Nobody better to reimagine a classic.
If there’s one guy who can get my attention with pretty much anything he sings, it’s Tracy Lawrence. One of the most recognizable voices of the ’90s, Tracy has always been standard-bearer for traditional country music with a deep appreciation for the genre and its roots.
And this time, he’s dropping his version of a 1962 classic.
“(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance” was first recorded by Gene Pitney (and later by Jimmie Rodgers) and was inspired by the John Wayne and James Stewart western movie of the same name. While the song ultimately didn’t make it into the film, it reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts and remains one of Pitney’s biggest hits.
The song was written by the legendary songwriting duo of Burt Bacharach and Hal David, a partnership that delivered more than 70 Top 40 hits in the United States alone. And Tracy Lawrence was just one of many legendary artists who recently came together for a tribute album, Melodic Genius: The Songs of Burt Bacharach and Hal David, to reimagine the songs of the songwriting powerhouse.
The 11-track collection will feature Crystal Gayle, Neal McCoy, Rissi Palmer, Lee Brice & Tanya Tucker, Emmy Russell, and many, many more, and is set to be released in early 2027. But in the meantime, we’re pumped to bring you the first listen of Tracy’s offering for the album, “(The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance.”
The song was the perfect fit for Tracy, whose powerhouse voice shines through to give it a sound that’s somehow both classic and timeless as he brings the wild west gunfight to life.
If you like the cover from Tracy, make sure you keep an eye out for the full album when it drops next year, because it’s packed full of incredible modern reimaginings of some timeless classics from one of music’s most successful songwriting duos.
Melodic Genius: The Songs of Burt Bacharach and Hal David
1. What the World Needs Now – Peyton Aldridge
2. One Less Bell to Answer – Wendy Moten
3. Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head – Lee Brice & Tanya Tucker
4. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance – Tracy Lawrence
5. Planes and Boats and Trains – Emmy Russell
6. Walk on By – Lauren Lucas
7. I’ll Never Fall in Love Again – Crystal Gayle
8. Anyone Who Had a Heart – Cherie Oakley
9. The Look of Love – Jason Canela
10. Do You Know the Way to San Jose – Rissi Palmer
11. Alfie – Neal McCoy
