In this week’s crop of new tunes, Willie Nelson and Ringo Starr issue sterling new songs, once again showcasing their timeless approaches, while Drew Baldridge follows his breakthrough hit with a new track celebrating steely determination and fortitude. Meanwhile, Neil Perry (known for his work as part of The Band Perry) makes his solo debut, and Mōriah nods to her heritage on her first country song.
Check out all of these and more in Billboard‘s roundup of the best country songs of the week below.
Willie Nelson, “Lost Cause”
Over the years, the 91-year-old Nelson has issued tribute projects to artists including Frank Sinatra and Ray Price. On his upcoming LP, the Micah Nelson-produced Last Leaf on the Tree (out Nov. 1 via Legacy Records), Nelson again showcases his unparalleled artistic range, re-imagining songs made popular by a cavalcade of rock, jazz and soul artists, among them Neil Young, Keith Richards and Nina Simone. In his emotionally intricate interpretation of Beck’s “Lost Cause” (which Beck originally recorded on his 2002 album Sea Change), Nelson’s voice effortlessly embodies weariness and resignation as he looks squarely and resolutely at the conclusion of a relationship on line such as “I’m tired of fightin’/ Fighting for a lost cause.” Mournful guitar and subdued harmonies surround, making this one of Nelson’s most evocative vocal renderings.
Drew Baldridge, “Tough People”
Baldridge follows his breakthrough hit “She’s Somebody’s Daughter” with this tribute to determined people from all walks of life, including grandmothers fighting through pain to work shifts waiting tables, families with children battling cancer, a community devastated by a tornado, and a policeman running toward danger in a school building. While weaving the different heartbreaking scenarios together, the song offers an uplifting voice of motivation to stay strong during challenging times.
Ringo Starr, “Time on My Hands”
Throughout his decades in the spotlight, Starr has made no secret of his passion for country music, from the Beatles’ version of Buck Owens’ “Act Naturally” in 1965 (Owens and Starr would record a duet of the song in 1989), to Starr’s sophomore solo effort, 1970’s Beaucoups of Blues. Ringo Starr again dips into country-inspired sounds, welcoming several of Nashville’s esteemed artists on his upcoming country album, Look Up (out in January), including Alison Krauss, Billy Strings, Larkin Poe and Molly Tuttle. “Time on my Hands” was written by T Bone Burnett, Paul Kennerly and Daniel Tashian. This excellently crafted song puts Starr’s superb vocal in the spotlight, alongside Paul Franklin’s masterful steel guitar playing, making for an enticing first look at the album.
Neil Perry, “If You Can’t, Don’t”
Perry, known for his hits as part of sibling trio The Band Perry, makes his solo debut on this raw, heartfelt track. “At times I see the devil in myself/ Through the cracks of who I’m meant to be,” he sings with his conversational storytelling style front and center, elevated by refined production, as he implores a loved one to accept both his strengths and quirks, but doesn’t hold it against them if they can’t. He approaches his solo single with a more storyteller/folk tilt than his pop-country work as part of TBP, but it’s a style that suits his vocal admirably.
Josiah and the Bonnevilles with Trampled By Turtles, “Rocky Mountain High”
Josiah Leming joins forces with Trampled By Turtles for a version of this John Denver classic, offering an intricate swirl of guitar, banjo and harmonies. Earlier this year, they collaborated on the song during Trampled By Turtles’ show at Red Rocks, with Josiah and the Bonnevilles opening. Their crisp rendering builds upon Denver’s version, creating an open-hearted, freewheeling take on this timeless ode to the picturesque mountains of Colorado.
Mōriah, “Hasta Mañana“
Mexican-American songwriter Mōriah has previously earned hits in the Contemporary Christian music genre, and is known for her work on films and television series such as Unsung Hero and The Chosen. But with her country debut, she delves into her passion for both her roots and country music, melding country sounds, mariachi flair and her own dusky, dulcet vocal for an outing that is both extremely promising and proudly confident.
