Trace Adkins Saves the ‘Nasty’ Songs for Special Project

Trace Adkins says he's the man when it comes to recording songs that are a little left-of-center from what most country singers will tackle. "I'm the last home for songwriters when they write a song that is so nasty that nobody else will touch it," Trace tells The Boot. "I'm the one that hears those songs, and I've gotten some real nasty stuff!"

The singer says he started recording those songs a few years ago because he found they enhance his live performances. "I want stuff that helps the energy of the show, the tempo of the show, the mood of the show. Attending a show should be an energetic release for people and so I've started to focus more on songs that I think will give people that, instead of taking them to a more somber place. I'm gonna do a ballad or two in every show, of course. But most of the songs will be uptempo and the audience will be up and moving when I'm singing them."

One of the songs he recorded for his latest project, 'Cowboy's Back in Town,' is 'Brown Chicken, Brown Cow.' The expression is a common imitation of the bass guitar riff that many pornographic movies used in the 1970s (bow chica wow wow). It can also be used when referring to something scandalous or sexual -- although Trace actually encountered a variation of the phrase in a rather unlikely place.

"I heard this phrase on the Disney Channel, 'bow chickie wow wow,' and I remember saying to my wife Rhonda, 'Why are they playing that on the Disney Channel?' Kids don't know, they think it's funny. I had heard that old joke, not good and not even funny, and then John Rich was doing his CMT show 'Gone Country,' and he would end every telecast with 'brown chicken, brown cow.'

"Then Kenny Beard and Casey Beathard and Rivers Rutherford wrote this song and played it for me and it made me laugh. I said, 'I'm gonna cut this' and Kenny said, 'No you're not,' and I said 'Yes, I am, and it's not gonna be on that other record either, it's on this one.' It's wholesome, if you listen to the song, it's a married couple enjoying each others company. There are no dirty words in it. If it's dirty then you made it dirty in your own mind. There is a voyeuristic aspect to it."

The 'other' album Trace is referring to is one that would include all the songs he hears that are not suitable for his regular releases. "I'm gonna do an album of those songs under an assumed name. And no, I'm gonna tell you the name. I've already recorded three of them."

When asked if he doesn't think people will recognize his voice, Trace just laughs. "That's what I said ... [people will say] 'hey, that guy sounds like Trace Adkins.' Just for the record, this is not a Chris Gaines thing," Trace adds, referring to Garth Brooks' infamous alter ego. "I just want to record some of this hilarious stuff that is way too nasty to play at Wal-Mart."

While fans wait for news on the 'other ' album, Trace continues to promote 'Cowboy's Back in Town.' He'll be one of the artists on hand September 28 to celebrate when the Grand Ole Opry House re-opens after being closed for five months following repairs from the May flood in Nashville.