Tumblers & Grit (20th Anniversary Edition) is an expanded and remastered version of the R.S. Field-produced 2004 album, featuring two previously unreleased session outtakes, the original demo of “Bells of Odilia” (one of American Songwriter’s 50 Country Songs Everyone Should Know), and two live performances recorded at WPLN in Nashville just after its release.

Joining Richards and producer Field (Billy Joe Shaver, Steve Earle) for the sessions at venerable Music Row recording studio House of David in the winter of 2003 were guitarist Kenny Vaughan (Lucinda Williams, Marty Stuart & The Fabulous Superlatives), keyboardist Steve Conn (Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris), fiddler & mandolinist Chris Carmichael (Alison Krauss, Taylor Swift), fiddler Ketch Secor (Old Crow Medicine Show), bassist and vocalist Jared Reynolds (Ben Folds, Allison Moorer), drummer Shawn McWilliams (Scott Miller, Hank III) — and the just-unretired “A Team” legend Lloyd Green (The Byrds, Don Williams, Johnny Paycheck) on pedal steel guitar and dobro.  

Originally released in July 2004, Tumblers & Grit received rave reviews across America and Europe. The Philadelphia Inquirer anointed it “Honky tonk heaven,” and U.K. music magazine Maverick gave the album 4 stars and wrote, “As far left of centre as Gram Parsons was in 1973, and surely to prove just as vital and influential in years to come.” 

Some more kind words written about Tumblers & Grit:

“Honky tonk music that sounds right at home with the masters like George Jones and Lefty Frizzell. A refreshing musical tonic, as bracing as that first sip of morning whisky. This is the good stuff.”
	~ Vintage Guitar 

“A masterpiece of honky-tonk philosophy, gritty vocals and rock-flavored energy.”
	~ Nashville City Paper

“Best Off-Music Row Albums of 2004”
	~ The Tennessean

“3 1/2 stars”                   
	~ Los Angeles Daily News

“Richards unleashes a series of songs that poise him to walk beside songwriting legends like Lyle Lovett and Guy Clark.”
	~ F5 Weekly

“An incredible album not near enough people have heard.” 
	~ Peter Cooper, The Tennessean

“One of the finest country albums to be made since the 1960s golden age.”
	~ Hybrid Magazine

“His melodies and storytelling follow in the footsteps of Billy Joe Shaver and John Prine.”
	~ East Bay Express

Bells Of Odilia (Live At WPLN Nashville)

To Sing The Blues (Live At WPLN Nashville)

Bells Of Odilia (Demo)

Nashville Gas (Alternate Sheboygan Choir Version)

The Last Thing I Remember (Session Outtake)

The Ballad Of The Analog Kid (2024 Remaster)

Honkytonk Graveyard (2024 Remaster)

One Foot (2024 Remaster)

Hearts Like These (2024 Remaster)

Galway Girl

Chris Richards is a songwriter and recording artist from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The MOJO-4-star-rated "Wisconsin River" is his 6th full-length release.

Freelance music performer and instructor from central MN

New tracks tagged #Steve Earle