FINALLY.
George Strait is giving the fans what we’ve wanted for years now, and that would be an official studio cut of Waylon Jennings’ “Waymore’s Blues,” which he’s done at shows for a long time and is obviously one of the best covers of the country classic you’ll ever hear.
Of course, the song was released on Waylon’s 1975 album Dreaming My Dreams (one of my personal favorites), right before he won Male Vocalist of the Year at the CMA Awards. I’ve always wanted The King to put out a studio recording of it I could listen to anytime I want to, and I can already tell you it will be on repeat come September.
Strait is gearing up to release his 31st studio album called Cowboys and Dreamers this fall, and it will also include a duet with Chris Stapleton called “Honky Tonk Hall Of Fame,” and features writers like longtime collaborators Dean Dillon, Monty Criswell and even George’s son, Bubba Strait.
George says the album is dedicated to his longtime manager Erv Woolsey, longtime fiddle player Gene Elders and longtime road manager Tom Foote, all of whom passed away this year and were close friends of his:
“I’m dedicating this record to my longtime manager and friend Erv Woolsey and my longtime fiddle player and friend Gene Elders (a player on four of these tracks), who we lost on the same day, March 20, 2024, as well as my longtime friend and road manager Tom Foote, who we lost on April 29, 2024.
I will never forget all of the good times we had together. May they rest in peace with our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Texas icon released the lead single “MIA Down in MIA” this past Friday, which is Strait’s first original single he’s put out in nearly three years. It will have you have you dreaming of warm weather and drinking cold beers all summer long, and is a strong release to kick off the album.
Cowboys and Dreamers features a 13-song tracklist, and is due out everywhere on September 6th. Mark your calendars… we’re in for some GREAT stuff, per the usual from The King.
Cowboys And Dreamers Tracklist:
1. Three Drinks Behind (Benjamin Gaither, Jeff Silvey and Kim Williams)
2. Cowboys And Dreamers (Jessie Jo Dillon, Keith Gattis and Bubba Strait)
3. To The Moon (Marty Brown and Steve Clark)
4. MIA Down in MIA (Adam Craig and Dean Dillon)
5. Wish I Could Say (Keith Gattis)
6. Calling From The Car (Bobby Braddock)
7. People Get Hurt Sometimes (Jim Lauderdale, Kendell Marvel and Jimmy Ritchey)
8. Honky Tonk Hall Of Fame ft. Chris Stapleton (Chris Stapleton, Jameson Clark and Timothy James)
9. The Little Things (George Strait, Monty Criswell and Bubba Strait)
10. The Book (George Strait, Dean Dillon, Jessie Jo Dillon and Bubba Strait)
11. Rent (Guy Clark and Keith Gattis)
12. Waymore’s Blues (Curtis Buck and Waylon Jennings)
13. The Journey Of Your Life (Ronnie Bowman and Troy Jones)
I can’t wait for this…
“MIA Down In MIA”
