energy, great interaction with fans, plays a LOT of songs (even when one of the times I saw him was just as an opener), but not done with flashy lights or SFX. Just plain ol’ good music. The time I saw him as a headliner was one of the best shows I’ve seen.
Ryan Roberts
February 5, 2015 @ 9:12 pm
I can see where some may say that. Dwight live in concert certainly is one that can take a couple songs to get used since he is completely different from any other artist.
Canuck
February 5, 2015 @ 9:40 pm
When I saw Dwight, he rolled his eyes at his guitar player as soon as he came out, proceeded to mumble into the mic, and then played the entire set, more or less off-key. The sound was WAY too loud (and this is coming from someone who attends a LOT of metal concerts, and whose favourite band is the insanely loud Motorhead), and his guitarist took shortcuts with his playing (cutting off riffs, notes, etc.).
Dwight looked as if he’d rather be having a colonoscopy instead of being at the venue, and had very little banter with the crowd. I can’t remember a single thing he said to the audience, in fact. Not that I care if an artist has banter with the crowd, as their music should be doing the talking, but it was another indication that he just didn’t want to be there.
I was sorely disappointed with Dwight’s performance, as I’ve been a fan for years, and still am, but his performance was lacklustre, boring, and bordering on being contemptuous with the audience. Though I love Dwight’s music, I wouldn’t walk across the street to see him again.
I understand an off night, or maybe even having a disagreement with the venue management or what have you, but as a performer, you’ve been hired to perform, and put on a good show, period. If you can’t do that, or don’t want to, don’t take people’s money and half-ass it.
Perhaps Dwight is mercurial as a performer, but as a paying customer/fan, I felt very ripped off. I was shocked this was the same guy I’d heard on numerous wonderful albums. Like I said, I’m still a fan and I’ll buy his stuff, but that’s it.
Jim L.
February 7, 2015 @ 10:56 pm
Up until about age 31, I had no interest in Country music at all, although my Dad’s Jim Reeves records did catch my ear. And then a friend introduced me to Dwight’s 1st album. Whoah! Took my life in a whole new direction. And now I can’t be friends with anyone who dislikes Country music.
Jeannie
July 23, 2015 @ 3:58 pm
Hi my mum comes from Scotland and dwight is her idol. Is there anyway she can contact him. She does,nt keep to well but is forever playing his music ,