Where has this been hiding?
“Murder On Music Row” was originally written by Larry Cordle and Larry Shell in 1999, and recorded by Larry’s bluegrass band Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, as the title track from their album of the same name.
But when George Strait and Alan Jackson got a hold of it, it became a hit… especially among fans of more traditional country music who were upset at the direction of the industry. It obviously got a lot worse…
George and Alan performed it at the 1999 CMA Awards, and recorded the tune for Strait’s 2000 Latest Greatest Straitest Hits album. It went on to win Song of the Year at the CMA Awards the following year.
But then, Dierks Bentley and George Jones cut the song as well… a version that has flown under the radar for many country music fans. Recorded for a special Cracker Barrel “Songs of the Year” album in 2007, it featured covers from Blake Shelton, Randy Travis, Trisha Yearwood, Willie Nelson and more.
Dierks Bentley and ol’ Possum teamed up for a cover of “Murder On Music Row,” for that record, and it’s pretty damn good. Not to mention, I’m willing to bet plenty of country fans don’t even know about it.
And of course, ol’ George and ol’ Alan.
