Recently, we took a trip with Randy from Nashville back to his home town of Lake, MS. We made several stops along the way, visited people and places that influenced Randy as a young boy who dreamed of becoming a country singer. We hit Memphis for ribs and Graceland, Clarksdale, MS for the Blues Museum and a performance at Morgan Freeman’s Blues Club, his childhood apartment and elementary school for a surprise meeting with his first music teacher, his high school, old stomping grounds and his Mom’s house in Lake. Dallas Davidson, who he co-wrote "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" with was along for the trip and adds some great moments as well. We have some funny moments, some serious, and a good time was had by all. Look for new episodes every Wednesday over the next few weeks!
Randy Houser photo courtesy of Universal Records South.
One listen to Randy's soulful singing is enough to convince you that you are listening to a star. His deeply felt lyrics are proof, that Randy Houser has not only lived the life of a true "Paycheck Man", but is major songwriting talent. His open-hearted, charismatic personality shines through in his debut album.
Whether getting his "Boots On" to party Country style or plunging into sadness, Randy Houser has what all great country artists have- believability. Thanks to his riveting vocal prowess, Randy is receiving great responses from both fans and radio programmers with his first single, the strikingly emotional ballad "Anything Goes". As illustrated in his breakthrough single, Randy Houser is a breathtaking vocalist with fire and conviction at his core.
Both the songs he has written and the songs he has chosen from other talented Nashville writers for this album are superb showcases for the vocal side of his talent. In addition to "Anything Goes," they include the sensual "Strange" and the ultra-cool, groove-saturated "How Many Times," the latter featuring harmony vocals by superstar Vince Gill.
Randy Houser's CD, Anything Goes, photo courtesy of Universal Records South.
1. Boots On
2. Anything Goes
3. Wild Wild West
4. Back To God
5. Something Real
6. My kind Of Country
7. Strange
8. Lie
9. Paycheck Man
10. How Many Times
11. I'll Sleep
Randy Houser photo courtesy of Universal Records South.
"Boots On" (Randy Houser / Brandon Kinney)
Melodically, the song was based on that slide-blues-guitar riff you hear. As we were sitting down to write, I started playing that lick. And I remembered something that my Daddy always told me: "If you’re going to go out, make sure you go out with your boots on." Toward the end of his life, he started drinking real bad because he was going through a divorce. He had cirrhosis. His kidneys and his liver shut down. We had this talk. He told me he didn’t want to be on the machines or any of that stuff. So I had to cut him off the machine. I was just 21 years old, and it was tough. But I will say this: He did go out with his boots on. He didn’t die; he lived. He really did.
"Anything Goes" (Brice Long / John Wayne Wiggins)
I feel so lucky to have recorded this song. The song came to me from Sarah Johnson at my publishing company, Bug/Windswept. She was reluctant about pitching me the song, because she knew I had a bunch of songs of my own. When she heard the song, it was "on hold" for Tim McGraw. When he didn’t record it, she said to me, "I have one song I want to play you." By the time it got to the second verse, I said, "I gotta have it!" There was so much soul in it. I was so passionate about the song. John and Brice wrote a modern classic in my opinion with this one. They say you should never record anything that you don’t want to sing for the rest of your life. With this song, I’m game. It’s a pleasure to sing this, every time.
"Wild Wild West" (Randy Houser / Daryl Burgess / Angelo)
We really needed something uptempo and catchy for what we thought would be the first single. My producers had expressed that we were lacking in that area, so Daryl and Angelo and myself Sat down and came up with this piece. This was very close to being our first single. Fun song.
"Back to God" (Randy Houser / Dallas Davidson)
Dallas and I were both going through tough times when we wrote this. We were thinking about what is going on in our country and our world and wondering what what it would take to fix all this mess. Then it became evident, When I say, "Back to God," I don’t mean it just from a religious standpoint. I also mean getting back to love and getting back to the days when we treated each other like we wanted to be treated. That’s the message. It’s just something that really needed to be said.
"Something Real" (Randy Houser / David Lee Murphy)
I was going through a breakup with a girlfriend and was emotionally spent. It was my first songwriting appointment with David Lee Murphy, and I didn’t feel like I had anything to write that day. Anyhow, I got there before he did and started playing my guitar and singing, "I never was all that good at being with one woman." My emotions started rushing, whether I wanted them to or not. By the time David got there, I’d written the first four lines. When he heard it, he went, "Holy cow!" So we finished it from there. He’s such a talented writer. I’d been dating around a lot when I asked a friend, "What makes you finally settle down?" He said, "I think you do it when you realize you can’t be without someone." That’s why the song says I’m "waiting for the girl I can’t just be with/I want the one I can’t be without."
"My Kinda Country" (Randy Houser / Dallas Davidson)
I wrote this as a result of playing live. I needed something that said, "Hey, shut up and listen!" You’ve gotta have those kinds of songs sometimes. It starts off with a more of a blues kind of feeling, like I was playing down in Mississippi. It’s like Mississippi rock ‘n’ roll, but it’s still country, because I’m country. I love it. I don’t know what other people think about it, but it’s fun to me.
"Strange" (Chuck Jones / Chuck Cannon)
I was playing the Bluebird with "The Chucks"(Chuck Jones/Chuck Cannon), and they busted out this song, it was just a lot of fun. These guys had the whole crowd singing "Strayanyanyayange", and it was evident that I needed to record the song.
"Lie" (Randy Houser / Reed Nielsen / Shane Minor)
From all the years spent in smoky dive bars, I heard some really ridiculous pickup lines coming from really ridiculous dudes. I’ve seen farmers turn into doctors, doctors turn into farmers, and a bunch of other false occupations. Men will pretty much say whatever they need to if it helps to get the girl. That’s what this one is about. Shane and Reed have heard the same stories from their years performing. I couldn’t have written it with two better guys.
"Paycheck Man" (Randy Houser / Danny Myrick / Derek George)
This is one of my older songs on the album; it’s probably about three years old. At the time, I was writing stuff that I could play live, and I needed some up tempo tunes. I was ready to put a band together and get out there again, so I started writing it with that in mind. I was thinking about how it was when I was down in Mississippi, with most everybody down there raising babies on minimum wage. I don’t know how the
hell folks don’t just give up; God’s grace I guess. So it’s pretty simple: We’re all paycheck people.
"How Many Times" (Jon Randall / Al Anderson)
I was really lucky to get this one, too. Jon Randall sang the crap out of this on the demo, so I was a little intimidated. I played it a few times and said, "Man, I’d like to record this, but I don’t know if I can get away with it, but I want to try." I thought it would be interesting to take a step away and do something different. Having Vince sing on it was great. I’m such a huge fan and my mama loves her some Vince Gill.
Big Al Anderson, who co-wrote this with Jon, has been kind of a teacher to me as a songwriter. I feel really fortunate to have learned from people like him.
"I’ll Sleep" (Randy Houser / Danny Myrick / Shane Minor)
It’s definitely the most personal song on the record. It’s pretty much a true story. When I was growing up, I’d visit my father in the summers. He’d sit there and play the guitar and sing. We’d sit there on the bed and play and learn together. Then I’d finally lay down, he’d sing songs, and I’d pass out. He was a great singer, too. When they told me he was dying, I went to the hospital and sat with him for two days. He was very non-responsive. The only time I’d get a response out of him was when I’d shut the door and sing. And he’d grin.