‘Buddy and Jim’ Album Teams Two Americana Icons

The pairing of Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale on the new album, Buddy and Jim, was a long time coming. The old friends, both considered master musicians and pioneers of Americana music, have collaborated many times over the years. They've shared the stage at the Americana Music Awards, where Jim served as host while Buddy led the All-Star Band, and also have their own radio show, "The Buddy and Jim Show," on SiriusXM's Outlaw Country Radio.

"We ran out of ideas for other things to do," Buddy explains to CMT. "The well was dry. We couldn't come up with anything else, although Jim does have four other records in the can and is working on three other projects. It's just timing."

The two pals have a deep and creative history, starting in New York City in the early '80s, when country music was just beginning to make its mark in the Big Apple.

"It seemed so ridiculous to move from Austin to New York City, but there was something happening there that was really cool," Buddy recalls of he and wife Julie Miller's decision to leave the Lone Star state. "We were young. We thought, 'Nobody's making records in Austin. They make records in New York.' We didn't think far enough to realize they don't make country records in New York. But we came, and that's where Jim and I met."

The musicians eventually ended up relocating to Nashville, with Jim renting out a room from Buddy and Julie for more than a year. Since then, the men have both gone on to work with and write for iconic artists, including Emmylou Harris, Robert Plant, Shawn Colvin, George Strait and the Dixie Chicks, while keeping their friendship strong over the years. So when they realized they both had three days off together, they decided to use the short time span to record Buddy and Jim, and make it a clear representation of their friendship by making it a true duets album.

"I think the sound is great," Buddy maintains. "The sound of two male voices is a tough sound. It's not sweet. It's tough. But I think maybe some of the songs guys don't wanna sing, because it's a lot of love songs. Two guys singing a love song is a little weird ... but we don't care."

Buddy and Jim wrote or co-wrote each of the 11 songs on the album. Order a copy here.

Buddy & Jim track listing:

1. "I Lost My Job of Loving You"

2. "The Train That Carried My Gal From Town"

3. "That's Not Even Why I Love You"

4. "Down South in New Orleans"

5. "It Hurts Me"

6. "Vampire Girl"

7. "Forever and a Day"

8. "Lonely One in This Town"

9. "Looking for a Heartache"

10. "I Want to Do Everything for You"