Junior Brown, ‘Phantom of the Opry’ – Exclusive Song Premiere

A lifelong country music fan, singer-guitarist Junior Brown first garnered attention in the early 1990s with his unique double-neck "guit-steel" guitar (his own invention) and some striking music videos for such tunes as "Highway Patrol" and "My Wife Thinks You're Dead."

Since his recording debut, his albums have included 12 Shades of Brown, Guit With It and Semi Crazy. Now, for the first time in seven years, he returns with the just-released six-song-EP called Volume Ten, which features a tune that's perfectly timed for Halloween, called "Phantom of the Opry." (Listen to the song below.)

Listen to 'Phantom of the Opry'

"I grew up listening to the Grand Ole Opry and I had some deep feelings when they moved from the Ryman to Opryland in 1974," Junior tells The Boot. "It was like it lost some of its intimacy and was about big business. It was no longer about the farm ... The good news is that the Opry is back where it belongs and they have done a lot to rediscover and preserve its roots. There's nothing like standing on that stage at the Ryman and feeling the spirit of those that made it what it is."

Junior wrote five of the six songs on the new release, which also includes "Hang Up and Drive," "Apathy Waltz," "I'm Headed Back to Austin Tonight," "Trust Me" and "Almost to Tulsa," an instrumental dedicated to its writer, the late Buddy Charleton.

Born in Indiana, Junior is a longtime resident of Austin, Texas. For more information, including a list of his upcoming shows, click here.