Craig Campbell released his Walker Hayes-penned "Tractor Songs" on his Grindstone Recordings label. The song is one of the many off his first album in many years, 'The Lost Files: Exhibit A.' The new album is a compilation of recent recordings and “lost” songs he recorded for previous labels but were never released. Travis Tritt, Trea Landon, and Craig's wife Mindy are featured on three of the cuts.
“This album has been a long time coming,” said Craig. “This collection of music is very special to me, I have been chomping at the bit to get this to my fans. These are songs that I love and believe in with all that I am. My fans fell in love with me when there was steel and fiddle on my records. I truly hate that I got away from that for a bit trying to chase something that wasn’t real, but I humbly admit, I am a work in progress. Not everyone is going to love this album, and I am ok with that. However, THIS is the real me. Unfiltered, unapologetic, and from my heart.“
The new album is a compilation of recent recordings and “lost” songs he recorded for previous labels but were never released. Craig had a hand in writing 11 of the tracks with some of the top songwriters in music. The other five were contributed by Jess Brown, Joel Little Phillip Coleman, Nicolle Galyon, Ella Yelich-O'Connor, Jamie Paulin, Liz Rose, Michael White, and Justin Wilson. In addition to Campbell, producers on various tracks include Cooper Bascom, Blake Bollinger, Mickie Jack Cones, Rob Hatch, Elisha Hoffman, Phil O’Donnell, Matt Rovey, Keith Stegall, and Ilya Toshinskiy.
Walker is the sole writer on “Tractor Songs,” and he produced the track with Luke DeJaynes. The story behind Craig recording the song began after the two played a show together in Orlando. Craig posted a series of conversations between Hayes and himself recorded while each were sitting on John Deere tractors - affectionately dubbed Tractor Talks - chatting about the song, their careers and their friendship.
“Sometimes you hear songs on the radio and say ‘Man! That’s a hit! I wish I could cut that before they did,’” Craig added. “All I can say is I’m glad I cut this before anyone else! Shoutout to Walker for sending this song to me first.”
The Lost Files: Exhibit A
Track Listing
1. “Lot To Live Up To” featuring Travis Tritt
Writers: Craig Campbell/Tim Nichols/Mark D. Sanders
Producers: Matt Rovey & Craig Campbell
2. “Winnebago”
Writers: Craig Campbell/Brett Beavers/Steve Bogard
Producer: Mickey Jack Cones
3. “It's About Time” *
Writers: Michael White/Justin Wilson/Jamie Paulin
Producer: Blake Bollinger
4. “Things You Do In A Truck” * featuring Trea Landon
Writers: Craig Campbell/Blake Bollinger/Trea Landon
Producers: Blake Bollinger, Cooper Bascom, Craig Campbell
5. “Sounds Like A Small Town”
Writers: Craig Campbell/Jeremy Bussey/Cody Cozzolino
Producers: Ilya Toshinskiy and Craig Campbell
6. “Church Clothes” with Mindy Ellis Campbell
Writers: Liz Rose/Nicolle Galyon
Producer: Craig Campbell
7. “Johnny's Cash”
Writers: Craig Campbell/Keifer Thompson
Producer: Craig Campbell
8. “Hurtin' On It”
Writers: Craig Campbell/Adam Yaron/Abram Dean
Producer: Craig Campbell
9. “Night Like Last Night”
Writers: Craig Campbell/Rob Hatch/Jason Sellers
Producers: Matt Rovey, Craig Campbell, Rob Hatch, Elisha Hoffman
10. “Royals”
Writers: Ella Yelich-O'Connor/Joel Little
Producers: Matt Rovey & Craig Campbell
11. “Talk Country To Me”
Writers: Craig Campbell/Adam Sanders/Derek George
Producer: Phil O’Donnell
12. “Tractor Songs”
Writer: Walker Hayes
Producers: Luke DeJaynes, Walker Hayes
13. “God And The Ground”
Writers: Phillip Coleman/Jess Brown
Producers: Keith Stegall, Matt Rovey, and Craig Campbell
14. “That's What A Song'll Do”
Writers: Craig Campbell/Ben Hayslip/Dallas Davidson
Producers: Keith Stegall, Matt Rovey, and Craig Campbell
15. “That's How We Get Down”
Writers: Craig Campbell/Jeremy Bussey/Styles Haury
Producer: Craig Campbell
16. “All American Comeback Kid”
Writers: Craig Campbell/Terry McBride/Brice Long
Producers: Keith Stegall, Matt Rovey, and Craig Campbell
Craig NEVER disappoints in his music or his live shows. He stays true to himself releasing some great love songs, along with fun songs that bring you along for the ride. The Lyons, Georgia native grew up playing his mother’s piano and singing in church. He took a job as a corrections officer in his hometown after high school, but music never left his side. He started a band and played local and national bar gigs. When the guitar player quit, Campbell took that as a sign to chase his dreams all the way to Nashville. And the rest they say is history.
When you ever get the chance, check out a live show and try to prove that is was not one of the best times you have had, cause that would be very tough to do. Stop by here: https://stem.ffm.to/thelostfilesexhibita to snag Craig's latest album and keep up with him at: www.craigcampbell.tv and all social media outlets.