BIG news from JD Clayton.
Not only did the Arkansas native release a spectacular brand new single, but his latest release was accompanied by the announcement of his sophomore album Blue Sky Sundays. The follow up to Clayton’s incredible debut record Long Way From Home in 2023, Blue Sky Sundays features nine tracks and is slated for a February 28 release on Rounder Records.
Titled “Dirt Roads of Red,” the newest single is a fun, cleverly written tune in which the song’s main character has a bone to pick with his preacher talking about “streets of gold.” Inspired by a conversation Clayton had with buddy on the golf course one day, Clayton wrote the song in less than hour, and as a pastor’s son himself, he particularly enjoys the dialogue between the song’s main character and his pastor.
Sonically, Clayton continues to hone in on his unique country-funk sound, with instrumentation that is undeniably country, including an awesome slide guitar solo, yet leans a bit funkier than most of his contemporaries. This is all bolstered by the soulful vocal delivery of his clever lyrics that has become a staple of his catalog, and “Dirt Roads of Red” is sure no exception.
Clayton provided some context behind how this song came to fruition.
“One morning I was playing golf with a buddy from Georgia down at McCabe Golf Course in Nashville when he turned to me and said that there should be a song about wishing that streets of gold in Heaven could be streets of red, referring to the red clay down in Georgia.
Now, being an Arkansas kid, I could never bring myself to write a song about Georgia. Thankfully, my favorite state, Colorado, also has a high concentration of iron deposits in its soil.”
So, without further ado, check out the new single for yourself here:
Self-produced and recorded live to tape with his touring band after moving back to Arkansas from Nashville, Clayton’s forthcoming record Blue Sky Sundays is one to look forward to, and if the singles released thus far are any indication, it’ll be a special record.
By the time he recorded the record, Clayton had already moved back home to the Fort Smith, Arkansas area where he grew up, but he returned to Nashville to record alongside his touring band at the legendary Sound Studios.
“When I made my first album I’d never been on the road, but after touring so much over the past few years my band is extremely dialed-in. I wanted to make a record that showcased what’s special about each and of my bandmates, and I knew the best way to do that was to produce it myself.
Life is crazy and it’s got a lot of blemishes, and I believe that music should too. These songs all came from us locking ourselves in the studio and really having fun with the songs, and I think that’s the heart of the album.”
The nine-track Blue Sky Sundays setlist features seven originals written or co-written by Clayton, along with an interpolation of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Mississippi Kid” where he instead pays homage to his own state, as well as a cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason” in which his soulful vocals are sure to shine.
Check out the full track list below, including the that Clayton has already released prior to the album announcement. Otherwise, go ahead and mark your calendars for February 28, because Blue Sky Sundays is coming in hot.
“Let You Down”
“Dirt Roads of Red”
“Madelene”
“Slow and Steady”
“Arkansas Kid”
“Give Me One Reason”
“High Hopes & Low Expectations”
“Dance Another Dance”
“Goodnight”