Sampling the Singles — Fall 2026. Rick Huff reviews 30 releases spanning country, Western and swing music. Choose a cover below to read its review.
Sampling the Singles: explore the covers
Swipe or use the arrows to browse all 30 covers. Select a cover to jump to Rick’s review below.
Kara Ciezki — Save Christmas
After years of missing them, I finally thought to hold late Xmas arrivals for “next year!” Australia’s Kara Ciezki issued the fabulously infectious Save Christmas in late 2025. It’s a swinging big band novelty wherein St. Nick “nicks” the bad guys. Porch pirates, under-the-tree robbers and other miscreants take heed. There’s a new seraph in town!!
Abby Grace — Mama’s Merry Christmas
Three days before her passing in November 2025 Canada’s Abby Grace reissued her holiday song Mama’s Merry Christmas. The styling is Country Swing but, as with all of her releases, she followed the mantra that sustained her. Emmylou Harris advocated “bringing the living room back into music.” Grace’s fans knew she made it happen.
John Haugh — Santa’s Got His Dancin’ Boots On
Irish green meets Xmas red & green. John Haugh adds Jitterbug/Jive Swing to the holiday platter with Santa’s Got His Dancin’ Boots On. Since it and the other Xmas releases here are actually late bloomers from last year, a google or two may be required to hunt it/them up unless it/they has/have been re-released now. It/they is/are worth it!
Sarah Pierce — Those Hands
Interestingly within a single year’s span a third song has shown up that deals with the cowboy’s “digital” realm. Those Hands comes to us from Sarah Pierce. It’s a sweetly mellow portrait of hands as a reflection of all their owner does and is. Rugged, battered, caring, steely, birthing, caressing, steady. Cowboy hands are beautiful treated her way.
Listen to “Those Hands” at Sarah Pierce’s official music store.
Brendan Jermyn — For Every Inch I’ve Laughed (I’ve Cried a Mile)
Western Swing is King and its famous twin-fiddle effect sits on the throne in a new one from Ireland’s Brendan Jermym. Originally a wound-licking hit for Doug Stone, the song For Every Inch I’ve Laughed (I’ve Cried A Mile) has an easy tempo that allows dancers to cool down….or maybe heat up, depending on how they wanta handle things.
Carlos Washington — This Cowboy Life Of Mine
Carlos Washington’s Steel Horse Swing offers a new song about Carlos’ basic history. This Cowboy Life Of Mine points out reasons ‘pokes couldn’t possibly love rodeoing — except, of course, they do and will continue to. The bucking arts hold a strong lure for its participants. Maybe just consider that a second meaning for “luck of the draw.”
Gerald O’Flynn — Beautiful City (Home By The Lee)
Irish lad Gerald O’Flynn “sought a haven of rest where the sun sinks finite in the land of the West.” He says he “dwelt with the Red Man in green forest bowers and the wild rolling prairies bespangled with flowers,” then went north to live with “the wolf and the bear.” Now returned to his Beautiful City (Home By The Lee), he’s green with ennui.
Rick Kennerknecht — Pickin’ Peggy
Okay, folks! Here we go! This one from producer Rick Kennerknecht was done with AI. In submitting it to us, even the subject of Pickin’ Peggy (Western balladeer Peggy Malone) was concerned, but she liked its melody and biographical accuracy. By any measure it’s a fine song. It uses ‘manipulated’ AI. The discussion continues….
Stacey Lowery — Haggard & Worn
East Texas singer/songwriter Stacey Lowery reflects that he’s long ridden the trail but he’s not set for the rocker yet in Haggard & Worn. Don’t be puttin’ him out to pasture. “These boots have seen lots of miles,” he admits. “This cowboy’s been halfway ‘round the world” but “feet off the ground” he’ll keep “ridin’ into the storm.” Thunderation!!
Alastair Spence — Drivin’ Nails In My Coffin
Ernest Tubb’s ore has been mined before by artists who are looking for a real Country Swing motherlode. Tubb’s hit Drivin’ Nails In My Coffin does the job quite nicely for Ireland’s Alastair Spence. In his vocal delivery he produces a mix of Tubb and more than a hint of (believe it or not) Bob Nolan (!) A performance Spence smoothly ‘nails.’
Gone With The West — Heartbreak Moon
The four-part harmony of the ladies who make up Gone With The West is intact, warm and embracing as ever, in their newest single release Heartbreak Moon. It’s an all-acoustic winner. The tempo is intimate, laid-back Cowboy Swing featuring a smooth combo effect common to club Jazz but found less frequently in Western. It’s missed.
Larry Cann — Somewhere In Montana
Here’s a nice waltz that tells the old story of a rodeo cowboy driving show-to-show. His lady stays Somewhere In Montana, porch light on, waiting for him. But there’s a twist in the final verse. The singer, Aussie Larry Cann, “realizes” his own pattern of show-to-show isn’t different from his subject’s. Such songs ‘Cann’ be telling, can’t they?
John Smyths — Now I’m Wiser
From Holland, now Germany, comes IWMA Tennessee Chapter artist John Smyths and a tale of a retired gun-for-hire in Now I’m Wiser. The man still anticipates heading ‘up’ rather than ‘down’ when the final tally is made. These days he’s free to walk his land with his lady but he is reminiscing a bit as he sits at the bar. Not sadder Budweiser.
Billy Mata And The Texas Tradition — Another Day
It’s not often a single arrives from living kings of Western Swing. Billy Mata & The Texas Tradition rank as one of the best bands to ever ply the trade. Unarguably they rank among top inheritors of the royal Wills mantle. Their release Another Day could have come straight from the Wills bandstand. It only lacks Bob’s vocal interjections.
Dermot O’Hara — Rhinestone Cowboy
Veteran Irish performer Dermot O’Hara has given us a credible cover of one of the most famous hits using Western imagery to tell another story. Rhinestone Cowboy chronicles the rugged trail to make it in the music business. Before Glen Campbell found it, the song had been a chart hit for its writer Larry Weiss….in Australia!!
Niamh Strong — Broken
Singer/songwriter Niamh Strong (pronounced “nee-iv”….Gaelic, you know) uses Western imagery in her song Broken. The man rode off on his “white horse” leaving her behind. Now she advises us when doomed relationships mount up to just let ‘em “ride into the sunset.” That’s doubtlessly preferable to leaving things in a stall!
Randy Palmer — It’s A Crazy Thing
Grit-voiced balladeer Randy Palmer says It’s A Crazy Thing, this “living in the West!” Can Westerners imagine having to be in some other unfortunate place where you can’t reach up, “touch the stars and hold ‘em in your hand?!!” It’s a romantic portrait, to be sure. Folks have a love affair with the place and wouldn’t have it any other way.
Terry Lockley — Captain Thunderbolt and Mary Ann Bugg
Let this one serve as an introduction to another Wild West. From Terry Lockley comes Captain Thunderbolt & Mary Ann Bugg. It chronicles an escape legend connected with two actual bushrangers from 19th Century Australia. Catch the video of the song. Google it by name, then look up this pair. Hopefully we’ve put a “Bugg” in your ear.
The Rosneys [ft. Jade Rosney] — Dance By The Fire
![The Rosneys [ft. Jade Rosney] – Dance By The Fire single cover](https://i0.wp.com/whentcowboysings.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/rick-fall-2026-the-rosneys-ft-jade-rosney.jpg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 "The Rosneys [ft. Jade Rosney] – Dance By The Fire")
Family bands are a familiar feature of acoustic music. From Ireland come The Rosneys. Daughter Jade handles lead vocal chores on their new Country Swinger Dance By The Fire. The song is every bit as warm and crackling a rendering as its title suggests. And a fine fiddle performance figures in prominently. Cozy on up to it. We’re family.
Jesse James — Where The Sidewalk Ends
As the winner of Ireland’s Cowboys & Heroes Country Star competition, 17-year old Jesse James is making his own name for the name! His latest release is the romping contemporary Country Swinger Where The Sidewalk Ends. If it seems to you that a lot of Swing is coming out of Ireland….well, you’ve got the basic swing of it.
John Mullan — Ain’t Love A Lot Like That
The use of a double hokum fiddler provides a twin-fiddle effect for the new Country Swinger from John Mullan called Ain’t Love A Lot Like That. His somewhat John Conlee-esque voice also gives it the classic feel. He’s yet another winner of Ireland’s big Cowboys & Heroes Country Star Competition. They just keep on O’comin’!
MacKynsie McKedy — Love Me Out Of Leaving You
MacKynsie McKedy is back in our list with the Country Swing song Love Me Out Of Leaving You. It has all the requisite ingredients….the beat, the angst, the cute twist of words for a title and, of course, its vocalist. Ms. McKedy can almost always be counted on to be very dance-able with her releases. And that’s just the way her fans like it!
Edward Williams — Swing Me Back To Texas
Anyone who thinks they need a musical explanation of Western Swing can pretty much get it in the new one from Edward Williams called Swing Me Back To Texas. The reasoning behind it, the continuing need for it and some key performers of it are all touched on across its course. Now try to hold still. We dare you! Just try!!
Rachel Goode — Just One Time
Don Gibson’s famous moneymaker Just One Time gets the royal Country Swing treatment in a new Irish single. As a cherry on the float, Rachel Goode also brings elements of Folk and Bluegrass to the mix. It’s a pleasing effect. Of course you can two-step or shuffle to it, but why the heck waste this “Goode” opportunity to swing??
Dave Edwards — I’ll Always Love This Place
One newly arrived from Dave Edwards at least smacks of Western. Here he lauds the restorative properties of property in I’ll Always Love This Place. “This place” is in Texas, it’s a farm, it’s got a windmill and “she” used to be there. Now it’s the closest he can get to “her” being with him. Why is it Western?? Location, location, location….
Josh Giles — The Lone Ranger
I’m torn. The new one from Ireland’s Josh Giles is called The Lone Ranger. But do I award the term ‘Western’ to it? It’s a drinkin’ song so it isn’t. It uses Western imagery so it is. “I had more Silver Bullets last night than the Lone Ranger” it says. A mystery lady “rode in to save the day…hi-ho Silver” it says. ‘Guess I’ll let it wear the mask.
Sheila Fitzgerald — Those Dance Hall Days
In the Country Swing song Those Dance Hall Days singer Sheila Fitzgerald reminisces, bemoaning the death of the Irish dance hall culture. She says it gave way to “Disco and Cabaret.” Apparently in the old days the girls would stand on one side of the hall as the guys cruised by, scanning sedately. Hm. Texas could’ve conducted classes.
Angel Castillo, Jr. — Camp Mystic
By virtue of the Texas location described, this one falls into the Western category. In a brave new release Havana-born songwriter Angel Castillo, Jr. has relayed the tragic story of the flood at Camp Mystic and the irreparable loss of a daughter. Sung by the uncredited Samantha Nichols, it’s beautiful, sensitive and memorable in many ways.
Ger Long — It’s Back Again
By beat, here’s one I might classify as “modified” Western Swing. Ireland’s Ger Long brings all the Swing elements together in It’s Back Again. “It” is the weekend. That’s the time when everyone can “jive, jive, jive” (dance). The fiddle, the steel and horns (though synthesized) are here. If the spirit’s willing the feet will follow, I’m assured.
Marty Daniels — My Next Broken Heart
Once again a happy Country Swing song arrives from Ireland in the person of Marty Daniels and his release of the old Brooks & Dunn standard My Next Broken Heart. The treatment is faithful to the original. Since the Irish spin on the style holds true to the feel-good Swing tradition, unhappy sentiments still bring on the ‘wearin’ o’ the grin!’
— Rick Huff
Explore more reviews by Rick Huff, including Kerry Fearon’s Boots ’n’ Roots.