Something Borrowed, Something New: A Tribute to John Anderson

COUNTRY

An assortment of notable singers cover songs associated with John Anderson. Though Anderson is in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, surprisingly few of the songs here were written by him, but most were hits for him, mostly in the 1980s & 90s. There are a few newer songs, including #2, co-written by Anderson with Dan Auerbach, who also produced the album. But for the featured singers, there’s a disappointing lack of information provided.

FCC clean

1 * mid-slow. John Prine sings sad & rueful nostalgia about an old girlfriend (3:22)
2 * mid-tempo. Sierra Ferrell’s lovely voice provides advice about looking forward (2:59)
3 ** slow dance tempo. Brent Cobb warns about living too wild. A touch of Cajun (3:06)
4 mid-tempo. Nathaniel Rateliff belts out Southern country rock; nice guitar solo (3:47)
5 mid-tempo. mainstream country music with much twang by Eric Church; yawn (4:05)
6 *** very slow, reflective ballad. Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings are stunning as always; usually very spare with just two guitars, here they’re backed by gorgeous strings (4:06)
7 ** mid-tempo. Tyler Childers sings about bootlegging in neo-trad mountain style (2:34)
8 mid-tempo country rock by Luke Combs about destruction of the Everglades (4:38)
9 mid-slow breakup song with Sturgill Simpson; sort of a country “Thrill Is Gone” (3:50)
10 Brothers Osborne (a recent country-rock duo, not the 60s bluegrass group) awkwardly attempt Bo Diddley’s standard. This adds nothing to the many existing covers. (3:03)
11 ** Del McCoury & Sierra Hull sing a cute tale of a past-his-prime country star. Del’s high-lonesome lead, Sierra’s backing, and a pedal steel make this one a gem. (2:42)
12 ** slow spare verses; bigger chorus. Ashley McBryde aces a terrific instance of the “drinking my troubles away” genre - but it’s the female protagonist subgroup (3:23)
13 mid-tempo. A Merle-Haggard-like song done by Jamey Johnson; it’s just ok (3:16)