John Paul White The Hurting Kind LP

2020 Stereophile Magazine Record to Die For!

Leading up to the sessions for 2019's The Hurting Kind, White was inspired by artists like Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison, Chet Atkins and Bill Porter. Drawing on these timeless influences, White sought out classic writers like Whisperin' Bill Anderson and Bobby Braddock to collaborate with. "Coming out of each and every one of these situations, I got a resounding thumbs-up that I was on that right track," says White of the collaborations. "I didn't need anybody else's approval after that."

The Hurting Kind was recorded at Sun Drop Sound, White's new home studio that he converted from an old, turn-of-the-century home in the historic district of Florence, AL, and at legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL. The record was co-produced with Ben Tanner (Alabama Shakes) and features additional contributions from a core group of musicians including Jon Radford (Leigh Nash, Odessa) and Reed Watson on drums, Pat Bergeson (Chet Atkins, Emmylou Harris) on electric guitar, Jon Estes (Robyn Hitchcock, Kesha) and David Hood (Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section) on bass and Lillie Mae (Jack White) on fiddle, plus guest vocals from Lee Ann Womack and background vocals from Erin Rae and The Secret Sisters.

As I wrote in my Stereophile review (Vol.42 No.9), 'the songwriting is stellar throughout.' With time, I've become more certain of this observation, as I've looked for albums to equal or top it. If you haven't bought it yet, here is your second reminder. It's an R2D4 near-triple threat: great music, great performance, and almost great sound. White is currently credited as part of the resurgence of folk/countrypolitan/ Americana, but when he finally gets his due, he'll be regarded simply as one of our greatest songwriters.