Singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale unveiled his new single “Memory,” one of the last songs he wrote with late Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter. “Memory” lands on Hope, a Jim Lauderdale album due out via Yep Roc Records on July 30.
Lauderdale had a long and fruitful working relationship with Robert Hunter. Songs co-written by the pair appear on a number of Jim Lauderdale albums including 2004’s Headed For The Hills, 2010’s Patchwork River, 2011’s Rhyme And Reason, 2012’s Carolina Moonrise and 2013’s Blue Moon Junction. Additionally, Jim Lauderdale released the Hunter co-write “As A Sign” on 2020’s When Carolina Comes Home Again.
“Losing Robert just before the pandemic was so hard, but he left the perfect lyric, to sum up my feelings about him and to honor all the people we’ve lost since,” Jim said in a note accompanying his new single which arrives on the eve of what would have been Robert’s 80th birthday. Lauderdale used paintings created by Maureen Hunter, Robert’s wife, for the cover of Hope and its packaging.
Hope features 13 tracks co-produced by Jim Lauderdale and frequent collaborator Jay Weaver. Lauderdale was joined at Nashville’s Blackbird Studios by contributors Chris Scruggs and Kenny Vaughan, Russ Pahl, Craig Smith, Will Van Horn, Micah Hulscher, Dave Racine, Pat Bubert and Wes L’Annglois. The album also features harmonies from siblings Lillie Mae and Frank Rische.
Stream Jim Lauderdale’s “Memory” below:
