Media Monarchy plays Alex Williams, Danny Burns, Slackeye Slim and more on #PumpUpThaVolume for July 30, 2025. ♬
Ned Miller – “From A Jack To A King” (Vinyl)
‘The Best Of Country Music Vol. 7’
K-Tel – 1973
*Ned Miller – “From A Jack To A King” (Vinyl) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp1ACi9YboU // https://www.discogs.com/release/14738708-Various-The-Best-Of-Country-Music-Vol-7 // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_a_Jack_to_a_King // “From A Jack To A King” was written and performed by Ned Miller, produced by Fabor Robison. When Ned first recorded the song in 1957 for the Dot label, it went nowhere, but this 1962 reissue did catch on in a big way (it even climbed to #2 on the UK charts). (Debuted late ’62) 1963 Pop Chart Peaks: Billboard, Cash Box & Music Vendor 6 – C&W Chart Peak: 2. Lots of skips, also very low volume pressing, PRINTED AND MADE IN U.S.A. Gifted by Danny!*
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Alex Williams – “Look What The Cat Dragged In” (Poison Cover)
‘Space Brain’
Lightning Rod Records – July 18, 2025
*Alex Williams – “Look What The Cat Dragged In” (Poison Cover) https://soundcloud.com/alexwilliamsofficial/look-what-the-cat-dragged-in // https://orcd.co/aw-sb // Here’s a cover of Poison’s 1986 hit, from ‘Space Brain,’ the just-released album of heavy metal (and glam!) covers by Alex Williams. His cover of Ozzy’s “Flying High Again” was on our #BestOf2024 – and Ratt’s “Round And Round” is already in contention for this year! Available now via Lightning Rod Records.*
Jackson Dean – “Turn On The Lights”
Digital Single
Big Machine Label Group – July 17, 2025
*Jackson Dean – “Turn On The Lights” https://soundcloud.com/thejacksondean/turn-on-the-lights // https://jacksondean.lnk.to/TurnOnTheLights // Here’s the new single by Jackson Dean, available now via Big Machine Label Group.*
Wesko – “Mr. Tennessee”
Digital Single
Underscore Works Recordings / Warner Records – July 18, 2025
*Wesko – “Mr. Tennessee” https://soundcloud.com/wesko-music/mr-tennessee // https://wesko.lnk.to/MrTennessee // Here’s the new single by singer-songwriter Wesley Keith Holmes, aka Wesko, available now via Underscore Works Recordings / Warner Records.*
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Danny Burns – “Keep Your Distance” (Richard Thompson Cover)
Digital Single
Bonfire Recording Co. – July 23, 2025
*Danny Burns – “Keep Your Distance” (Richard Thompson Cover) https://soundcloud.com/syntaxcreative/danny-burns-keep-your-distance // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Thompson_(musician) // This cover of Richard Thompson is the new single by Irish singer, songwriter and banjoist, Danny Burns. Available now via Bonfire Recording Co.*
Junior Sisk – “I Don’t Hurt Anymore”
‘It’s All Fun And Games’
Turnberry Records – July 18, 2025
*Junior Sisk – “I Don’t Hurt Anymore” https://soundcloud.com/juniorsisk/i-dont-hurt-anymore // https://sc.lnk.to/js-IAFAG // From ‘It’s All Fun And Games,’ the just-released album by bluegrass superstar, Junior Sisk. Available now via Turnberry Records.*
The Inspirations – “Up Above The World So High”
‘Up Above The World So High’
Horizon Records – July 18, 2025
*The Inspirations – “Up Above The World So High” https://soundcloud.com/syntaxcreative/the-inspirations-up-above-the-world-so-high // https://www.theinspirationsquartet.com // https://www.last.fm/music/The+Inspirations/+wiki // The title track of the just-released album by the long-running (1964) southern gospel group, available now via Horizon Records.*
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Chris Jones & The Night Drivers – “How Small Of Me” (w/Jim Lauderdale)
Digital Single
Mountain Home Music Company – July 17, 2025
*Chris Jones & The Night Drivers – “How Small Of Me” (w/Jim Lauderdale) https://soundcloud.com/crossroads-label-group/how-small-of-me-feat-jim-lauderdale // Bluegrass band Chris Jones & The Night Drivers celebrates thirty years together with this single featuring Jim Lauderdale, available now via Mountain Home Music Company.*
Josh Ritter – “Truth Is a Dimension (Both Invisible and Blinding)”
‘I Believe In You, My Honeydew’
Pytheas Recordings / Thirty Tigers – September 12, 2025
*Josh Ritter – “Truth Is a Dimension (Both Invisible and Blinding)” https://soundcloud.com/josh-ritter/truth-is-a-dimension-both // https://joshritter.com // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Ritter // From ‘I Believe In You, My Honeydew,’ the upcoming 13th album by Josh Ritter, due on September 12th via Pytheas Recordings / Thirty Tigers.*
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Slackeye Slim – “Cowboy Dan” (Modest Mouse Cover)
‘Perpetual Doom Presents: Perpetual Tunes featuring Slackeye Slim’
Perpetual Doom – June 27, 2025
*Slackeye Slim – “Cowboy Dan” (Modest Mouse Cover) https://perpetualdoom.bandcamp.com/track/cowboy-dan-modest-mouse-cover // https://slackeyeslim.com // A cover of Modest Mouse (‘The Lonesome Crowded West,’ 1997) from ‘Perpetual Doom Presents: Perpetual Tunes featuring Slackeye Slim,’ the just-released EP by Slackeye Slim. Available now via Perpetual Doom.*
Lonnie Johnson – “Haunted House” (w/Elmer Snowden)
‘Blues & Ballads’
Prestige Bluesville / Craft Recordings – March 14, 2025
*Lonnie Johnson – “Haunted House” (w/Elmer Snowden) https://youtu.be/x9Fu2RJRv30 // https://www.discogs.com/release/33408779-Lonnie-Johnson-2-With-Elmer-Snowden-Blues-Ballads // https://www.discogs.com/artist/307232-Lonnie-Johnson-2 // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonnie_Johnson_(musician) // From the just-released reissue of ‘Blues & Ballads,’ the album originally released on Prestige Bluesville in 1960 as a way to reintroduce pioneering blues, jazz singer and guitarist Lonnie Johnson to the younger generation of blues fans. Available now via Prestige Bluesville / Craft Recordings as part of the Bluesville Acoustic Sounds Series. Lacquers cut from the original master tapes by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab, pressed at Quality Record Pressing in Salina Kansas.*
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Kris Kristofferson And The Borderlords – “Mean Old Man”
‘Repossessed’
Mercury – 1986
*Kris Kristofferson And The Borderlords – “Mean Old Man” https://youtu.be/i8CAfPGFP-4 // https://www.discogs.com/release/12159614-Kris-Kristofferson-And-The-Borderlords-Repossessed // A song written by Kris Kristofferson (featuring additional vocals by Carl Perkins), from ‘Repossessed,’ the 1986 Mercury album by Kris Kristofferson And The Borderlords. From a near mint Japanese pressing on the Mercury label.*
Byrd Family – “River Of Death”
‘Hey, Mr Devil!: Apocalyptic Gospel And Rapture Rockabilly From Private Press Prophets (1962-1986)’
The Omni Recording Corporation / The Iron Mountain Analogue Research Facility – 2024
*Byrd Family – “River Of Death” https://youtu.be/-xMlKgGAcfo // https://www.discogs.com/release/32375769-Various-Hey-Mr-Devil-Apocalyptic-Gospel-And-Rapture-Rockabilly-From-Private-Press-Prophets-1962-1986 // https://www.discogs.com/release/12188616-Byrd-Family-Country-Gospel // This song by Georgia gospel group the Byrd Family was included on their album, ‘Country Gospel,’ released circa 1970 on the Grand Records label, here featured on the various artists compilation album, ‘Hey, Mr Devil!: Apocalyptic Gospel And Rapture Rockabilly From Private Press Prophets (1962-1986)’. Released in 2024 via The Omni Recording Corporation / The Iron Mountain Analogue Research Facility.*
Buck Owens And His Buckaroos – “You Gotta Have A License” (Tommy Collins Cover)
‘If You Ain’t Lovin’
Hilltop – Release date unknown
*Buck Owens And His Buckaroos – “You Gotta Have A License” (Tommy Collins Cover) https://youtu.be/_ncDoXmvvvk // https://www.discogs.com/release/27515271-Buck-Owens-And-His-Buckaroos-If-You-Aint-Lovin // From ‘If You Ain’t Lovin,’ the Hilltop reissue of Buck Owens’ 1963 album, ‘Buck Owens Sings Tommy Collins’.*