Rolling Stone Sturgill Simpson Readies New Concept Album ‘The Ballad of Dood & Juanita’
After the rock opus ‘Sound & Fury’ and a pair of bluegrass albums, Simpson bears down on traditional country and mountain music in new LP, out August 20th
By Semi Song
Following the synth-rock adventure of 2019’s
Sound & Fury and a pair of back-to-basics bluegrass albums last year, Sturgill Simpson will release a country music concept album this summer. Titled
The Ballad of Dood & Juanita, Simpson’s latest LP arrives August 20th and features a guest turn by Willie Nelson on the track “Juanita.”
In a statement, Simpson says the project was born from his desire to create a complete body of work. “I just wanted to write a story not a collection of songs that tell a story, but an actual story, front to back,” he said, adding that the record is “a simple tale of either redemption or revenge.” Along with Nelson’s cameo,
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Sturgill Simpson performs onstage during The 59th Grammy Awards at Staples Center in 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Singer-songwriter Sturgill Simpson remembers when he first learned John Prine was admitted to the hospital with COVID-19.
“I was just sort of standing outside and just kind of accepted the fact that I probably was never going to see him again,” he recalls.
Simpson’s feeling was correct: Prine died on April 7, 2020, a loss for Simpson, who considered the country legend a hero, mentor and friend.
To honor him, Simpson decided to cover Prine’s most famous song, “Paradise.” The single is part of a tribute album for Prine, titled “Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows Vol. 2.” Prine originally wrote the song 50 years ago for his father who hailed from Paradise, Kentucky.
My Savior falls 1-2 in its second week on Top Album Sales, selling 31,000 copies (down 55%). After two weeks on sale,
My Savior is the fifth-biggest selling album of 2021, with 99,000 copies sold through April 8. The yearâs top-seller is Morgan Wallenâs
Dangerous: The Double Album, with 215,000 copies sold.
Cuttinâ Grass, Vol. 2: The Cowboy Arms Sessions re-enters Top Album Sales at No. 3 with 18,000 copies sold (up 14,758%), following the albumâs release on CD and vinyl on April 2.
Cuttinâ Grass, Vol. 2 is Simpsonâs second album of bluegrass covers of his own material, following 2020âs
Cuttinâ Grass, Vol. 1: The Butcher Shoppe Sessions. The new album was initially released on digital retail and streaming services last year and previously spent one week on the tally, debuting and peaking at No. 48 on the Dec. 26, 2020-dated chart from download sales only (6,000 sold in its first week).
ALSO: Reissues (CDs / Vinyl)
Johnny Mathis “The Heart of a Woman / When Will I See You Again / I Only Have Eyes For You / Mathis Is …” (1974-77 albums on two CDs; remastered, with bonus tracks)
The Damned “Punk Oddities & Rare Tracks 1977-1982” (12-song collection)
Allen Ginsberg “Allen Ginsberg At Reed College: The First Recorded Reading of Howl & Other Poems”
Various artists “The Best of Bond … James Bond” (2CD reissue with Paul McCartney, Tina Turner, Duran Duran and others)
The Searchers “A & B Sides 1963-1967” (32 remastered tracks on one CD)
Mindi Abair “The Best of Mindi Abair” (19-song compilation; new single: “April”)