The Red Clay Strays go live; Yoakam returns; Ramsey gets into Xmas

Friday, November 15, 2024 – Fresh off their new studio album, "Made By These Moments," The Red Clay Strays return with "Live At The Ryman" on RCA Records. Recorded during the band's sold-out, three-night headline debut at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium earlier this fall, the album features songs from across their catalog including "Ramblin'," Dave Cobb produced the 11-song set.

Dwight Yoakam's "Brighter Days" is his first album in nine years, released through Via Records/Thirty Tigers. Among the songs is "I Don't Know How To Say Goodbye (Bang Bang Boom Boom)" with Post Malone. Written and recorded over the last three years, Brighter Days features 12 new songs written/co-written by Yoakam, as well as three covers — "Keeping On The Sunny Side" by the Carter Family, "Bound Away" by Cake and "Time Between" written by Chris Hillman of The Byrds

Mason Ramsey is out with a six-song EP for the holidays, "Merry Christmas Baby" on Atlantic Records. Ramsey goes traditional with such songs as "Silent Night," "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" and "Blue Christmas." He also includes a new song, "Waiting On You (For Christmas)."

"Dolly Parton & Family: Smoky Mountain DNA – Family, Faith & Fables" is out today via Owepar Entertainment. Dolly's paternal Parton family and her maternal family, the Owens. Both families' legacies are traced from their origins in the British Isles of the 1600s to their home today in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.

Five years after putting out the collaboration CD, "Reboot," Brooks & Dunn return with "Reboot 2" on Sony Music Nashville. This time, a new generation of today's artists—from country to beyond — received full creative freedom to join forces with the duo. The release features 18 songs with Lainey Wilson, Morgan Wallen, Marcus King Band, Megan Moroney, Warren Zeiders, Jelly Roll, Riley Green, The Cadillac Three, Halestorm, Mitchell Tenpenny, The Earls of Leicester, Jake Worthington, Hailey Whitters, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, HARDY, ERNEST, A Thousand Horses and Corey Kent.

Muscadine Bloodline released a surprise six-song set, "The Supply Drop." Only it's no longer available as the Mobile, Ala. group pressed only 800 copies on vinyl, and all were sold.

Anthony Raneri, singer/songwriter of alternative outfit Bayside, debuted his latest solo EP, "Everyday Royalty," via Equal Vision Records. The first solo effort since 2015's "Sorry State of Mind," Raneri, who lives in Nashville, collaborated with co-writers and producers like Sam Tinnesz (Dashboard Confessional, Royal & the Serpent) and Joey Hyde (Jake Owen, Ryan Hurd).

Hunter Hayes is out with a three-song EP, " Lost & Found, is out. Among the songs is a re-recording of his hit "Somebody's Heartbreak," originally released in 2011 on Hunter's self-titled debut album.

"George Jones: The Lost Nashville Sessions" (Country Rewind Records) originally was recorded for radio airplay in the 1970s. The 16 songs were enhanced by bringing the audio quality up to current standards. This was achieved by adding instrumentation and background vocals beneath Jones' voice where needed. Songs include "The Race Is On," "The Grand Tour," "White Lightnin'," and "Tender Years."