Not even sure how to cold open this one. Basically, every November I stumble into my bluegrass and folk playlist. It’s like clockwork. Never intentional, just some higher power that wants me to blast Tyler Childers in my ears for the preceding 4-6 weeks. Where has that gotten me this year? Well, one of the greats. So let’s dive in.
Christopher Alvin Stapleton rocked this world in 2015 when he released his solo debut album Traveller, with the likes of anything from “Traveller” to “Tennessee Whiskey.” Since then, he was named ACM’s Artist-Songwriter of the Decade in December 2019, ranked 170 on Rolling Stone’s 200 Greatest Singers of All Time, and most-notably appeared as an extra in Game of Thrones’ “The Long Night” episode in season 8. However, it is oh so important to point out that 2015 was far from the beginning of this man’s career.
Born in Kentucky, Stapleton moved to Nashville in 1996 to study biomedical engineering at Vanderbilt, then (probably not to your surprise) dropped out to pursue music. In the following ten years, he proceeded to write over one thousand songs, co-write six number-one singles on Hot Country Songs, and was credited on albums for artists ranging from Adele to Dierks Bentley.
So when did he put his money where his mouth was and actually get a start to performing his own stuff? Well, that would be when he assembled The SteelDrivers in 2005. And now this is where I come in.
One fateful study session as the warmer season began turning, with mornings of frost and evenings of crisp air (two weeks ago), intriguing guitar plucks and a beautiful Stapleton voice crept into my headphones. I was immediately consumed by the music and immensely confused by the name of the artist… The SteelDrivers. As Slant Magazine’s Jonathan Keefe describes, The SteelDrivers, “… a five-piece outfit composed of veteran Nashville session musicians, is the kind of break from tradition that can bring some much needed new energy to a tired genre.” After road-testing their bluegrass tunes in clubs and festivals, fiddler Tammy Rogers, mandolin player Mike Henderson, bassist Mike Fleming, banjoist Richard Bailey, and singer Chris Stapleton released their debut album in January 2008. It quickly peaked at #57 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. Upon a recent listen, this bluegrass beaut infiltrated my life and hopped right onto my list of no-skips albums.
Never woulda hitchhiked to Birmingham
If it hadn’t been for love
What an opening line. Never been to Birmingham and maybe I won’t, if not for love, of course. A simple and almost spontaneous-sounding start to one of Stapleton’s all time best songs, “If It Hadn’t Been For Love.” The isolated vocals, sporadic and amazing fiddle moments, and simple rhythms remind me of all that is good and great with bluegrass. It always sounds like they’re playing live. Pure talent and connection right there. Nothing too pre-fabricated, just some off-the-dome fiddling.
Following a listen to this song, I’ve been convinced that Stapleton must’ve helped with or inspired Taylor Swift’s “Carolina.” These two songs are a perfect pair, reflecting murderous themes in a folky way.
The two songs to follow on the release are also my next two favorites on the album: “Hear The Willow Cry” and “Sticks That Made Thunder.” The first starts fast and strong, immediately throwing you into a strings melody and awe-striking vocal harmonies. Hearing Rogers and Stapleton’s coupled voices together reminds me of how necessary it is for artists to play in bands in addition to their solo careers. It’s so much harder to find that kind of vocal chemistry in his solo work, meanwhile this band just casually spits it out at us. It reminds me of the harmonies you find all over Watchhouse’s wonderful release Such Jubilee.
The second song mentioned above, “Sticks That Made Thunder,” stands at an intensity greater than IIHBFL but more dialed back than HTWC. It was made for easy listening. It fits right in there with Flatland Cavalry and Evan Honer.
Some more of my favorites featured on the release are “Drinkin’ Dark Whiskey,” “Midnight Tears,” and “Heaven Sent.” But remember, this album is on my no-skips list, and it should really be taken as one complete work. Keefe of Slant Magazine also reported, “The robust arrangements overwhelm a couple of weaker songs–’If It Hadn’t Been For Love’ and ‘Hear the Willow Cry’ are pure filler–but it’s to the band’s credit that their original compositions are able to weather the vigorous performances.” So clearly there’s a lot to like (and maybe consider filler, depending on the party). But wow today’s big takeaway for me is that Stapleton’s career didn’t start in 2015. It has a long-spanning history sprinkled with collaborations with many greats. This twenty-year (and counting) career has aged like fine, fine wine.
I don’t want to take away from the rest of The SteelDrivers, because they put out one incredible album. I’m just amazed by how long it took me to get here.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_SteelDrivers_(album)
https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/the-steeldrivers-the-steeldrivers/
Iz FM 
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