Tim Easton said of Texas singer-songwriter Adam Carroll, “Adam Carroll is East Texas’ own Shakespeare of song…. His songs belong in Texan and Bayou anthropology courses, but mostly they should belong to your car stereo speakers.” We couldn’t agree more as Carroll’s songs are genuine, poetic, literary and relatable tales of life in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.
This coming Friday, October 28th Austin-based Eight 30 Records is releasing a tribute to the influential Carroll entitled Highway Prayer: A Tribute to Adam Carroll, which includes takes on Carroll’s music by leading Americana luminaries like the Band of Heathens, Hayes Carll, Tim Easton, James McMurtry, and Slaid Cleaves.
Today, we have the Band of Heathens‘ superlative harmonies and pristine musicianship driving this most affecting take on “Oklahoma Gypsy Shuffler”, a tribute song to Leon Russell.
The Band of Heathens’ Gordy Quist says, “Comparisons to John Prine, Townes Van Zandt or Guy Clark seem to get thrown around every time a new songwriter comes hard-traveling down troubadour road. Adam Carroll is one of the few songwriters around that has actually written a catalog of songs that can hang in the company of the all-time greats. With sideways humor, authentic delivery and depth of real life, he’s a master of storytelling and of creating characters you swear you’ve known for a hundred years.
“It was a real honor to be asked to throw down a greasy Tulsa groove on Adam’s poetic, low-down, 4/4-timing, 3.2-drinking tribute to Leon Russell, “Oklahoma Gypsy Shuffler”. One of my favorite songs by one of my favorite songwriters about one of my favorite rock ‘n’ roll legends.”
TRACK LIST
“Screen Door” • James McMurtry
“Girl with the Dirty Hair” • Hayes Carll
“South of Town” • Slaid Cleaves
“Oklahoma Gypsy Shuffler” • The Band of Heathens
“Hi Fi Love” • Jamie Lin Wilson (of The Trishas)
“Lil’ Runaway” • Verlon Thompson
“Rain • Scott Nolan
“Old Town Rock N Roll” • Matt the Electrician
“Black Flag Blues” • Tim Easton and Aaron Lee Tasjan
“Smoky Mountain Taxi” • Danny Barnes
“Errol’s Song” • Jason Eady
“Red Bandana Blues” • Terri Hendrix
“Karaoke Cowboy” • Noel McKay and Brennen Leigh
“Home Again” • Mando Saenz
“Highway Prayer” • Walt Wilkins
Bonus track: “My Only Good Shirt” • Adam Carroll