The New Kentucky Headhunters album is a must-have!
That’s a Fact Jack! The new album from The Kentucky Headhunters comes in hot!
The albums I play most are the ones that capture my immediate attention right off the bat, and that is exactly what happened when I began listening to “Gonna Be Alright,” the first song on That’s a Fact Jack! The soft humming followed by the drum work of Fred Young and guitar work by Greg Martin and Richard Young put an instant smile on my face, as I thought, this is going to be a good one. The second requirement of the albums I play the most is the songs cannot sound the same, cannot sound like one gigantic song, and definitely not just slight changes with few notes and lyrics from prior albums. That’s a Fact Jack! is most certainly an album I am going to enjoy repeatedly (I have listened to the full album at least twelve times to write this review).
As long as I am keeping it real, let’s just agree right here that new music from The Kentucky Headhunters is welcomed with open arms, especially after we patiently waited since their 2016 release of On Safari and their 2018 release of Live At The Ramblin’ Man Fair (recorded in 2016).
That’s a Fact Jack! has a 10/22/21 release date via BFD (Bob Frank Distribution)/Audium Nashville.
How to buy the album in CD and Digital Formats
Link to preorder the album: https://orcd.co/kentuckyheadhuntersthatsafactjack
Who are The Kentucky Headhunters?
This band started in 1968, under their initial name Itchy Brother, founded by brothers Fred Young (drums) and Richard Young (lead and background vocals and rhythm guitar), along with Antony Kenney (vocals and bass), and Greg Martin (lead guitar and background vocals). Their lineup changed a few times, and their name officially became The Kentucky Headhunters in 1986 and that is when Doug Phelps (lead vocals and bass) joined with his brother Ricky Lee Phelps (lead vocals harmonica). After a few more lineup changes, we have the current lineup of the Young brothers, Greg Martin, and Doug Phelps. They have several awards starting in 1989 with Best New Group from the Academy of Country Music. In 1990 their album Pickin on Nashville won album of the year from the Country Music Association and a Grammy for Best Country Performance by a Group or Duo, and the Country Music Association also awarded The Kentucky Headhunters with Best Vocal Group of the Year. The Kentucky Headhunters were awarded Best Vocal Group of the Year by the Country Music Association again in 1991.
They made a fantastic blend of genres
That’s a Fact Jack! is another fantastic mix of genres, leaning more into Rock/Southern Rock with more rocking melodic electric guitar work and vocals than their prior albums. What really stands out to me with this album is how genuine every song is. This is new music and they gave us their sincerity. The themes of the songs are vulnerability, reflection, reconciliation, and healing, as they use their earnestness, relatable life experience, and humor. I had the pleasure of photographing The Kentucky Headhunters during Milwaukee’s Summerfest last month when they announced their new album. Naturally, the audience was excited to learn the details. When Richard Young introduced their new holiday song “Let’s All Get Together and Fight,” it is track 12 on their new album, he became so tickled he had to stop and laugh, which of course caused everyone else to laugh with him, and that resulted with more giggling before The Kentucky Headhunters had to start the song over. I am pretty sure that was when I sent a message to my Shutter 16 Editor-in-Chief to please request this album to review.
Track Listing
1. Gonna Be Alright
2. How Could I
3. Watercolors in the Rain
4. Susannah
5. Cup of Tea
6. We Belong Together
7. That’s a Fact Jack
8. Lonely Too Long
9. Heart and Soul
10. Cheap Tequila
11. Shotgun Effie
12. Let’s All Get Together and Fight
Two songs have already been released ahead of the official album release date of 10/22/21:
Title Track “That’s a Fact Jack”
And
“How Could I”
I hope you enjoy That’s a Fact Jack! as much as I do! It’s been a long time since I wasn’t able to pick just one track as a favorite because I dig ALL twelve tracks, and for that, I thank The Kentucky Headhunters!
