Lonesome Day Records releases a gritty, Rock-tinged Bluegrass version of “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” featuring American Idol star Bo Bice today. It’s the first radio single from the upcoming all-star Bluegrass tribute to Bob Seger, SILVER BULLET BLUEGRASS, due out this summer. Programmers can access the track now via AirPlay Direct, CDX and PlayMPE. Fans can stream “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” now.
Lonesome Day Records’ label head Randall Deaton (Larry Cordle, Ralph Stanley II, Randy Kohrs) produced and co-engineered “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” with Grammy award-winner Gary Nichols (The SteelDrivers), and Jimmy Nutt (Jason Isbell, Drive By Truckers, Kate Campbell). The track was recorded at Lonesome Day Recording Studio, Booneville, KY and The NuttHouse Recording Studio, Muscle Shoals, AL. Musicians include A-listers Stephen Mougin (Guitar), Darrell Webb (Mandolin), Ned Luberecki (Banjo), Mike Bub (Bass) and Wayne Bridge (Dobro). Background vocals were handled by Gary Nichols and Cindy Walker.
“I asked Gary to recommend an artist for this song,” Deaton recalls. “He and Bo had played the bar scene together in Muscle Shoals and Gary had nothing but good things to say about him.” Nichols recalls, “I was always a fan of Bo’s. His devotion to ‘selling a song’ as a vocalist is unmatched. I knew he would be perfect,” Nichols adds. “And he delivered big time.”
Seger released “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” in 1968 and the song would become the first of his many hits. For Bice to interpret this classic was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “As soon as Gary mentioned this project to me, I knew I was on board,” Bo recalls. “Seger had an influence on my vocal and performance style for sure. As entertainers we take pieces from our favorite artists and meld them into our stage persona. I’d be proud to think there’s a little bit of Seger in me.”
