R.W. HAMPTON - My Country (2026)

I’m not a big fan of C&W, but it’s instantaneous when a singer of Mr. Hampton’s quality sings songs with bravado, sensitivity & dust. Hampton adds atmosphere, grit, & character to each tune. His voice is closer to Merle Haggard & Waylon Jennings than, say, George Jones or Randy Travis. There are plenty of rural gusts of wind between his lyrics, prairie dust in the melodies, & pensive sunsets in the arrangements. Many tunes have commercial potential since they have a catchiness typical of good country & western voicings. “Bonnie” is simple but rhythmic & melodic in the tradition of songs that Jimmy Dean, the singer, made a staple in his own repertoire.

Some tunes meander into the territory of C&W slickness polished decades ago by Patsy Cline, Johnny Horton & Sonny James (“True Love’s a Blessing”). With some help from Jake Hooker & the Outsiders, “West Texas Town” is in this tradition. C&W swing with square dance shine. No matter where you are, if you hear this, you’re transported to a barn dance somewhere in Texas. The album has its share of pure C&W balladry that’s carried off with care & poignancy.

This collection is persuasive & a good example of how serious & distinguished old west compositions can be shaped & played. None is pumped with the saccharine of pop to dilute the dissonant styles of cranked-out mainstream country tunes. However, the narrative slows down the momentum of the album & should’ve been the last track on the LP.

As for the cover of “What a Wonderful World,” Hampton is a skillful C&W singer but not a middle-of-the-road crooner.

Highlights – “Living Free,” “Donnie Catch a Horse (Shenandoah intro),” “Bonnie,” “West Texas Town,” “No Wilder Place,” “Who?”

Musicians on “Who?” – RW Hampton (vocals), Jess Meador (fiddle), Roland Ebert (piano/keys), Michael Dohoney (drums/percussion), Russ Rand (bass), Kristyn Harris, Mary Kaye (harmony/vocals) & Jake Hooker & The Outsiders on “West Texas Town.” No info available on other tracks.