Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2013, Bobby Bare has been one of country music’s most consistent – and most respected – singer/songwriters for over 50 years.
Between 1962 and 1982, the 82 year old enjoyed over 30 top 20 hits – timeless classics like “Detroit City,” “500 Miles Away from Home,” “Shame On Me,” “Four Strong Winds” and “Marie Laveau” – and has earned multiple Grammy nominations and wins, among many other accolades.
Things Change is his first studio LP since 2012’s Darker Than Light and features 10 tracks written by Bare, Mary Gauthier, Guy Clark and the album’s producer, Max T. Barnes. It has received positive reviews.
Unleashed yesterday (May 26), the album also includes a new version of Bare’s iconic, Grammy Award-winning (Best Country/Western Recording 1964) hit, “Detroit City,” with Chris Stapleton guesting. The song was written by Mel Tillis and Danny Dill and was originally released back in 1963.
Other tunes of note include the title track (interestingly, the accompanying video is the artist’s first foray into the medium) and “The End,” which Bare explains more about here:
Today (Saturday, May 27), Bobby Bare will return to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, where he was a member from 1964-1974, with a special performance and an in-store signing session immediately afterwards.
I put some questions to the great man himself:
What is the concept behind Things Change?
“Hoyt Axton told me: ‘A cowboy hat will blow off in a high wind, women rule the world and things change!’ After Hoyt passed away, I wrote the song. ‘Things Change’ has wisdom in it!”
How did you end up working with Chris Stapleton?
“I have known Chris for a long time and I told him when we were going to record ‘Detroit City’: ‘We are going to be like the Everly Brothers – you be Don and I’ll be Phil’.”
How do you put your albums together?
“I find good songs and then go to the studio and record them. I love great songs; I have always surrounded myself with the greatest songwriters in the world, and love every song I have recorded.”
What are your plans for the rest of 2017 and beyond?
“Since I was 10 years old, all I ever wanted to be was a country singer.”
Things Change is out now.
Bobby Bare will be appearing tonight – and signing after the show – at the Grand Ole Opry. For more information, go here.
For more on Bobby Bare, visit his official website.
