We all know that Eric Church‘s catalog is full of unreleased hidden gems.
He’s played plenty of songs live over the years that haven’t made it to a studio album (yet). Some of them have even become fan favorites, like “Old Friends, Old Whiskey, Old Songs,” which Eric never officially released, but he did give us a live version on his 61 Days in Church.
Well it seems somebody got their hands on recordings of some of Eric’s unreleased hidden gems, and they’ve started to pop up on YouTube.
The most recent is an unreleased song called “Thinkin’ In Church,” which was written by Church and Mark Narmore.
There’s not a whole lot of information about the song online, but it appears to have been copyrighted by Narmore way back in 2015, so it could have been recorded by Church at any point between then and now. It even has that old-school Eric Church sound from earlier in his career.
It’s not clear whether this recording is an unreleased demo, or whether it was ever even meant to see the light of day, but it’s found its way to YouTube and any time we can get new music from Eric Church, I’m here for it.
It’s not the only unreleased Church song this person has posted either: There’s also one called “White Corn Liquor,” which was written solely by Church. And this recording definitely sounds like some sort of demo or work tape – yet still manages to sound better than just about anything on the radio these days.
UPDATE: The song has since been taken down.
Stay tuned… it sounds like Eric Church might have some more music on the way soon.
Eric Honored With A Star On Music City Walk Of Fame
Eric was one of the newest stars added to the Music City Walk of Fame in downtown Nashville this past week, during an induction ceremony to honor Chief and the other members of this year’s class.
The Walk of Fame, located across the street from the Country Music Hall of Fame on Demonbreun Street in downtown Nashville, serves as a “landmark tribute to those from all genres of music who have contributed to the world through song or other industry collaboration and made a significant contribution to the music industry with connection to Music City.”
And it’s hard to argue that Church didn’t earn his star.
He was the first artist to play Nashville’s (at the time) brand new downtown amphitheater, Ascend Amphitheater, back in 2015 with a two night sold-out run. And back in 2019, he set the then-stadium record for attendance at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium during a massive show on his Double Down Tour.
And Chief will also leave his mark on Broadway in 2024, when his six-story bar, restaurant and music venue, appropriately named Chief’s, will debut on downtown Nashville’s most famous entertainment strip.
At his induction ceremony, Church reflected on getting his start in Music City – and the city that’s become his home:
“I came to this town in a 1987 two-tone Chevy Blazer in 2000. And I remember pulling in. I didn’t know anyone. I had a guitar, mediocre songs at the time, and big, big dreams.
And to be here today, and to have this, and to have a building going in downtown soon, it’s just beyond what I’d ever dreamed.
I thought I had big dreams. But this is beyond those things. And I’m very thankful that I did stay in town, but I’m also thankful that this became my home.
I’ve been here 23 years now. I met my wife here. My manager Jon Peat’s here. Had my kids here. Go to baseball games here now. It’s become home to me.
So the honor is for the accomplishments I’ve had in my career, but it’s also for: This is home.”
Church’s star becomes the 99th on the Music City Walk of Fame, alongside names like Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Randy Travis, Dolly Parton, and many others who have made their mark on Nashville.
Along with Church, other inductees from this year’s class included Joe and Linda Chambers, co-founders of Nashville’s Musicians Hall of Fame, and Butch Spyridon, the longtime CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp – and the man who first had the idea for the Music City Walk of Fame 25 years ago.
So if you’re in Nashville, make sure you stop by and check out the newest stars on the Walk of Fame – and see all of the legends who have already been honored.
Just don’t get too drunk over on Broadway and pass out on your favorite celebrity’s star. Because I’ve seen that happen too.
