Regarding the song selection of his new album, Rice said, “In 2012, I put out Pirate Sessions I and II, where they were packaged together. I did that with Florida Georgia Line and Chase Rice. I did that as a side project, but it took me several years to find the songs I wanted to find to make Pirate Sessions III.”
Rice continued, “I really like the response that I’m getting from this. Just hearing the feedback from all the fans, and knowing how many fans I have, is really great.”
He selected “Island Eyes” as his personal favorite track on the album. “My friend Kristen Rogers is singing on that, and that’s the first time I ever had a female vocalist on any Pirate Sessions song,” he said.
The album features songs that were co-written by Jesse Rice, Trent Summar, Stephen B. Liles and Eric Gunderson of Love & Theft, Chase Rice, and Clayton Anderson, among others. It also includes country artist Michael Ray providing guest vocals on “88 In The Shade.”
Rice listed the late Bob Marley as his dream collaboration choice, and he complimented Marshall Tucker Band. “Bob would be my guy,” he said. “I’m a huge Bob Marley fan.”
He had nothing but the kindest words about the southern rock group, Marshall Tucker Band. “One of the guys from the Marshall Tucker Band, George McCorkle, who moved to my hometown after he retired from music, and he opened up a glass shop. My dad and him would play in garage bands together. As a kid, that was great, since I would have a Marshall Tucker Band member at my house hanging out, and playing music with my dad. They were a huge influence on me,” he said.
Rice’s new album, The Pirate Sessions III, is available on iTunes.
To learn more about Jesse Rice and his new CD, check out his official website and Facebook page.
