Of course, the ultimate dream is for Post Malone to do a country album full of original songs, but a classic country covers album would be pretty damn cool too.
And honestly, I think a fully original country album is probably going to happen, but in my head, I feel like there’s room (and a desire by fans) for both.
I mean, why not, right?
We already know Post can sing country like nobody’s business, and has a real appreciation for the genre and has covered songs like Johnny Cash’s “Cocaine Blues” with Billy Strings, so it feels like something he could really pull off if he ever wanted to.
The man has impeccable taste in both classic and current country, calling Colter Wall, Tyler Childers and Sturgill Simpson his favorite artists at the moment.
He has spoken so highly of them before (in addition to expressing interest in working with them) and really has great taste in all kinds of country… like, can you imagine a Sturgill Simpson-produced Post Malone country album?
Anywho, I know it’s kind of a pie in the sky idea, so to speak, but if any artist outside of country could cover 12 classics with genuine reverence and talent, I have no doubt it would be Post Malone. He’s an insanely talented artist who has that rare ability to cross genres and not completely butcher something outside of his typical wheelhouse.
So, if the idea strikes his fancy, I’ve come up with 12 songs which are mostly considered classics, with a few worthy exceptions that are more recent songs, that I would personally love to hear him cut in the studio, and you can read through them all below.
1. “You Can Have The Crown” by Sturgill Simpson
Now obviously, this was an easy choice because Post has already crushed a live cover of “You Can Have The Crown” when he performed with Dwight Yoakam’s band for Matthew McConaughey’s “We’re Texas” virtual benefit concert in 2022.
It went viral for good reason, and was so good, in fact, that there’s no question we need a studio version now too… and I also think it means Sturgill needs to produce whatever country endeavors Post Malone has coming down the pipeline.
2. “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys” by Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson
An all-time classic and 1978 mega hit for Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, it only feels right to have this song on a classic country covers album tracklist. And with Posty’s free-spirited attitude, I think it would be a perfect fit.
3. “Cocaine Blues” by Johnny Cash
Of course, I had to include a Billy Strings feature here too. The pair previously collaborated for a live performance of this Johnny Cash song, and it was so good that I think we deserve a polished version we can listen to anytime we want.
4. “Crazy” by Patsy Cline
This country standard is beloved by fans still today, and of course, it takes some major vocal chops to pull it off. I mean, there has never been another voice like Patsy Cine’s, but Post Malone is actually an incredible singer, even though he got his start as a rapper.
I’m not saying it would rival the original in any way, but I really think he could do a great job with it.
5. “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” by Hank Williams
What would be the point of a project like this if you don’t include a sad Hank Williams song? Obviously, this 1949 tear-jerker is one of, if not the, best ever performed or written.
6. “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers just oozed confidence and had a certain swagger about him, if you will, and also seemed like such a sweetheart, and Post Malone seems to also have those qualities in spades (pun very much intended).
“The Gambler” is always a crowd pleaser at any event, and a country song most people can sing along too, so I think Posty would have so much fun recreating it.
7. “Jolene” by Dolly Parton
One of Dolly Parton’s signature tunes, I included this for selfish reasons mainly because I really want to hear Post Malone’ vocals on a Dolly song.
Also, like “The Gambler,” he could put his own little touch on it… and honestly, this one should probably be another feature. Let’s make this a Dolly/Posty duet, why don’t we?
8. “Mama Tried” by Merle Haggard
A tale as old as time, The Hag sings about his ramblin’ ways and how, even though is mama did everything she could to steer him in the right direction, he just has a wild spirit and was born an outlaw of sorts.
Post Malone is also someone who seemingly does things his own way and doesn’t worry about what other people will think or say, and it could be a really cool to hear him cover this if he leaned into it.
9. “Always On My Mind” by Willie Nelson
Another one I’m including for purely selfish reasons, “Always On My Mind” is one of my all-time favorite songs, and it only seems right for Willie’s fellow Texan, Post Malone, to sing it too.
Like I mentioned before, Post Malone actually has an incredibly unique, really strong voice and range, and I’d love to hear him pour his heart into this one with a really basic, stripped-back production.
10. “Help Me Make It Through The Night” by Kris Kristofferson
A simple, sultry ballad written by the great Kris Kristofferson, it would be quite a bit different from anything in Post Malone’s catalog of originals, but again, I think he could totally nail it and it would be fun to hear a different side of him musically.
11. “He Stopped Loving Her Today” by George Jones
I honestly have no idea what a Post Malone cover of this song would really sound like, but as you can tell, we’ve entered the “sad song” portion of my idea for this project (which is actually like half of the tracklist, but what did y’all really expect?).
Widely considered one of the saddest songs ever, it’s a no-brainer to include in a classic country covers album.
12. “In the Pines”
Also known as “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” (and several other titles), it’s believed to have originated in the southern Appalachian region of the United States, with influences from Eastern Tennessee and Kentucky, Western North Carolina and Northern Georgia and started out as a country song.
Over the years, it has been covered by a countless array of artists, including bluegrass musician Bill Monroe as well as folk and blues legend Lead Belly. They each did their own versions of the song in the 1940’s and 1950’s.
But of course, it was made most famous by Nirvana, more specifically frontman Kurt Cobain, during the bands Live On MTV Unplugged set in 1993.
Post has done some incredible Nirvana covers in the past, and while I wouldn’t necessarily want this to be a “Nirvana cover,” I believe that Post Malone is one of the very few artists would could tackle it and I’d actually wanna listen.
There ya have it, folks. What do y’all think? What classic country song would you want to hear Posty cover?
