Watson goes "Insane"

The album was recorded in Austin with producer Lloyd Maines (Robert Earl Keen, Jerry Jeff Walker) and via Red House/Ameripolitan Records on CD, digital, and vinyl.

Watson is in Austin this week for South X South West.. He will appear tonight on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live from SxSW when he'll join the house band Cleto and the Cletones broadcasting live from SxSW. Watson will also MC the first SxSW "Ameripolitan" showcase featuring rockabilly, Texas swing, outlaw country and honky tonk.

Album highlights include "Jonesin' For Jones," a love song to the music of the George Jones; "A Day At A Time," a song about "getting by by barely getting by"; "Call Me Insane," the moody title track; and "Mamas Don't Let Your Cowboys Grow Up To Be Babies," which is the only cover song on the album (written by Tony Joe White/Ed and Sally Bruce) and an answer song to the Waylon Jennings/Willie Nelson hit.

"Call Me Insane" was recorded in Austin by Watson and his touring band, "His Lone Stars": Don Pawlak (pedal steel), Mike Bernal (drums and percussion), and Chris Crepps (upright bass and background vocals). Watson played electric guitar throughout. They were joined in the studio by Danny Levin on piano, Jon Blondell (trombone), Joey Colarusso (saxophone), and Ricky White (trumpet), a ka the Honky-tonk horn section. Maines added acoustic guitar.

"Doing over 300 shows a year and a plethora of recording projects through the years, the Lone Stars are a part of me as much as my right hand" Watson said. "They know what I want them to play on my songs before I even know."

"Having known Lloyd over 20 years and worked with him as a musician, I knew he was a great guy and picker," Watson says. "But having Lloyd produce your record is like letting your mom in your kitchen. You know you gonna like what comes out and it's amazing how such basic ingredients can be made even better. He is an artists' artist."

"I've been a Dale Watson fan since I played steel guitar on some of his early records," Maines said. "My early musical influences are the same as Dale's. We both grew up playing 'real' country music. Dale is one of a very short list of today's artists who still keeps it 'real country.' I'm honored that he asked me to produce his new record. I think he knew that I would maintain the integrity of his passion for the music."