“Even the sad songs make you dance. That’s what I love about Soul. It’s what propelled this whole album.” The Knockdown Dragout arrives Feb. 9.
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Chris J Norwood as photographed by Joseph Brewster
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If the photographic evidence accompanying The Knockdown Dragout (Gastonwood Music, Feb. 9, 2024) is any indication, then Chris J Norwood is a beaten man.
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Chris J Norwood & The Knockdown Dragout | “Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song)” (Otis Redding Cover)
Track Listing:
01. Introducing...
02. The Knockdown Dragout
03. The Cheap Seats
04. Dancing In The Kitchen
05. Run Rosie Run
06. I Want It All
07. Love Me Back To Life
09. The GOAT
10. Got To Get Back To Texas
11. Darling Don’t Leave
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Chris J Norwood | Live
10/21/2023 Dallas, TX @ Doublewide (Tickets)
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Chris J Norwood | In The Press
“Chris J Norwood wants you to know the truth.” — The
Boot
“Unpretentious and genuine.” — Americana Highways
“Great lyrical hooks.” — Americana UK
“Talk about making a statement.” — Twangville
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Chris J Norwood & The Knockdown Dragout | About
If the photographic evidence accompanying The
Knockdown Dragout (Gastonwood
Music, Feb. 9, 2024) is any
indication, then Chris J Norwood is
a beaten man.
Beaten, maybe… But not out!
As Norwood
sings on “The Knockdown Dragout” —
the ensemble, album, and first single all share the same name — he is a
fighter:
I know it don’t look good
They got me up against the ropes
I ain’t no light weight kid
I got the fight, the will, the hope
The “will” and “hope” part comes in as the
Dallas-based songwriter — and now bandleader, commanding a Stax-inspired ensemble cutting tracks live on the studio floor in
the same building where Willie Nelson
made Red
Headed Stranger — leaves behind his acoustic guitar to make the album
of his dreams.
“I have wanted to make this record for a long time,” Norwood says about a passion so strong,
he parted ways with his record label to be able to see his vision through. “If
you were to come over on a Saturday afternoon, Otis Redding is what is playing on the stereo.”
The
Knockdown Dragout cover the Redding classic “Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song)” in a joyous rendition that sits
perfectly alongside Norwood’s
originals.
“I had to
include an Otis cover,” Norwood explains. You can’t help but
feel good, and that’s what I love about soul music. Even the sad songs make you
dance.”
Norwood had become tired of sadness.
“I’m disillusioned with the ‘sad bastard’ scene of
singer-songwriters that I found myself a part of,” he admits. After releasing
two records that reckoned with darkness and personal tragedy, Norwood wanted to make an album that
was “just fun.”
A “knockdown dragout” is a phrase I used to hear my
mother use,” he explains of the album’s statement of purpose, which also
addresses his relationship with the music industry. “It’s essentially a fight
between two people that is particularly bad.” Norwood’s decision to leave his label to make this album was
actually amicable, but even civil closure smarts.
The same goes for Norwood’s
surprise genre switch-up.
“I wanted to write some songs that I could actually
sing to Carrie and dance in the
kitchen to,” he says, alluding to one of
the album’s standout tracks, “Dancing In
The Kitchen,” a love song to Norwood’s
wife.
“Finally! Songs that are about me!” Carrie Norwood, who also
appears on the record as one-half of the background vocal duo, The Knockouts, jokes.
“Being
a Knockout comes with attitude and
sass,” she says. “The world is pretty crazy right now, but there is still love
and goodness to sing about.”
After listening to the celebratory songs on The
Knockdown Dragout, Norwood’s “will” and “hope” win this bout
by unanimous decision.
The Knockdown Dragout by Chris J
Norwood & The Knockdown Dragout arrives Feb. 9, 2024 via Gastonwood
Music.
Chris J Norwood is
available for interviews. Contact Josh Bloom
at Fanatic for more information.
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Chris J Norwood | Links
