Embracing outlaw country music, Sturgill Simpson spent the last two decades releasing albums like High Top Mountain and A Sailor’s Guide to Earth. He also appeared in numerous films like The Dead Don’t Die, The Hunt, and The Creator. While having a wide range of talents, the country singer dropped his newest album Passage du Desir over the summer. Thrilled about his new record, Simpson also kickstarted his Why Not? Tour. Traveling the country, the singer recently performed in Oklahoma and decided to treat fans to a special performance of “Tulsa Time.”
When it comes to covering songs from other artists, many singers have used their own concerts to honor those who came before them. But few do it like Simpson. Having taken a break from the spotlight over the years, the hitmaker is known for covering songs like “Purple Rain” and “L.A. Woman.” But during his recent concert in Oklahoma, he channeled Don Williams.
Videos by American Songwriter
Besides those in the audience cheering on the performance, online, fans gushed over the cover from Simpson, writing, “Omg. This is awesome.” Other comments included how perfect the performance was with one reading, “‘Tulsa Time’ cover is nasty.”
Sturgill Simpson Talks Inspiration Behind ‘Passage du Desir’
While continuing his time on the road, Simpson also discussed the inspiration behind his Passage du Desir album. Although some albums surround a full narrative and theme, the country star insisted, “I tried to make a cohesive record, but it’s certainly not like an arching, underlying, definitive narrative. It’s just a collection of songs. I had some pretty impactful things happen in my personal life and lost a lot of people and friends that were dear to me.”
Recalling one heartbreaking memory during the writing process, Simpson explained, “One person in particular was very important in my life, at one point I found out that she killed herself. So I just decided, you know what, I’ve got to get all this stuff on tape and record it. So we made the record. It was really very simple. I wanted the music to be pure without any gimmicks or over-the-top production. So it was just myself and three other very good studio musicians.”
(Photo by Gary Miller/FilmMagic)