Nashville, Tenn. (May 11, 2021) — Country music icon and trailblazer Mark Collieannounced today the release of his new album, Book of My Blues, set to release Friday, June 4 via BFD/Audium Nashville/Orchard in association with Harvest Entertainment, Creator Label Co., and Collie Kuhl Music.
The themes in Book of My Blues – love, lust, betrayal, addiction, recovery, damnation, redemption – are derived from the graphic novel Rockabilly Hitman, a long-gestating collaboration between Collie and renowned film director Jonathan Hensleigh (The Punisher, Die Hard with a Vengeance, Armageddon and the soon-to-be-released Ice Road starring Liam Neeson). The novel depicts the exploits of rockabilly singer Jesse Wayne Hardin, who by night is an avenger of evil, as he travels the hard backroads from Muscle Shoals to Memphis, from the Mississippi Delta to Music City.
“There are a lot of ways to describe the music, maybe Roadhouse Rock, Southern Gothic, Americana, Country, but at its core, it’s a reflection of me and many others who came before me,” explains Collie.
The album features twelve original songs written or co-written by Collie, plus three rockabilly classics – “Hey Boba Lou” by Ronnie Hawkins, Jacqueline Magill and Robbie Robertson of The Band fame, “Night Train to Memphis” written by Country Music Hall of Fame member Owen Bradley with Marvin Hughes and Beasley Smith, and “Matchbox” by Carl Perkins. The album was co-produced by Kenny Greenberg (Allison Moore, Josh Turner, Toby Keith and the Mavericks) and Chad Cromwell (Joe Walsh, Neil Young, Willie Nelson and Boz Scaggs).
Collie’s list of collaborators reads as a “who’s who” of songwriter elite, including Collie’s long-time friend, actor/musician Billy Bob Thornton as well as Tom Douglas, Gary Nicholson, John Scott Sherill, Jonathan Hensleigh and co-producers Kenny Greenberg and Chad Cromwell.
Instant grat tracks “Born Ready” and “The Son of a Gun” are available now. MusicRow Magazine’s Robert K. Oermann gave both tunes rave reviews.
The respected country music historian/journalist hailed “The Son of a Gun” as “dramatic and forceful.” While on “Born Ready,” Oermann writes, “That Waylon/outlaw beat gets me every time. And it fits this renegade/rebel song perfectly. Welcome back, buddy. We’ve missed ya.”
Collie is set to release the album’s third single, “Book of My Blues,” on May 14.
Pre-order Book of My Blueshere.
Book of My Blues Track Listing:
1. Book of My Blues (Mark Collie, Billy Bob Thornton)
2. Born Ready (Mark Collie, Kenny Greenberg, Gary Nicholson)
3. On the Wings of Your Love (Mark Collie)
4. Right This Wrong (Mark Collie, Kenny Greenberg)
5. Matchbox (Carl Perkins)
6. Holly Springs (Mark Collie, Kenny Greenberg, Chad Cromwell)
7. Unfinished Hurting (Mark Collie, Tom Douglas)
8. Queen of A Hungry Heart (Mark Collie, Kenny Greenberg, Chad Cromwell)
9. Sinking Sand (Mark Collie, Kenny Greenberg, Chad Cromwell)
10. Hey Boba Lou (Ronnie Hawkins, Jacqueline MaGill, Robbie Robertson)
11. Put the Gun Down (Mark Collie)
12. Walk the Floor, Kill the Lights, Slam the Door (Mark Collie, John Scott Sherill)
13. A Little Every Day (Mark Collie, Kenny Greenberg, Chad Cromwell)
14. The Son of a Gun (Mark Collie, Jonathan Hensleigh)
15. Night Train to Memphis (Owen Bradley, Marvin Hughes, Beasley Smith)
About Mark Collie
Mark Collie is one country music’s most enduring singer, songwriter, and actors. In addition to multiple Top 10 country hits, his songs have been recorded by some of country music’s most iconic recording artists including Tim McGraw, Garth Brooks, Billy Ray Cyrus, Martina McBride, George Jones and ALABAMA. His film and TV roles include The Punisher with Thomas Jane and John Travolta, Fire Down Below with Stephen Seagal, Walker Texas Ranger and the TV series Nashville, to name a few. Collie has actively raised money and awareness for diabetes research. A recipient of the American Spirit Award, Collie is a strong supporter of our men and women in uniform having performed for troops around the world. He believes in second chances, alongside his wife Tammy, they are committed to working with incarcerated men and women teaching and helping them find their voice through music expression programs designed to help prepare them for successful re-entry.
For more information about Mark Collie and Book of My Blues, visit markcollie.com.
Follow Mark Collie on social media:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Learn about Rockabilly Hitman, Mark Collie’s graphic novel collaboration with Justin Hensleigh, at rockabillyhitman.com.
About Bob Frank Distribution (BFD)
Bob Frank Distribution (BFD) was formed in 2013 as a boutique independent music distributor with a global sub-distribution arrangement with the Orchard. BFD currently represents over 50 labels and artists with thousands of masters including earMUSIC, Charly, Absolute, Righteous Babe, BlueHat, DPTV, Astor Place Recordings, Big Deal Records, Once Upon A Time Music, Node Records, Cleveland International Records, Peak Records, Woodward Avenue Records, The Atlantic Screen Group (Filmtrax), REMT, PRA/Bad Dog, and UFO, as well as artist owned labels and catalogs including Crystal Gayle, Dale Watson, Dave Davies, Anthony Gomes, Mark Collie, Darryl Worley, Lee Roy Parnell, Trini Lopez and many others.
Visit more information, visit bobfrankent.com.
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