Dallas Moore is an award-winning songwriter who carries the hard-won title of “hardest working man in honky tonk.” Every year, Moore plays hundreds of shows either solo or backed by a full band. Additionally, he finds time to sneak into the studio to cut blazing-hot country records. Later this year, he’ll release his 18th full-length studio album, Gems & Jams. Today, American Songwriter is proud to premiere the album highlight “Glad to See Me Gone.” Listen to the song below.
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Not all songs are created equally. Many songs sound great with a full band behind them but fall apart when they are stripped down to their raw form. Truly great songs can have the same impact with just a voice and acoustic guitar. That is seemingly the idea behind Moore’s forthcoming album. Gems & Jams features solo acoustic versions of a mixture of newly-written original songs and new arrangements of cuts from Moore’s previous releases some of which have been out of print for years.
Moore recorded each of the album’s fifteen songs live in the studio. The production on the record is minimal and features no overdubs or major edits. In short, Gems & Jams is a look at the heart of the hardcore troubadour that is Dallas Moore in his most raw and authentic form.
Dallas Moore on “Glad to See Me Gone”
“Glad to See Me Gone” sees Dallas Moore singing from the perspective of a man who is slowly losing the woman he loves. There was a time when she was sad to see him leave the house. She’s developing a taste for Merle Haggard and George Jones. / Suddenly Miss Rock and Roll just loves those cheatin’ songs, he sings in the chorus.
Moore spoke about the song’s long history in an exclusive conversation with American Songwriter. “I wrote this song in 1994 and the only time it was ever recorded was on my first album My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys in 1996,” Moore recalled. “It was my mama Madgelee’s favorite song that I had written, so much so that she made her own arrangement of it for her mountain dulcimer and would perform it in her live shows. She would always say ‘Now THAT is a country song, son!’” he added. “I also got to play it on a couple of shows opening up for Merle Haggard and George Jones and give a proper tip of the hat to my honky tonk heroes.”
Moore went on to say that his first album has been out of print for a long time. “It’s pretty cool to see this song get a brand new life 30 years after I wrote it,” he said. “I think it really lends itself to the solo acoustic guitar arrangement on this new album.”
Gems & Jams drops on August 9.
Featured Image by Mattioda Media
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