John Oates to Release New Album, ‘Arkansas’

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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member John Oates—half of the legendary Hall and Oates duo—has teamed with a group of musicians associated with the Americana genre to record a new solo album, Arkansas. Scheduled for release on Feb. 2, the project is Oates’ first for the Thirty Tigers label.

Pre-order CD here.

Pre-order the LP here.

According to a press release, “The project began as a tribute to Oates’ idol, [bluesman] Mississippi John Hurt. During a series of Nashville recording sessions, it evolved to become a unique collection drawing from a wide range of Oates’ musical influences.”

Asked about the style and sound of Arkansas, Oates says, in the release, “It’s like Dixieland, dipped in bluegrass, and salted with Delta blues.”

John Oates

The album was recorded at Addiction Studios in Nashville and produced by Oates and David Kalmusky, who also engineered and mixed it. Says the release, “The sonic glue that cements the project is ‘The Good Road Band.’” Other tracks include the Emmett Miller classic “Anytime” from 1924 as well as the Jimmie Rodgers tune, “Miss the Mississippi and You,” from 1932. Reimagined traditional Delta, country blues and ragtime selections salute legendary artists like Mississippi John Hurt and Blind Blake. Two new original songs by Oates are also included on the album.

Related: Oates’ musical partner, Daryl Hall, does not like the term “blue-eyed soul”

The lineup consists of Sam Bush on mandolin, Russ Pahl on pedal steel, Guthrie Trapp on electric guitar, Steve Mackey on bass, Nathaniel Smith on cello and Josh Day on drums and percussion.

Track Listing
Anytime
Arkansas
My Creole Belle
Pallate Soft and Low
Miss The Mississippi and You
Stack O Lee
That’ll Never Happen No More
Dig Back Deep
Lord Send Me
Spike Driver Blues

Listen to the title track from Arkansas

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