At 79, Ray Wylie Hubbard Calls New LP His Finest and Possibly Final
The veteran outlaw-country singer, nearing 80, describes his 20th studio album as his strongest work and likely his last. He recorded it with his son and friends, including a session with Mike Campbell in Los Angeles, aiming for the raw, live-band sound of classic rock records. Hubbard cites influences like the first Buffalo Springfield and Rolling Stones albums.
Hubbard's 20th studio album was tracked primarily at Johnathan Tyler's Texas studio, with his son Lucas on guitar and contributions from Bukka Allen and Cody Braun. A late invitation from Mike Campbell led Hubbard and Lucas to Los Angeles, where they cut the album's final two tracks. The project was mixed by Gurf Morlix, who favors preserving ambient studio noises like pedal squeaks over sterile perfection. One track, "She Plays Crazy Mama," emerged spontaneously after Hubbard listened to J.J. Cale's original while recording with Campbell, and Cale's widow Christine Lakeland contributed to the song.
This album could serve as a meaningful capstone for longtime fans of outlaw country and roots rock, offering a document of Hubbard's enduring creative voice at nearly 80. His decision to frame it as possibly his last may prompt listeners to engage more deeply with his catalog, while the collaborative sessions with Campbell and Lakeland could reinforce cross-generational connections within the Americana community.