Rosanne Cash’s ‘Not Many Miles to Go’ + More New Songs You Need to Hear
From meditations on life changes to inspiring reminders to seize the day, country artists had a slew of new songs to share this week. Which one will you have on repeat this weekend?
Rosanne Cash, "Not Many Miles to Go":
Don't be fooled by the uptempo pace of "Not Many Miles to Go." Coming off of Rosanne Cash's latest album, She Remembers Everything, the song offers an ambivalent look back at a life in which the hardships sometimes -- even if only temporarily -- outweigh the good times. "There is a woman's real life, complex experiences and layered understanding of these songs," Cash said of the new album, according to Rolling Stone. "I could not have written them 10 years ago -- not even close. Time is shorter; I have more to say." She Remembers Everything is due for release on Nov. 2. -- CL
John Paul White, "My Dreams Have All Come True":
John Paul White’s “My Dreams Have All Come True” is a melancholy song with a cheerful title. The singer explains in a press release that he “wanted to write a complex song about a complex situation. Lots of changes, lots of elements. I wanted it to ebb and flow, like any relationship. It HAD to be a waltz.” Continues White, “There was a conscious effort to keep the singer calm — almost soothing, comforting — as he explains that he knows where they’re heading. In the bridge, I deliberately sought to convey something slightly different than the rest of the song. A moment where the singer isn’t quite as nonchalant, and reveals he’s falling apart. And then with the final line, he pulls himself together, and accepts his fate. Because he always knew it was coming. I also just love a sad song with a happy title.” White will perform “My Dreams Have All Come True,” along with other new material, during solo acoustic performances this fall. -- CC
Chuck Wicks, "Better Than Flowers":
After a life-threatening car accident left radio personality and singer-songwriter Chuck Wicks with a fractured skull and vertebrae, the America's Morning Show co-host underwent a grueling rehabilitation and physical therapy regimen that not only taught him a new perspective on dedication and perseverance, but also inspired him to seize the day. The result of that new mentality resulted in Wick's first new music in over two years. "It's been a while since I've put out new music, but I've been writing and recording a lot lately," Wicks shares in a press release. "When I went back in the studio to record, I decided once something was ready I'd go ahead and release it...why not?" -- CL
Nora Collins, "Plain Jane":
Nora Collins’ “Plain Jane” has an empowering and confident message for all of those who don’t feel as though they “click” with their surroundings. Throughout the song, Collins paints a picture of a girl who is struggling with growing up, fitting in and recognizing her beauty and worth. However, the singer promises that everything will work out in the end. Vince Gill adds harmonies to “Plain Jane;” according to a press release, Gill heard the song, instantly liked it and wanted to work with Collins on the track. “Plain Jane” will be included on Collins’ upcoming EP, Strings, which is coming out on Nov. 2. -- CC
Kelly Willis feat. Bruce Robison, "If I Had a Rose":
Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison have teamed up for the first time in four years for Willis’ song “If I Had a Rose,” produced by Robinson and recorded at his studio, the Bunker. "It was an honor to record again with this band of brilliant musicians,” Willis says of the recording session. “I especially love singing harmonies with Bruce in the moment as we are recording the whole song. We sing differently than if we came back and added the harmony later. It feels like magic or a party trick the way the band unravels the mystery of a song. I thought, 'So that’s how this song goes.'” -- CC