Oak Ridge Boys Change it Up

The Oak Ridge Boys performing at the 2005 CMA Music Festival. Photo courtesy of the Country Music Association.

Sept. 16, 2008 — The Oak Ridge Boys made a rather surprising appearance this year on Shooter Jennings’ album The Wolf, where they performed on a song called "Slow Train."

Shooter’s dangerous rock-edged sound is a lot different than the gospel-based harmonies that propel the Oaks, but the group got along well with both Shooter — the son of Waylon Jennings — and producer David Cobb, and as a result, David’s producing a new album on the Oaks that should come out in the spring.

"Shooter is out there a little bit like his father was," bass singer Richard Sterban told The Abilene Reporter-News. "He doesn't do the typical Nashville thing, you know. And exactly the same thing with David Cobb with producing."

Shooter wrote a song for the album titled "The Boys Are Back," and Shooter’s mom — Waylon’s wife — Jessi Colter plays piano on one track. The album’s vocal tracks were recorded differently than the Oaks’ albums have been cut in several decades, with some of the tracks featuring all four group members — Richard, Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall and William Lee Golden — huddled around one microphone. It suggests a more unified vocal front.

"We got kind of a group feel that way, and we are really happy with the way it turned out," Richard allowed.

The Oaks have currently put a private New Year’s Eve show up for bidding on eBay, with a minimum starting price of $25,000. It’s believed to be the first time in history that a major act sold a date via the Internet’s largest auction site.