Happy Charley Crockett Day to those who celebrate.
Today, the Texas native released his sixteenth record, Lonesome Drifter (assuming you include his live album, Live From the Ryman).
The Grammy-nominated artist didn’t really have anything left to prove with this record. Charley Crockett stays in his own lane regarding originality, keeping country roots present in his sound and his prolific songwriting inspired by his years living as a nomad.
However, with the release of Lonesome Drifter, Crockett showed fans that he continues to hit the bullseye with every release, and he’s what seems like light years ahead of where country is going. Not only that, but Crockett has always marched to his own drum, making waves in the industry without the backing of a major label.
“Took a ride in the hill country this morning and gave the album a spin. It’d been a while since I listened to these recordings. I still like them. It sounds like me. I put 14 albums out independently. 14 y’all.”
Lonesome Drifter’s out today: https://t.co/sgJkBQNq52
Took a ride in the hill country this morning and gave the album a spin. It’d been a while since I listened to these recordings. I still like them. It sounds like me. I put 14 albums out independently. 14 y’all. pic.twitter.com/EJGGXKT8jw
— Charley Crockett (@CharleyCrockett) March 14, 2025
What I’ve listened to from the record is stellar, but I want to take my time and work my way through track by track before fully weighing in on the project as a whole. Early favorites of mine include “One Trick Pony,” “Easy Money,” and “Life Of A Country Singer.” One track that I ran to when the record dropped though was Crockett’s cover of the George Strait hit “Amarillo By Morning.”
Crockett shared a snippet of him talking earlier this week, explaining what led him and his producer, Shooter Jennings, to cut the famed song.
“We was working out in West Texas, and there was this young cowboy out there I was doing a scene with, and this old boy was like, ‘Hey Charley, what are you listening to right now?’
Well, I’m listening to Waylon. He’s like, ‘Waylon Jennings?’ I’m like, ‘Come on motherf***er, you know who Waylon Jennings is.’ And he says, ‘I think my grandpa used to listen to him.’”
This interaction then led Crockett to talk with his wife, Taylor, about how so many “country purests” say that you shouldn’t cut classic songs like “Amarillo By Morning” because everyone knows it. But Taylor and Shooter disagreed with the idea that everyone knew “Amarillo By Morning.”
“Taylor’s always like, ‘Baby, maybe you’re getting old because these kids don’t know this f**king song.’ And Shooter (Jennings) was like, ‘Nah man, it was over 40 years ago. Taylor’s right. Young people don’t know it. I really think you should put it on the record.’”
Crockett ended the clip with a phrase indicating that he was going to fully put his spin on the famed track and not keep the original composition.
“They call him King George for a reason. I’m sorry, George, I sure do hope you like it though.”
@charleycrockett Replying to @Taylor ♬ original sound – Charley Crockett
Crockett, in his true fashion, rearranged the song’s composition to fit his signature sound, which highlights Western swing and jazz influence from the Big Easy. He re-cut “Jamestown Ferry” on this record and included a big horn section, and he kept the horns going in his take of “Amarillo By Morning.”
If you’re a die-hard fan of The King’s version, this might not be for you as Crockett removed the fiddle and replaced it with a softer horn melody, with a steel guitar and keyboard support. Given that Crockett does not usually tour with a fiddle player, this song accurately represents what it will sound like when he takes it to the stage. Frankly, the heavy steel featured in Strait’s version does not represent Crockett’s sound. I think he would have felt like an imposter doing it the way George did.
Crockett’s take on the track flawlessly complements the remainder of the tracklist and is one helluva way to conclude Lonesome Drifter.
Social media is digging the track, too, with very little negative commentary about his rendition. Of course, one hater hit the Whiskey Riff inbox first thing this morning, dragging the track, but I fear he’s in the minority on this one.
“I’m the biggest George Strait fan of all time. Crockett completely butchered ‘Amarillo By Morning.’ How the hell do you take the iconic fiddle out of the song???”
I told y’all if you were married to The King’s version, you might not like this. But half of the fun of covering a song is making it your own. George Strait’s version doesn’t sound like Terry Stafford’s version at all…
Check out some of the other comments surrounding the cover.
Amarillo By Morning cover on the new Charley Crockett album LETS RIDE GOOD LUCK CHUCK
— Jabroni Kransinski (@lincolnparklad) March 14, 2025
Closing track on Charley Crockett’s new record is a cover of Amarillo By Morning. Mannnn, that brother made this one FOR MEEEE
— Charley (@JukeboxCharley) January 31, 2025
Charley Crockett new album is so fucking good
— cal (@callumsdl) March 14, 2025
New Charley Crockett album will always get me through it. pic.twitter.com/UpQb4EnqJV
— nate fletcher (@fletchnate) March 14, 2025