Who wants to talk about Jamey Johnson's new double album, The Guitar Song?

Both West and Johnson gave glowering performances, brows furrowed with focus. Both tempered that intensity (and their reputations for being grouchy) with lyrics that made me laugh. Both are stronger craftsmen than performers, but the strength of their material made their performances shine. Both are considered renegades, yet appear to seek the affirmation of their fans and the respect of their heroes with an almost noble desperation.

His next album,Livin' For a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran (produced by Buddy Cannon) due to be released October 16th :

Songwriter Cochran died in 2010

tracklist

"Make the World Go Away" - Jamey Johnson and Alison Krauss
"I Fall to Pieces" - Jamey Johnson and Merle Haggard
"A Way to Survive" - Jamey Johnson, Vince Gill and Leon Russell
"Don't Touch Me" - Jamey Johnson and Emmylou Harris
"You Wouldn't Know Love" - Jamey Johnson and Ray Price
"I Don't Do Windows" - Jamey Johnson and Asleep at the Wheel
"She'll Be Back" - Jamey Johnson and Elvis Costello
"Would These Arms Be in Your Way" - Jamey Johnson
"The Eagle" - Jamey Johnson and George Strait
"A-11" - Jamey Johnson and Ronnie Dunn
"I'd Fight the World" - Jamey Johnson and Bobby Bare
"Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me" - Jamey Johnson and Willie Nelson
"This Ain't My First Rodeo" - Jamey Johnson and Lee Ann Womack
"Love Makes a Fool of Us All" - Jamey Johnson and Kris Kristofferson
"Everything But You" - Jamey Johnson, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson and Leon Russell
"Livin' for a Song" - Jamey Johnson, Hank Cochran, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson

vinyl release in September

Poor guy must have writer's block.

Yeah, I'm gonna pass on this one. I don't really go back to either of his last two records.

I'll listen to it if a physical copy falls into my lap, or if somebody offers to pay me to write about it. But otherwise, no great loss if I don't -- tribute album = holding pattern by definition. Call me when he decides to make a real album.

Plus, to be honest, all those guest stars make it just sound depressing.

Oh you cynics, don't you believe the press release explanation:

When it came time to take the next step in his recording career, he listened to his heart and decided to embark on a labor of love. In a daring career move that is consistent with Johnson's penchant for bucking conventional industry wisdom to create a unique path, he decided to devote his time and creative efforts to honoring his late friend and celebrate traditional country music.

"Shortly after he first met Jamey, Hank was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer," says his widow, Suzi Cochran. "So for the two years he lived after that, Jamey would get off the road and pull his bus right up to the hospital, run up and see Hank and raise Hank's spirits. The last time Jamey saw Hank was the night before Hank died." Johnson joined Buddy Cannon and Billy Ray Cyrus at Cochran's bedside as they handed the guitar back and forth while singing Cochran's songs. Cochran died about six hours later.

It was Cochran's passing that inspired the idea for the tribute album. "We all met at the house one day and sang some songs," Johnson says. "Bobby Bare was introducing me to a bunch of songs that when I thought I heard it all, I hadn't heard anything yet. All the best stuff was the stuff I didn't know about yet.

No young or unexpected collaborators

Threw this on last night for a long drive... I cracked up over Dog In a Yard this time around. It never occurred to me before, but he's talking about being a dog and driving that metaphor home on every line and then all of a sudden he comes in with 'When I make love to you' and I was like, "Wait WHAT? Oh."

I know it'a a LOT of songs. But after listening to it last night and this morning all the way through it really flows together well.

Still have not seen him play live >:(

oh and I heard his 'Two Out of Three Ain't Bad'

I'm a sucker for that song, and for that arrangement --- I love it. I think he did a great job with it. Good cryin' into your beer song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGEIcdYOuHo

his guitarist looks like a total tweaker