New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Shore Fire Media) The LA Times said "there couldn't be a better time for a voice this insightfully compassionate" about East Nashville's Otis Gibbs, and he'll release his new album 'Souvenirs of a Misspent Youth' (Wanamaker Recording Company) on August 19. Co-produced by Gibbs and guitarist/vocalist Thomm Jutz, 'Souvenirs of a Misspent Youth' is Gibbs' most personal and best record to date. American Songwriter premiered the first track "Ghosts of Our Fathers" earlier today. Otis dedicates the song to his father, saying, "The greatest lessons I learned from my father came when he didn't even know I was watching. This song is inspired by memories of those moments."
Watch New Video For "Ghosts of Our Fathers" at American Songwriter: https://shorefi.re/1lqe15i
Comprised of nine original songs and one cover written by Otis' longtime partner and songwriter, Amy Lashley ("Wrong Side of Gallatin"), 'Souvenirs of a Misspent Youth' is a biographical album, with songs recalling Gibbs' experience planting 7,176 trees when he worked for ten years as Nurseryman ("No Rust on My Spade"), songs loosely based on stories told to him by hobo friends around Midwestern campfires ("It Was A Train," "The Darker Side of Me"), and life on the road -"Cuzmina" is about a nine year old hitchhiker he picked up while crossing the Carpathian Mountains in Romania during a snowstorm and her family's tragic story. The album features bass by Mark Fain (Johnny Cash), pedal steel and fiddle by Fats Kaplin (Mark Knopfler), banjo and fiddle by Justin Moses (Ricky Skaggs), drums by Paul Griffith (Jason Isbell), guitar and vocals by Thomm Jutz, and additional vocals by Lashley.
Billy Bragg is a fan and included Otis's song "The People's Day" in his list of "Top 5 Songs with Something to Say" for the Wall Street Journal among artists like Bob Dylan, Sam Cooke, Chuck Berry, and The Clash. Otis also hosts "Thanks For Giving A Damn," a weekly podcast where he and his musician friends share road stories, tall tales and vague recollections. His guests have been everyone from Ian Hunter to Wayne Kramer to Todd Snider. The podcast will mark its 100th episode this fall. Listen to archived episodes here:
'Souvenirs of a Misspent Youth' Tracklist:
01. Cuzmina
02.
Ghosts of Our Fathers
03. Back In My Day Blues
04. It Was a Train
05. The Darker Side of Me
06. No Rust on My Spade
07. Wrong Side of Gallatin
08. Nancy Barnett
09. Kokomo Bar
10. With a Gun In My Hand
