When it comes to music, country is often a dividing line. Many love it, others hate it, and there are few on the fence.
Johnny Cash was one singer who could bridge the gap between country and rock, without alienating either side. Gram Parsons couldn’t get there. Merle Haggard didn’t even really bother trying – though he won over many rock fans eventually, just with the sheer power of his voice and songs.
Joshua Hedley isn’t aiming to bridge that gap in the same was as Cash. But his song “Mr. Jukebox” has a sort of universal appeal that few current country songs – ‘old school’ or Top 40 – have achieved. Just ask my 9-year-old daughter (who knows every word).
You just hear a song like “Mr Jukebox” and can’t help but smile. Listen below.
According to his bio, Hedley spent years as a sideman on Lower Broadway in Nashville, playing all kinds of country songs at bars like Robert’s Western World. No wonder his Third Man Records debut album is titled “Mr. Jukebox.”
The sound on the album is unabashedly retro — Hedley admits loving the sound of 1960s country, or as he describes it, “the kind of music that the Outlaw movement was rebelling against.” Which is funny, because today, Hedley’s music would be considered ‘outlaw.’ Or at least, ‘Americana.’ Which is where the later music of country legends like Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, and Johnny Cash often gets categorized.
At the same time, though, Hedley’s music isn’t just about dredging up ‘old’ styles – it’s about giving a fresh, contemporary spin on vintage sounds. And because of that, it stands out.
Again, there’s a universal appeal to Hedley’s music. You don’t have to stand on one side of the fence or the other, “Mr. Jukebox” is almost guaranteed to make anyone smile.
“Classic country is like a suit. Nothing about a men’s suit has changed in like 100 years. Classic never goes out of style. Something can’t be a throwback if it’s never been out of style.”
– Joshua Hedley
