New York, NY (Top40 Charts) On October 9, Muscle Shoals legend Donnie Fritts will release a new album, Oh My Goodness through the Florence, Alabama-based Single Lock Records (Steelism, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Dylan LeBlanc). The album is the first to be produced by John Paul White, formerly of the Grammy-wining duo The Civil Wars, along with Ben Tanner of the
Alabama Shakes. Oh My Goodness features an all-star cast of contributors including
Brittany Howard of The
Alabama Shakes, Jason Isbell, John Prine,
Amanda Shires, The Secret Sisters, Spooner Oldham and many more.
"People don't make records with 71 year-old guys," says Fritts. John Paul White, co-founder of Single Lock Records, befriended Donnie in 2013 when he asked him to play at the Muscle Shoals documentary premiere in Florence. Later, John Paul insisted the two cut an album.
"John Paul came by the house and I just started playing songs on the Wurlitzer piano. John Paul said, if we do this album, you just play that Wurlitzer, sing the songs, and we'll build around it."
Ann Powers of NPR
Music premiered "Errol Flynn," the first song to be released from the album, and said "Fritts has only recorded a few solo albums - his syrupy drawl and esoteric pleasure - but those who love him know that few can frame a tale the way he can." Listen to the track here:
"This album means so much to me," Donnie says. "I thought I wouldn't get another shot. It's the most personal and important album to me. It's one of the most special things I ever got to do in my life."
Donnie Fritts is a Florence, Ala. native and one of many local musical luminaries. He's a lauded songwriter, noted for his tracks "We Had It All" (recorded by scores of artists from
Waylon Jennings and
Dolly Parton to
Ray Charles & The Rolling Stones) and "Breakfast in Bed" which he co-wrote with Eddie Hinton for Dusty Springfield's album Dusty in Memphis. He played and travelled with Kris Kristofferson's band for nearly 20 years, and has released three previous albums-- Prone to Lean, Everybody's Got a Song, and the Dan Penn-produced One Foot in the Groove.
With Oh My Goodness, the septuagenarian has effectively bridged Muscle Shoals's hallowed funky sound with the new brigade of Shoals musicians of today, producing a refined album distinctly his own.
On July 22, Donnie Fritts and John Paul White will take part in the Muscle Shoals
All Stars performance event at Lincoln Center out of
Doors featuring Patterson Hood, Bettye LaVette, Sam Moore, and Dan Penn. For more information please visit: https://lcoutofdoors.org/events/muscle-shoals-all-star-band.
"What you see is what you get, and what you get is pretty f***ing good..." - Billy Bob Thornton
"I think being a genuine person leads to making genuine art and Donnie and his comrades have made some of the most genuine art that I've ever consumed." -Jason Isbell
"I don't know if he's ever gotten the credit he's due. [Young songwriters] can learn humility from Donnie Fritts… along with about a hundred other things." - T Bone Burnett
"We like talent no matter who's got it and Donnie's got talent, you can't lie. You can't hide it." - Willie Nelson
Track List:
1. Errol Flynn
2. If It's Really Gotta Be This Way
3.
Memphis Women and Chicken
4. The Oldest Baby in the World
5. Tuscaloosa 1962
6. Them Old Love Songs
7. Foolish Heart
8. Lay It Down
9. Good As New
10. Temporarily Forever Mine
11. Choo Choo Train
12. Oh My Goodness
Find Donnie Fritts online at:
www.funkydonniefritts.com
www.facebook.com/donniefrittsmusic
