Kentucky native Sturgill Simpson has become one of the most respected and celebrated singer/songwriters of the 2010s. After spending over a decade performing as a member of the rock-tinged country group Sunday Valley, Simpson made his way to Nashville in hopes of cementing a music career all his own.
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His 2013 self-released debut album High Top Mountain piqued the interest of music critics captivated by its traditional country sound. That soundscape was created with the help of producer Dave Cobb, who would return to the studio for Simpson’s second record, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music. That release catapulted both Simpson and Cobb into a new stratosphere of fame, even earning a Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album shortly after its release in 2014.
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Over the past eight years, Simpson has gone on to record five more studio albums, sell out venues across the U.S., star in multiple acting roles, and tour alongside some of his longtime musical heroes, including Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson.
Although Simpson has a large and dedicated following, many fans may not know that the 45-year-old talent has also lent his creative vision to other artists, both established and still on the rise. Take a look at five incredible albums produced by Sturgill Simpson that are a must-listen for any music fan.
1. Purgatory, Tyler Childers
Co-produced by Simpson and seasoned music engineer David R. Ferguson, this 2017 album from fellow Kentuckian Tyler Childers was a massive success. The project debuted at the top of Billboard‘s Heatseekers chart and helped elevate Childers from an independent singer/songwriter on the rise to one of modern country music’s most powerful and engaging artists. Purgatory began a long and fruitful creative bond between the two—Childers brought both Simpson and Ferguson back into the studio for his acclaimed 2019 follow-up LP Country Squire.
2. Kentucky Blue, Brit Taylor
This stellar sophomore record from Brit Taylor is filled with as much wit as it is thoughtful reflection, accompanied by polished country production that doesn’t veer too far into the pop spectrum. Continuing his reputation of embracing talent out of his home state, Simpson helps direct the sails as Taylor navigates a new chapter for herself, personally and sonically, on this impressive release.
3. That’s How Rumors Get Started, Margo Price
Simpson and Ferguson joined forces again on Margo Price’s trippy third studio album. That’s How Rumors Get Started, released in 2020 during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, found Price stretching her sound back into the 1970s, sprinkling psych-rock elements into the old-school country sound that had been at the center of her two previous LPs. This evolution coincided with Simpson’s own foray into a more experimental, rock-leaning sound with his music, which helped showcase both artists’ sense of creative range and fearlessness.
4. Deluxe Hotel Room, Lucette
One of Simpson’s most experimental and surprising projects, this captivating collaboration with Canadian artist Lucette leaves the familiar definitions associated with genre in the dust. A mix of vintage Countrypolitan and edgy modern pop, this 2019 record is one of the year’s most underrated hidden gems.
5. Solid Gold, Miles Miller
After years of accompanying Simpson on stage as his longtime touring drummer, Miles Miller steps out on his own with his 2023 debut album Solid Gold. This dreamy, mellow collection of songs takes listeners through the soaring highs and painful lows that love can put you through. Thanks to Miller’s versatility and Simpson’s thoughtful curation, Solid Gold puts a worthy spotlight on Miller’s lengthy list of musical gifts.
Photo Credit: Reto Sterchi
