Sunday Spins Part 2: Sturgill Simpson’s Cuttin’ Grass Vol 2

You can read Part 1, Saturday Spins Part 1: Sturgill Simpson’s Cuttin’ Grass Vol 1 here.

Well, it hasn’t been that long, but here I am back again with Part 2 of a double feature spin. Part 1 consisted of Vol. 1 of Sturgill Simpson’s Cuttin’ Grass. This second album is not a double-LP, and it has been pared down in scope, but it still slaps. Sturgill commented that these songs on Vol.2 were ones he was “too afraid” to attempt to do bluegrass style.

“On Volume 2, we recorded everything I was too afraid to do on Volume 1. It’s hard to deny that this is a much more personal record. I was thinking about my kids, my grandfather, [and] my wife”

Sturgill Simpson

Cuttin’ Grass Vol. 2

The Cowboy Arms Sessions

The second volume of bluegrass cuts from Sturgill features some of his best songs. Most of the personnel from the previous album are back on the second, including Ms. Hull with her excellent mandolin playing and background vocals. The copy I got is another indie exclusive with the opaque blue and white swirl coloration to match the cover art.

The cover art is quite simply an identical picture of Sturgill riding a (presumably John Deere) lawnmower with the full moon as an addition. This second volume was recorded at the Cowboy Arms Recording Studio and Spa in Nashville, Tennessee. Interestingly enough, Sturgill credits his grandfather, Ora Simpson, as an executive producer this time around.

Not a lot more can be said about this one that wasn’t said about Vol. 1. It consists of 12 Sturgill Simpson and Sunday Valley songs done in bluegrass form. This album clocks in at 40 minutes and is only a single LP, so it is not quite as ambitious as Vol. 1, but is still great.

Side A

Sturgill and band start this album off with one of his better songs from A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, “Call to Arms.” The bluegrass version is just as scathing of a protest song as the original. That entire album was a letter/guidebook to his infant son. A Grammy nominated and winning one too. Anyway, I think Phoebe Bridgers should have studied his SNL performance before she attempted whatever this was.

As a matter of fact, all of the songs on Side A are from A Sailor’s Guide save for “Hero” which was on High Top Mountain. The bluegrass rendition of “Sea Stories” is amazing, and it really sheds a whole new light on the song in my opinion. Likewise, the version of “Oh Sarah” is great; It is a song Sturgill first recorded with Sunday Valley, but he polished it up for Sailor’s. It is an ode to his wife. The bluegrass turns the tempo up a bit, but it is still a ballad through and through.

Side B

Many of the songs on this side are from High Top Mountain, which includes one of my favorites, “You Can Have the Crown.” Incidentally, that song also has one of the best sets of lyrics ever written and sung.

Well, they call me King Turd up here on Shit Mountain
But if you want it you can have the crown

The original song is a raucous hillbilly bar rocker, while the bluegrass version is a bit more laid back. It showcases Sturgill’s vocal maturity, that’s for sure. I was a bit disappointed with “Keep it Between the Lines,” which is one of my favorite songs by Sturgill. The bluegrass version just kinda falls flat for me. Similarly, “Jesus Boogie,” another raucous rocker from Sunday Valley is a bit meh.

The real, and I mean REAL story about Side B lies with the last song on the album. I was lying to all of you across two articles when I said these were all Sturgill Simpson songs. Apparently, he was sitting on the song “Hobo Cartoon” which was written by the great Merle Haggard while he was on his deathbed. Merle purportedly wrote it and sent it to Sturgill via text message simply stating, “from one railroad man to another.”

How surreal is that, folks? Not often a country music legend just drops an entire song in your inbox. I think Sturgill did it justice, I mean you can imagine Merle singing it as well. It is a classic Merle Haggard style song, and I think the best thing Sturgill could do with it is put it on this collection of bluegrass tracks.