Tony Jackson Brings Cool Collaborators Together for New Album
For years now, the voice of Tony Jackson has been one of the greatest untapped resources in country music just waiting to be exploited. How and why it’s been over six years since he last released an album, and he hasn’t resonated to a wider national audience just yet feels like a travesty.
Granted, Tony Jackson has always been more of a singer and interpreter of classic country songs as opposed to an original artist. He first enjoyed national attention when he released a cover of “The Grand Tour” by George Jones that went viral. But with the right cadre of songwriters and players behind him, he could be explosive in country music.
Lucky for us, that’s exactly what has materialized. To be released on September 29th by BFD / Audium Nashville, Tony Jackson’s new album I’ve Got Songs To Sing could be his big breakout moment, especially at a time when Tony Jackson’s version of traditional country is on the upswing, and everyone is searching for more diverse voices in the genre.
Appearing on the album will be a who’s who of great country music pickers, including guitarists “Cousin” Kenny Vaughan and Brent Mason, steel guitarist Cindy Cashdollar, fiddler Jenee Fleenor, and a bunch of other top name pickers and players. Songwriters contributors include Jamey Johnson, Mo Pitney, Erin Enderlin, Bobby Tomberlin, and more. Randy Travis and Rhonda Vincent also appear on the album. It would be difficult to impossible to assemble a better team behind Tony.
“I am very proud of this project and thankful to be joined by such legendary studio musicians,” says Tony Jackson. “I am especially thankful to my friends, Rhonda Vincent, and Randy Travis, for being a part of it. I met Randy as a kid while living overseas and it remains a powerful core memory. Working with him professionally as an adult is a dream realized.”
The album includes a couple of prominent covers, namely Jimmy Webb’s “Wichita Lineman” made famous by Glen Campbell, and John Sebastian’s “Darlin’ Be Home Soon.” But it also includes lots of songs Tony Jackson can make his own, like the premier single from the album “Do You Remember Country Music” featuring Randy Travis, and written by Aaron Bowlin, Bobby Tomberlin, and Mo Pitney (listen below).
Though Tony Jackson feels like a relative unknown to the wider population, in traditional country circles he’s already a star, regularly appearing on the Grand Ole Opry, and releasing videos with millions of views. Hopefully I’ve Got Songs To Sing can be the moment that attention translates to the wider country music population.
A former member of the United States Marine Corps., Tony Jackson was turned onto traditional country music while growing up in the military, and listening to it on Armed Forces Radio.
I’ve Got Songs To Sing is now available for pre-save/pre-order.
Track Listing:
1. I’ve Got Songs to Sing
2. Good Time
3. Leave a Light On (featuring Rhonda Vincent)
4. Five Dollar Bible
5. A Lot Like Texas
6. A Little While
7. Darlin’ Be Home Soon
8. Dyann
9. I’m All In
10. Wichita Lineman
11. Do You Remember Country Music (featuring Randy Travis)
September 1, 2023 @ 10:59 am
Wow wow wow! As described, this album should put Tony Jackson in high gear. Hopefully radio will offer deserved airplay. The posted song/video is an incredible homage to traditional country music with the steel guitar and fiddle colorings, and warm hearted lyrics! I just added this album to my must-buy list. Cheers & Twangs!
September 1, 2023 @ 11:35 am
also WOW WOW WOW. I check about once a year to see if he has anything new out and it’s awesome to see it’s finally happened.
September 1, 2023 @ 11:57 am
Mr. Jackson is Pure Gold.
What a wonderful video of he & Mr. Travis.
https://youtu.be/xk5Y0-RzJ9Y?si=JFreC9V1NbS65TNr
The only thing that makes Mr. Tony Jackson diverse is his amazing talent.
September 1, 2023 @ 1:03 pm
Wowee!
Tony Jackson may be a great lounge singer or for making appearances on the Opry, doing karaoke Travis and Twitty, but I don’t see this album doinng anything to move him into country stardom territory. There’s no bite or kick or personality, beyond sweetness. And bringing in Randy Travis, who cannot speak or sing more than a word or two, anymore, is just sugar overload. (And of course this will lead to more of the now di regueur postings on the Internet that “It’s a miracle–Randy Travis has returned–He’s singing again” from the contingent that) enjoys trafficking in that nonsense.)
September 1, 2023 @ 4:21 pm
I agree with you. A little too tame when i hear his voice I just picture some kind of entertainment show and a guy wearing a suit and tie. Seems like something folks pushing 70 would be into
September 1, 2023 @ 8:59 pm
Well I’m pushing 33 so..
September 2, 2023 @ 8:41 am
that’s also true of any number of retro acts though- Jason James, Jake Penrod, etc. There are people who are crazy about that sound even if it’s not for you.
September 1, 2023 @ 6:55 pm
I kinda agree with you but at the same time, he has a very pretty voice which makes him stand out to me especially these days. And I know people might think “well who wants a male country singer who sings “pretty””…Merle Haggard was a very “pretty” singer, so, point made.
September 1, 2023 @ 8:08 pm
Hag–like Johnny Cash–was all over the lot over his long career, but in the early Capitol years–which is still my favrorite Merle era, by far–his recordings like “Mama Tried,” “Sing Me Back Home,” “Tonight, the Bottle Let Me Down,” and “I Take a Lot of Pride In What I Am,” had a crispness of vocal (along with electric guitar work) that was startling. You really believed (or at least I did) that he lived what he was singing.
September 1, 2023 @ 8:42 pm
“Sing Me Back Home” is my favorite Hag song, although I think in terms of eras (not to conjure up Taylor Swift) I think late 70s Hag is my favorite, at least when he wasn’t coked out on a boat. I guess late 70s Hag is also when he was at his jazziest which may seem sacrilege to traditionalists (I once was one but am now more of the school that pop, in the traditional sense of the word, is just as much a part of country, if not more, than folk/blues).
Going back to the fact that his voice is “pretty” though, it ain’t for nothing that Hag was considered, behind George Jones, one of the greatest country singers alive at the time (fwiw the conversation to me includes those two, Johnny Paycheck, Connie Smith and maybe a “wild card”).
Hag is most known to most people, historically, as the “Okie From Muskogee”/”Fighting Side of Me” guy, but Merle, in addition to being a great songwriter and musician and surrounding himself with other great musicians, was also a great singer and frankly yes a very pretty singer. It doesn’t really align with his “image”/”brand” but thank god he predated most of that nonsense.
Long story short, in my invoking Hag, more than anything else my intention is to appreciate an aspect of his greatness that tends to go underappreciated by most people, even country fans.
September 6, 2023 @ 7:02 am
The pretty songs are what I truly love in the Hag’s catalog. Natural High and Kern River are two of my favorite songs ever by any artist.
September 1, 2023 @ 1:59 pm
Dang!
September 1, 2023 @ 3:54 pm
What an impressive list of contributers. I look forward to giving this a listen.
September 1, 2023 @ 9:14 pm
I’ve already posted a couple times above, but can I just sincerely say it feels good to be posting and interacting with other commenters about country music in a way that has nothing to do with anything other than country music. Feels like it’s been a minute.
September 2, 2023 @ 5:46 am
I liked Tony’s debut album, but it’s been awhile (2017) and I had kinda forgotten about him. Interested to see how he’s developed. Thanks.
September 2, 2023 @ 6:33 am
I have watched Tony on the Opry stage and he does very well in that setting. He’s not ” edgy” or controversial, not trying to stir up public consciousness or lecture the audience on a cause du jour, no Tony Jackson does one thing really, really well. That is, sing Country music. He’s extremely legit, nothing put on or fake about him. It’s fair to say he’s not ” outlaw” in the 70s sense of the word. No songs about snorting coke and no phaser pedal inflected guitar, and you probably won’t get songs about mining coal or working overtime hours for BS pay. ( not criticizing any of that, but some seem to imply that anything short of that somehow isn’t real or legit country, and that just ain’t true.)
For those above who find that boring, just understand that in Country music, there’s always been a place for great traditional vocalists. See Don Williams, Gosdin, Gene Watson, Keith Whitley and while we are talking, yes Charley Pride. These guys are all influential to Jackson but perhaps Jones is his biggest influence of all.
Tony Jackson doesn’t need to change a thing, he’s doing just fine, he will always have audience, the quality of his singing speaks for itself.
September 2, 2023 @ 7:46 am
“For those above who find that boring, just understand that in Country music, there’s always been a place for great traditional vocalists.”
Truly, Kevin.
And, if i may …
In Country music, there’s always been a place for great country music.
Exactly what Tony Jackson is providing.
Wishing Everyone a very nice holiday weekend.
Getting ready to hit the road.
: D have a guitar 🎸 to deliver
September 2, 2023 @ 9:30 am
I take it this was directed toward me. I didn’t say there was anything fake or wrong about the guy it’s just not my style but if you like it that’s good. Outside of Gene and Pride the others you mentioned are some of my favorites and Whitley is in my top 3 country artists ever. I just don’t like the clean cut polished up country music of this brand and those guys weren’t that either. But there are plenty of folks including yourself who like it so that’s all that matters
September 2, 2023 @ 9:54 am
R-I-P Jimmy Buffet.
Never came close to making the Rock & Roll or Country Halls of Fame, but then, I don’t think he lost any sleep over it. Probably thought they could kiss his parrot’s head or any other parts.
September 2, 2023 @ 9:30 pm
I think you posted this on the wrong article.
September 2, 2023 @ 8:25 pm
Heck yeah. This guy can sing.
September 5, 2023 @ 8:16 am
I’d rather have this vs. half the people we discuss here. I am sure it’s not going to rocket up the charts. I’d buy it though. *And I’m not pushing 70. I’m barely 40.
September 6, 2023 @ 1:29 pm
Never heard of him before today but boy oh boy I’m glad I did.
Looking forward to the new album and already downloaded the 2017 release.
Beautiful voice . Hope he does have a breakout moment. Well deserved.
October 23, 2023 @ 9:40 am
Just listened to the album and… good grief did they botch the pitch correction on this project, especially in the second half. “Darlin Be Home Soon” is the most obvious offender, but I couldn’t stop hearing the pitch correction happening frequently on the songs after that, even when they tried to use it more subtly. I mean it’s just baffling to let that slide on an album that’s supposed to appeal to straightforward neo-traditional country listeners. Otherwise, the album would’ve been pretty good. He really needs to get someone else to mix the album next go-round. Or at least proof-listen to the songs beforehand.