Randall King’s “Leanna” Is Not Just Another EP
So much fuss is being made out of Texas at the moment about Parker McCollum with his chiseled chin, and Koe Wetzel with his ribald attitude. But Randall King is the guy from the recent class of Texas country artists signed to major label deals that is the true, real deal, straight ahead country artist, full stop. He’s arguably more country, and more squared away even than Cody Johnson. And perhaps that’s part of Randall King’s problem. Like George Strait, there’s nothing especially flashy about him. He not a conversation starter, necessarily. But just like George Strait, Randall King has the promise to put together a career that over the long run, is more legendary and important than most.
When you heard that Warner Music Nashville was releasing a four-song EP from Randall King as opposed to a legitimate, full-length debut album on the label, you wanted to roll your eyes. How many times have we seen Music Row monkey with the careers of guys with established fan bases—especially ones from Texas—thinking they need some incremental, baby step development plan as opposed to giving them an opportunity with a big album to really blow the doors off the public. They pulled this same gambit with Parker McCollum recently, releasing his Hollywood Gold EP as opposed to a proper album.
But this Randall King EP is a bit of a different animal. It’s one of those rare occasions where an EP goes from from less than ideal, to just about perfect from the way it encapsulates a moment or a mood that may be diluted in a longer work. And the fact that Warner Music Nashville was willing to work with Randall King to make all of this come about renders it that much more unique, and cool.
Randall King’s older sister Leanna died on April 19th, 2020 at the age of 32. A mother of two and a tireless supporter of Randall King’s career, it left the young country crooner completely heartbroken and searching for answers. Randall was finally receiving his due in his career, and then he gets hit with this personal tragedy. Like so many artists do after an earth-shattering moment, Randall turned to putting his emotions to music, and the result is this 4-song EP that was released in mid December.
If nothing else, Leanna underscores, capitalizes, and punctuates that we’re still not raising nearly a big enough stink about the importance of Randall King to revitalizing the roots of country music, and that any concern about Randall’s music going through some sort of monumental sea change now that he’s on a major label is entirely groundless.
None of that is what Leanna is about though. The opening song “Takin’ It As It Comes” first released back in November is all about putting one foot in front of the other, understanding there will be setbacks, regrets, missteps, and that you can’t control everything. The words and sound fit Randall King like a glove in a song that would have shot up the charts if it was released 30 years ago.
“Hey Moon” is just the kind of silly, sappy, sentimental and corny stuff that country music needs way more of. One of the things that is great about this Leanna EP is that none of the songs are exclusively about Randall King’s sister, but they all seem to be about her in some unspoken way. “Around Forever” is about the passing of time, and how you better appreciate things when they’re around, because tomorrow, they may not be.
Randall King finishes the short set with his slow-paced traditional country rendition of the Gospel standard “I’ll Fly Away.” Saying an artist makes a cover or standard song “their own” is about as cliche as you can get. But it’s the only fair way to remark about what Randall King does here, with the accompanying video calling upon the memory of Leanna, symbolized by a yellow rose of Texas that also adorns this EP’s cover.
The reason EPs are often treated as also-rans in any artist’s discography is because they rarely raise a significant enough blip with the public to remain in the long-term consciousness. Leanna may suffer the same fate, as hopefully a proper full-length album from Randall King is on the way that will create such a racket, it’s all we’re talking about. But whether the songs of Leanna eventually feed into a bigger album or remain forever and always this encapsulation of tender emotions captured in time, it’s a little gem of traditional country music, and a proper tribute to a dear loved one.
1 3/4 Guns Up (8/10)
Cackalack
January 15, 2021 @ 9:02 am
Man this is good. Thank you Triggerman.
Steel&Antlers
January 15, 2021 @ 9:23 am
“Taking it as it comes” reminds me a lot of early career Dierks Bentley, hope to hear more of that sound.
wayne
January 15, 2021 @ 11:16 am
“He’s arguably more country, and more squared away even than Cody Johnson. And perhaps that’s part of Randall King’s problem. Like George Strait, there’s nothing especially flashy about him.”
We need more of these types of artists. We have enough flashy crap today.
Jamie
January 15, 2021 @ 7:53 pm
Couldn’t agree more! Give me more of the George Straits, Alan Jacksons, and Don Williamses any day.
Corncaster
January 15, 2021 @ 11:45 am
This guy is legit.
Jan
March 16, 2022 @ 10:46 am
Amazing man!!! Love his music!! So proud of his success!!
robbushblog
January 15, 2021 @ 12:08 pm
I kinda dig this. I’m not sure about changing the tune to “I’ll Fly Away”, but he sure sounded nice singing it.
Ken
January 15, 2021 @ 12:20 pm
Pretty sure the tune is the same as it was originally but just sung slower. It works for me.
Oregon Outlaw
January 15, 2021 @ 6:02 pm
The melody is similar-ish to the traditional version but he’s changed the backing chords significantly. Especially pushing that IV chord. I agree it sounds nice, but it does feel a bit sacrilegious to go messing with probably one of the most famous gospel songs ever.
Hey Arnold
January 15, 2021 @ 12:12 pm
Gee Wiz
Scott S.
January 15, 2021 @ 12:51 pm
Big fan of Randall. Thanks
Joseph P.
January 15, 2021 @ 1:40 pm
I love Randall King ever since I heard about him from Grady Smith. He has that authentic Texas country sound to him.
PS small typo in the last paragraph, second sentence.
Love your site! I’ve learnt about so many smaller authentic country acts from here.
North Woods Country
January 15, 2021 @ 2:15 pm
Randall King is the real deal, no doubt. I hope him and McCollum break out together.
As for Koe Wetzel, I simply don’t understand the hype. Can anybody tell me why he’s so popular?
Jake
January 16, 2021 @ 8:16 am
Koe Wetzel and his music is so weird to me. I don’t particularly like his music, I have no opinion of the man himself, yet I find myself putting on his songs from time to time anyhow and I can’t figure out why. I guess, for me at least, his sound scratches a really specific musical itch I didn’t know I had?
Big Jim
January 19, 2021 @ 4:50 pm
Exactly this. There’s some sort of Texas-adjacent, grunge-rock related sound that Koe and his band just nail. Power cords, not power ballads. Its definitely not the lyrics that move me!
King Honky Of Crackershire is a good man
January 15, 2021 @ 4:59 pm
Son, that’s C(c)ountry music right there. I like this kid a lot. Him and Mo are alone at the top of post-country C(c)ountry music as far as I’m concerned.
Jake Cutter
January 15, 2021 @ 6:26 pm
Damn, the coveted Honky seal of (relative) approval!
And I think you might be on to something with the term “post-country.”
Matt F.
January 16, 2021 @ 8:25 am
I’m blanking. Who is Mo?
Jake cutter
January 16, 2021 @ 8:34 am
Pitney
Clark Moran
January 15, 2021 @ 5:45 pm
From what I remember Hey Moon is basically about a child of a divorced parent basically always being away from one of their parents, a lot more depth than it might seem like based on your notes.
It’s all rock solid.
Jake Cutter
January 15, 2021 @ 6:29 pm
See, now, this is some good shit.
King Louie
January 15, 2021 @ 7:08 pm
Trigger,
THIS is really good stuff. Thanks.
STIIL waiting for the Bella White/Just Like Leaving review.
Todd Villars
January 15, 2021 @ 7:25 pm
Randall King is the real deal, nice young man also. Met him at The Whiskey Baron in Colorado Springs, after his show there. Check out Takin Me A Heartbreak, which I think is his best song.
Jamie
January 15, 2021 @ 7:51 pm
I’m absolutely loving “Takin’ It As It Comes.” Now THIS is country and how you successfully bring the neo-traditional style into the modern era. Also really enjoyed his version of “I’ll Fly Away.” Hope this guy makes it big in the near future and sticks with this sound and style.
(Me and) Paul
January 15, 2021 @ 8:36 pm
I’ve been hooked on Randall King ever since his original EP in 2016. Put on a great show when he came through Baton Rouge about a year ago. Pumped to see what he does for his sophomore LP
Travis
January 16, 2021 @ 12:47 am
This EP is great. Randall King is one of the great up and coming talents and he is certainly the real deal. Check out his song “Mirror Mirror” too. That’s one of my favorites. And as far as his version of “I’ll Fly Away” is concerned. I love it. When it comes to Inspirational songs and Standards, to me it’s not as much about the way you perform it… it’s more about why you are performing it…and the sincerity and heart in it… and believe me… it’s there in Randall’s version 100%.
Bill Wilson
January 16, 2021 @ 2:09 am
Hoping for a full length album from him this year. His true country sound is authentic and real. 2 great tracks from him are she gone and one goodbye.
Paddy
January 16, 2021 @ 6:08 am
Hey Bill. On checking on Randall here in Ire/UK I found a full length album by him on 7 digital site. Simply titled Randall King and has 2018 release. I believe that 7 digital has a USA site. Also has about 4 other songs, one ep and 4 singles.
Bill Wilson
January 18, 2021 @ 1:59 am
Thanks Paddy. I have heard his full length album on spotify and its great. First heard about him on a grady smith you tube video.Another very good song of his is white christmas makes me blue. Has some smooth sounding guitar on it
Daniele
January 16, 2021 @ 7:51 am
This guy brings back the 90’s Texas sound with much respect and originality.
It’s a good thing that one can find so many different “styles” in today’s country scene.
#cancelSCM
January 16, 2021 @ 9:52 am
Kyle is an anti-white bigot. His every action must be judged through that lens. #cancelSCM
Hellbilly Mafia
January 16, 2021 @ 11:25 am
Where is this shit coming from?
Kyle is a straight up dude so I don’t get the hate for him.
Leave him the hell alone.
Gabe
January 16, 2021 @ 1:01 pm
Can we please leave this foolishness in 2020??? Please and thank you.
JB-Chicago
January 16, 2021 @ 10:03 am
I threw the 3 songs from 2019 on the front of this EP…. She Gone, Burn It At Both Ends, and Hey Cowgirl (all good songs as well) for a 7 song extended EP. Very enjoyable in the rotation and rare consensus among us all on here.
Taylor 💜
January 19, 2021 @ 8:11 pm
Hey Cowgirl is fantastic. Has a very 90’s George Strait vibe to it that I just love.
Jerseyboy
January 17, 2021 @ 8:03 am
I first heard him last year on the Lubbock station Texas FM 93.1, and really liked
him, just recently I downloaded his stuff and did some research and it looks like the real deal, from Hereford, Texas North Western Panhandle, so many great guys have come out of the Lubbock-Amarillo corridor.
Yesterday while working at my shop, my son took over the music selection and put on Randall, so he is getting noticed.
If you’ll notice that his jeans aren’t ripped either, but that’s a whole nother story.
Check out ‘Freightline’, and ‘Reason to Quit, ‘Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ and ‘Reason to Quit’ as well.
Nanette
January 18, 2021 @ 4:50 am
From the moment my daughter played one of his songs for me I was hooked! Love the EP, Leanna, and every song he sings. Reminds me so much of a young George Straight. We’re all looking forward to seeing him in concert! Hopefully that will be soon!!
JB-Chicago
August 7, 2021 @ 11:35 pm
Randall King came into town tonight and …… I don’t know how many different ways I can say it that it hasn’t been said before about this guy and his band or any of the other many artists Trig turns us onto but they were total pros playing to maybe a hundred of us at Joe’s On Weed St. The new song “Record High” and 3 off the Leanna EP…….. blew us all away as I just kept shaking my head because without airplay most of the people that would be packing this place to appreciate what mainstream Country SHOULD be on Saturday night were nowhere to be seen?? The same bar mind you I saw the once upon a time nobody Luke Combs at 4 years ago for a sold out show launching into “Can I Get An Outlaw” for an encore. I have no idea what the label has in store for him but this guy is the real fuckin deal. Hopefully he won’t be mis managed etc…….. I’ll take Randall over Parker & Koe any day and they’ll both be here in the next few months playing sold out shows with non or half Country current albums??? It should be the other way around.