Country legend Jamey Johnson dropped a twofer on Friday, gifting fans with a pair of new singles: “What A View,” an original, and “Trudy (feat. Randy Houser),” a Charlie Daniels cover. The songs follow two additional new titles Johnson released in May that effectively ended his prolonged hiatus from studio work.
While these tunes are arriving simultaneously, they could not be more different. “What A View” is a relaxed ballad that has Johnson reflecting on the beautiful scenery that is his woman. Featuring an equal measure of swooning steel guitar and harmonica in the background, it has a slight beachy feel redolent of the late, great Jimmy Buffett. Showcasing Jamey’s softer side, it amounts to awesome stuff.
“Trudy,” on the other hand, is a Southern rock jammer like its original version, although with more of a New Orleans-style vibe. Johnson and Houser’s version features a funky brass section filling the gaps between the two singers’ soulful sangin’, a funky bass line, and a fiery rockabilly piano.
Johnson’s 2024 releases mark a return to recording after a concussion sent him into a break from dropping new music. In an interview clip the singer shared to Instagram, he said:
“Lately, I’ve been spending it (downtime) all in the studio. It’s just been such a long time, and I really wanted to write again.”
This is good news for longtime fans, including us. We look forward to hearing where he goes from here! In the meantime, listen to “What A View” and “Trudy” below:
Photo credit: Joseph Cash