Chris Stapleton
"From a Room: Volume 1"
(Universal (ASTERISK)(ASTERISK)(ASTERISK))
It's not just any old room that's referenced in the title of Chris Stapleton's follow-up to his 2015 CMA award-sweeping "Traveller." It's Studio A, the Music City studio founded by Chet Atkins and Owen Bradley in 1965 and saved from demolition in 2014. Working again with producer Dave Cobb, the burly voiced songwriter and stinging guitarist, Stapleton went into the hallowed room and cut eight songs that he wrote while trying to make it as a country songwriter, pre-"Traveller," plus a cover of "Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning," originally recorded by Willie Nelson. (Nelson's harmonica player, Mickey Raphael, is present on several tracks, as is Stapleton's wife, Morgane, who's a standout star at his live shows.) Stapleton's rugged, soulful voice burrows down into the blues on "I Was Wrong" and "Death Row" as he luxuriates in his troubles, and he amuses himself with the empty-pocketed pot smoker's tale of woe "Them Stems." By recording old, back-catalog tunes, Stapleton wisely sidesteps the pressure of following up a blockbuster release, and, at 33 minutes, "From a Room" leaves you wanting more. Which will be coming soon: "Volume 2" is due in the fall.
_Dan DeLuca
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