The Fat Angel Sings

Southeastern, the recording that helped Jason Isbell to a near-sweep at this year’s Americana Awards and Festival — he took home prizes for best album,best song and artist of the year,it was a team effort. Isbell, who learned his craft as a member of Drive-By Truckers and also leads the mighty rock band the 400 Unit, credited the producer Dave Cobb with helping him develop Southeastern’s intimate sound; as for its emotionally complex and forthright content, that came through the support of his wife and frequent musical collaborator, Amanda Shires. He credited Shires for giving him the courage to write open-hearted songs like Song Of The Year “Cover Me Up,” which they performed together that night in a version that was as tender as can be. Enjoy this lovely musical exchange.
A singer/guitarist now based in Nashville, Isbell scored Album of the Year for his profound 2013 post-rehab LP “Southeastern,” Song of the Year for the ballad “Cover Me Up” and also scored Artist of the year Award honors. Isbell also performed “Cover Me Up” live with wife and fiddle player Amanda Shires at the ceremony held Sept. 17 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, where Williams, known for such hits as “Hey Good Lookin’,” “Move It On Over,” and “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” once performed on the Grand Ole Opry.

“I wrote this song for my wife,” Isbell said of “Cover Me Up,” “I’ve had a lot of people ask me to dedicate it to their wives, girlfriends or cousin’s wife or something strange like that. This was probably the hardest song I ever had to write because I wrote it for her and then I played it for her. It was very difficult. Do the things that scare you. That’s the good stuff.”