Caleb Caudle- Better Hurry Up

Caleb Caudle will be releasing his new album “Better Hurry Up” on April 3rd. It his eighth studio album and follows his well-received 2018 release “Crushed Coins”. While that album saw Caudle exploring new sounds, this new release shows an artist that has completed his mission. He didn’t do it by himself. An A-list cast of musicians was assembled. They included Mickey Raphael on harmonica (Willie Nelson), Dennis Crouch on bass (Elton John, Leon Russell), Fred Eltringham on drums (Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow), Russ Pahl on pedal steel (Kacey Musgraves, Dan Auerbach), Laur Joamets on guitar (Sturgill Simpson, Drivin’ N Cryin’), and, on keyboards, Pat Sansone (Wilco) and Rhett Huffman (American Aquarium). Guest vocalists include Elizabeth Cook, John Paul White, Courtney Marie Andrews and the Jayhawks’ Gary Louris. Fellow Jayhawk John Jackson produced the record. Place is also important if you are going to make a career defining album. Jackson and Caudle chose the Cash Cabin in Hendersonville, TN. Johnny Cash built the cabin in 1979 and later turned it into a studio. In addition to Cash, artists such as Loretta Lynn, Emmylou Harris, Jamey Johnson and Todd Snider have recorded at Cash Cabin.

A big sound emerged from that little cabin and the result is the most diverse of all of Caudle’s eight albums. Vibrant lyrics that are personal and reflective are delivered with Caudles husky voice. They are at times warm and other times foreboding, but always sincere. They recorded “Better Hurry Up” in a few days, which gives the album a live feel. According to an initial press release, the sound of the songs Caudle wrote comes from his immersing himself in the Leon Russell, J.J. Cale, Dr. John, the Band, and Little Feat. The sound is funky, bluesy, country and even a bit psychedelic at times. It is a stew pot of Southern style for sure.

The title track and first single features all of the background singers listed above plus Caudle’s parents and wife. The background vocals sound like a Gospel chorus that balance his ominous lyrics about chasing dreams and fighting urgently to achieve them. The second single “Monte Carlo” is my favorite. Gruff vocals and a Funky backbeat chronicle a road trip tale. Elizabeth Cook provides backing vocals.

“Better Hurry Up” is an album that seems to take all the influences Caleb Caudle has explored in his career and assemble them into sound that is uniquely his own. It is a Southern Gothic masterpiece in many ways.