It’s been 32 years since Sammy Sadler‘s highly anticipated career was suddenly halted when tragedy struck. In the three decades following the “Murder on Music Row,” Sadler has been able to put that experience behind him, looking forward while never forgetting. In June he released his album 1989, which provides another step in the cathartic process: eight songs released during the late 80s reimagined by Sadler.
We recently caught up with Sammy to talk about how he’s been doing, how important 1989 is to him, and the collaborations featured on the album.
CN: Hi Sammy! Thank you for taking the time to talk with us. As we all continue to get through this pandemic, how have you been holding up?
SS: I am doing well, thank you for having me. I’m holding up. It’s been hard musically because we haven’t been able to go out and tour. Thank the Lord I’ve had another business which I started 27 years ago to always have an income. I’m so glad I did that for times like these.
CN: With 2020 in the rearview, 2021 has been quite a year for you, and one that’s been several decades in the making. In June, you released your first album since 2009’s Heart Shaped Like Texas. The album’s title alone makes quite the statement – 1989. How have you been able to use the production of this album to help you to continue processing and getting through what happened 32 years ago?
SS: I went back to the year I was shot and left for dead, and my friend Kevin Hughes was murdered on Music Row. We just decided to title the album 1989 once we decided on the songs I was going to record. That was a very dramatic year for me as well as Kevin’s family, but it was also some of the best music ever made, in my opinion. So I wanted to let everyone know to not forget what happened to me and my friend Kevin Hughes, or music from that era.
CN: The year 1989 covers a lot in your life – the events on Music Row, the year your album Evergreen was to be released and the era in which these songs originated. Moving forward while acknowledging the past, was the decision to title this comeback album 1989 an easy one?
SS: Yes, it was. Literally and metaphorically, speaking. It just fits.
CN: With so many amazing songs during that time in Country music, what was your process in deciding which songs to include?
SS: I just stuck with some of the songs that I both loved and that I’ve performed while out touring. They are songs which my fans would expect to hear from me on a new album, so it was a really easy process for me and my band.
CN: You paired up with a few icons on some of their own hits: T. Graham Brown joins you on “Darlene,” Shenandoah’s Marty Raybon on their first career #1 “Church on Cumberland Road” and Restless Heart’s Larry Stewart on “The Bluest Eyes In Texas.” How did you go about asking them about being featured on the album? Did you pick the songs together or did you have an idea before-hand which songs you wanted to cover?
SS: Chuck Rhodes at my record label, BFD/Audium Nashville, came to me with the idea given the songs I had pretty much chosen myself. We’ve been friends and worked together over the last 12-13 years, and he knew those guys personally. Chuck is also one of the album’s producers, so that’s how it came about. But, what an honor to have all of these guys on the album with me. They are legends and iconic voices in country music from that era.
CN: How important was it to you to stick to the tradition of these hits, while still making your mark?
SS: I just hope they feel I’ve done them justice, and have made them proud of these recordings.
CN: The album was produced by Buddy Hyatt who has worked with some of Country’s biggest stars including Randy Travis, Mickey Gilley, Lynn Anderson, JoDee Messina, Tracey Lawrence. What was it like to work with Buddy on this album, given the era that it covers?
SS: Buddy is great to work with, and doesn’t pressure you. He lets you get it to where you like it and are satisfied. He’s become a good friend and I look forward to getting in the studio with him again.
CN: You just released the lyric video for “She’s Crazy For Leaving” which was the lead single for the album, which premiered on Newsmax.
SS: We shot some of it on my farm road out in Texas. This is a song I did every nearly night at my live shows back in the 90’s. It was a crowd favorite and a number one song back then for Rodney Crowell, who was also the co-writer with Guy Clark. Just a really fun, great song to sing.
CN: Might not be an easy or fair question to ask, but do you have a favorite track on this album?
SS: Hmmmm… That’s a hard question. They are all great songs, but if I had to pick one it would be ‘I SHOULD BE WITH YOU.’ That song was written and performed by Steve Wariner, who has been a big influence on me and my music. Steve was gracious, and came in and sang with me on “I’ll Always Have Denver” on my album back in 2009. Steve and Bill Anderson wrote that song.
CN: With all that has happened over the past 32 years – what do you want country music fans to take away from 1989?
SS: That I am still here, and have never gone away, and love doing what I do. I think these songs on this album are some of the greatest songs and music ever produced and made from that era.
To download/stream 1989, click here
For more information on Sammy Sadler, visit his website www.sammysadler.com.