Ricky Skaggs has covered bluegrass heroes Bill Monroe and the Stanley Brothers. Now, he has covered himself.
Skaggs, who had a dozen #1 hits as a country singer before returning to his bluegrass roots in 1997, re-recorded his country hits to give them a bluegrass spin for a new project with Cracker Barrel restaurants.
The CD, The High Notes, will be released exclusively through Cracker Barrel on July 1. Among the songs he reworks are Crying My Heart Out Over You, Honey (Open That Door), Cajun Moon and Highway 40 Blues. All were originally from his illustrious Epic Records period and nine were #1 hits on the Billboard charts.
Skaggs said he has been wanting to do this for a while. “This was the perfect time and the perfect audience for it. It’s so great to sing these hit songs again. Many of these I haven’t sung since the 1990s,” he said in a statement. “I think many of the tracks came out better than the originals,” Skaggs added.
The complete track listing is as follows ..
- Crying My Heart Out Over You
- Heartbroke
- Highway 40 Blues
- I Wouldn’t Change You If I Could
- You’ve Got A Lover
- Cajun Moon
- Honey (Open That Door)
- Cat’s In The Cradle
- Uncle Pen
- Country Boy
- Lovin’ Only Me
- Somebody’s Prayin’
Skaggs, 53, has won several awards for his country and bluegrass recordings, including 13 Grammy Awards. His most recent album, Honoring The Fathers of Bluegrass: Tribute to 1946 and 1947, is currently No. 4 on the Billboard chart.
Based in Lebanon, Tennessee, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store operates 577 restaurants in 41 states. The chain has offered exclusive recordings from Alison Krauss & Union Station, Stony Point Quartet, Merle Haggard and others.
