Darryl Worley on His New Album Second Wind: Latest & Greatest
The country hitmaker reflects on re-recording his biggest songs, recording in Muscle Shoals, and supporting U.S. veterans.
At the turn of the century, country radio introduced listeners to the traditional stylings of Darryl Worley with his 2000 debut, "Hard Rain Don't Last." A slew of summertime jams ("Good Day To Run") and poignant ballads ("I Miss My Friend") reached the upper ranks of the Billboard charts, solidifying his spot as a premier vocalist in the country music world.
2003's "Have You Forgotten" would set the tone for many future releases - a patriotic theme, that is. A USO trip served as the impetus for "Have You Forgotten," a song co-written with Wynn Varble that would garner industry nominations and accolades. The nationwide response and acclaim helped propel the single to #1 for seven weeks - a rare feat.
Darryl Worley on ‘Have You Forgotten’ and Supporting Veterans
It also spawned more opportunities for Darryl to give back and support the military. "For me as an artist and as an individual, I can't think of any things that I've been afforded the opportunity to do through my music and career that have been more rewarding than my journeys to the war zone and all over the world to entertain our troops," Darryl says.
"I think they're the best experiences that I've had, and so if I didn't get anything else out of this journey except for those experiences, it's been well worth it."
He continues, "A lot of people look at it differently than I do, but I think that we owe as much as we can do for those guys and gals. If you think about it, you know the government doesn't do such a great job anymore of taking care of them, so we have to have some private organizations that step up in our society and population and say, 'Hey, let's do something for these veterans.' For me, this a big deal, and I think we should all take it very seriously."
He also shared plans for the Darryl Worley Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that provides funds to several charities.
"We're about to set aside a different wing in my foundation to put some money aside for the veterans as well. I think that's something we've been looking at for a while, and I'm real excited about that."
"I wish there were a way that I could make people understand what these men and women have been through and the kind of commitment it takes to do what they have done for our society, for our way of life. It's a big deal. I think we should all be real serious about it. We should all be together on supporting our Vets because they make huge sacrifices."
Darryl Worley’s New Album: Second Wind: Latest & Greatest
Album: Second Wind: Latest & Greatest
Type: Re-recorded hits + new songs
Tracks: 15 total
Recorded in: Muscle Shoals, Alabama
"We have 8 of the old hit songs that we went and re-recorded and seven brand new things that we had written and recorded for this project. We did all of the tracks and the recording down in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. This was not a Nashville thing by any means, even though I wrote some of the songs with some of my old co-writers up there that I've been working with for years," Darryl reveals.
Recording Process
Worley says the album’s relaxed, live-feeling approach was intentional - and a departure from overly polished Nashville production.
“It's just real laid back; we had a blast doing it. I think some of the newer music is a ton of fun, and folks are gonna love the fact that we didn't try to make the tracks perfect this time.”
"You know, sometimes some of that Nashville stuff is so perfect and so flawless that it almost gets a little scary for me. I think music is supposed to have some warts on it, you know, it's not supposed to be perfect, so this project was a little more laid back, and I think people are going to feel it. It's got a little bit of that Muscle Shoals vibe, too, it's a lot of fun."
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Darryl Worley Second Wind: Latest & Greatest FAQ
When did Darryl Worley release Second Wind: Latest & Greatest?
Darryl Worley released Second Wind: Latest & Greatest in 2019 as a career-spanning project that revisits his biggest hits while introducing new music.
How many songs are on Second Wind: Latest & Greatest?
The album features 15 total tracks, including eight re-recorded hits and seven brand-new songs.
Were Darryl Worley’s hits re-recorded for the album?
Yes, several of Darryl Worley’s most recognizable songs were re-recorded specifically for Second Wind: Latest & Greatest.
Where was Second Wind: Latest & Greatest recorded?
The album was recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, giving the project a laid-back, organic feel distinct from traditional Nashville productions.
Is Second Wind: Latest & Greatest available on streaming platforms?
Yes, Second Wind: Latest & Greatest is available to stream on major music platforms.