Classic Country Artist Justin Trevino Releases His First Acoustic Album
By Judy Shields
BRADY, Texas – Award-winning honky tonk artist Justin Trevino has released ‘One Tear at a Time (The Acoustic Sessions)’, available for streaming now via StarVista Music and on CD via Heart of Texas Records. His first acoustic collection, the album features all-new recordings of 15 songs he has loved performing throughout his career, along with four new songs and a bonus track, the album’s only one recorded with a full band. Listen to ‘One Tear at a Time’ HERE.
“I’ve been such a fan of songwriters all my life and am always struck by how people go to great lengths to write really incredible songs,” Trevino explains. “So, when it came time to record this album, I picked ones that I thought were lyrically strong and would shine through in an acoustic setting. I hope that people will really take in these lyrics and appreciate the craftsmanship that went into them.”
“One Tear at a Time” includes “She Knows My Weaknesses” by Kent Finlay, “one of the prettiest love songs I’ve ever heard and I just knew an acoustic treatment would work for it,” three songs by Trevino and three by Bill Anderson (“Ride About Now,” “I Don’t Have Anyplace to Go” and the bonus track, “I Think I’ll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep”). “I had cut that song 21 years ago but never released it,” Trevino recalls. “But when I went into the studio to make the acoustic version I quickly realized that I really wanted to put the original one out, even though it was with a full band.” Anderson also gave Trevino a new song, “Right About Now,” reflecting the spirit of the album.
Trevino also recorded “What if the Tables Were Turned,” which he originally wrote for one of his heroes, Curtis Potter. “He passed away before he got to cut the song, so I did my level best to honor him and sing it like he would have.” “Jealously Insane” is a tribute to another key figure in Trevino’s life, Johnny Bush. “He wrote ‘Jealously Insane’ years ago, but it originally only had a verse and chorus. In recent years, he had written a second verse but never got to record it before he passed in 2020. I’m probably the only person besides him that knows those new lyrics and felt it was my duty to preserve this for him and not let them get lost to the sands of time. Being able to record this new verse is incredibly special to me.”
The collection also features a bluegrass song, “Windy City” with Dana Cupp on banjo, and the original demo version of the title track, “One Tear at a Time.” “I wrote that with Guyanne McCall back in 2005 and at the time I was so into it when I cut the demo that Guyanne said, ‘my goodness, you are singing your tail off.’ I still love that version, so rather than redo it, I added the original recording to the new album.”
I had the opportunity to speak with Justin Trevino about this new album. Enjoy our conversation:
“This will probably be the only album that I do with this acoustic treatment and is a real bucket list project for me,” he explains, “and I filled it with my go-to songs, the ones I’d play if somebody just put a guitar in my hands and said ‘go for it,’ like I’m just sitting in a circle with friends and picking.” “My heart will always belong to honky tonk, but ‘One Tear at a Time’ was made with a different kind of energy so that the lyrics get all the attention.”
‘One Tear at a Time (The Acoustic Sessions)’ Track Listing:
01. One Tear At A Time
02. If You’ll Hold The Ladder
03. Healing Hands of Time
04. As Long As There’s A Sunday
05. Calm Before The Storm
06. Cowpoke
07. Rainbow In Daddy’s Eyes
08. Jealously Insane
09. Right About Now
10. What If The Tables Were Turned
11. My Joy
12. She Knows My Weakness
13. Windy City
14. Pride Goes Before A Fall
15. Rainbow Colored Words
16. I Don’t Have Any Place To Go
17. Closer To The Vine
18. Cheating Was Good While It Lasted (With Erin Caldwell)
19. I Still Can’t Believe You’re Gone
20. I Think I’ll Go Somewhere And Cry Myself To Sleep
Musicians:
Acoustic Rhythm/Electric Bass Guitars-Justin Trevino, Steel Guitar-Jim Loessberg, Lead Guitar-Charley Walton, Fiddle/Harmony Vocals-Grace Partridge, Upright Bass-Howard Douthey, Banjo-Dana Cupp, Mandolin-Randy Lindley
Bonus Track: Dicky Overby (steel), Bobby Flores (fiddle), Smiley Reynolds (drums), Debra Hurd (piano), DeeJee Overbey (harmony vocals) and Justin Trevino (electric bass).
