Singer and songwriter Christian Parker has taken on The Byrds’ album Sweethearts of the Rodeo for an album project reimagining those tracks, marking his sixth studio album. On August 18th, 2023, Parker will release his version, dubbed Sweethearts, with support from pianist Earl Poole Ball and pedal steel from JayDee Maness, both of whom played on the original record back in 1968.
In addition to the original eleven songs on Sweethearts of the Rodeo, Parker has included three more classics: “I Still Miss Someone,” “Satisfied Mind,” and “Drugstore Truck Driving Man.”
Parker has shared the first single from Sweethearts, the album-opening “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere”.
Parker shares:
I first heard this song by Bob Dylan on an acoustic guitar. But I was hooked when I listened to the opening pedal steel guitar on the Byrds album. This song was in my repertoire for decades, and I felt like I was recording an old friend. Tracer James’ interpretation of Lloyd Greens’ pedal steel guitar opens Sweethearts up perfectly and having Earl Poole Ball in the studio, who played piano on the original version, was magical for me.
Sweethearts Tracklist:
You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere
I Am A Pilgrim
The Christian Life
You Don’t Miss Your Water
You’re Still On My Mind
Pretty Boy Floyd
I Still Miss Someone
Hickory Wind
One Hundred Years From Now
Blue Canadian Rockies
Life In Prison
Nothing Was Delivered
Satisfied Mind
Drugstore Truck Driving Man
