Rhett Miller released “All For You,” the second song to be released from his forthcoming solo album ‘A lifetime of riding by night’ that arrives on October 10 via ATO Records.
Co-written by Jesse Valenzuela of Gin Blossoms, the song is a poignant reflection of redemption and gratitude that took on an even deeper meaning during the recording which took place just days before a high risk vocal cord surgery: Had a dream and it came true, me and you and them / In a house filled with sun and loved ones and friends / It was worth all the work it took to wind up in this place / And I’ll try to make it better and better every single day / All for you. The album is now available for pre-order on vinyl and CD.
Tomorrow, Miller’s band Old 97’s will be honored with a lifetime achievement award at the 24th annual Americana Honors & Awards in Nashville, TN. Last year, Old 97’s celebrated their 30th anniversary with the release of the critically-acclaimed album American Primitive.
About the single, Miller explains, “My buddy Jesse Valenzuela brought me the idea for the song, a guitar hook and a lyric hook, so he had done the trickiest part. When I was fleshing out the lyrics, I imagined that it would be a song for Jesse’s album rather than something I’d be recording. Ironically, this level of remove gave me permission to get a little more personal and sensitive than I might otherwise have done. As soon as it was finished, I loved the song and knew that someday I would record it. And it tickles me that I finally got to work with my super-talented friend Jesse.”
“It’s simply a joy to work with my compadre Rhett Miller,” Valenzuela adds. “He is a gifted, insightful lyricist. I’m a longtime fan of his songs and I really love ‘All for you.’ I believe it’s a special song that seems to resonate with people and I’m so proud that it’s found a spot on Rhett’s beautiful new record.”
“All For You” follows the release of “Come As You Are,” that features Turnpike Troubadours’ Evan Felker, who also co-wrote the song, on background vocals. The song was praised by Rolling Stone, BrooklynVegan, Dallas Observer, and Whiskey Riff, who proclaimed, “[Rhett Miller] has managed to stay relevant and inspire generations of artists for well over 30 years. [He] is the type of musician that is likely one of your favorite artist’s favorite artists.”
A lifetime of riding by night was recorded primarily at Dave’s Room in Los Angeles and marks Miller’s first time enlisting his Old 97’s bandmate Murry Hammond as a producer since his solo debut album Mythologies (a 1989 LP created when he was 17-years-old). Threaded with his lived-in reflection on mortality and love in all forms, the album contains some of Miller’s most unguarded material yet-an achievement he attributes to revelations gleaned through his recent work in teaching songwriting at The New School in Manhattan, as well as the eclectic lineup of co-writers including Turnpike Troubadours frontman Evan Felker, Caitlin Rose, Nicole Atkins, Jesse Valenzuela of Gin Blossoms, and Ben Greenman.
Miller will kick off a national album release on October 9 in Worcester, MA that will make stops in Los Angeles, Seattle, New York, Dallas, St. Paul and many more.
A lifetime of riding by night tracklist:
1) A Little Song (Prologue)
2) All For You
3) Ellie On The Wharf
4) Come As You Are
5) Be Mine
6) People Are Lifted
7) A Little Song (Interlude)
8) The Bells of St. Mike’s
9) All Over Again
10) Time Again
11) A Lifetime of Riding by Night
12) A Little Song
13) Brand New Heart
Rhett Miller Tour Dates:
Sep. 12 – Arlington, TX – Texas Live!
Oct. 2-4 – Halifax, NS, Canada – The Carleton
Oct. 9 – Worcester, MA – Off The Rails
Oct. 10 – Bar Harbor, ME – Criterion Theatre
Oct. 15 – Los Angeles, CA – Largo at the Coronet
Oct. 16 – Ramona, CA – Ramona Mainstage
Oct. 17 – Hermosa Beach, CA – Saint Rocke
Oct. 18 – Fontana, CA – Stage Red
Oct. 20 – San Francisco, CA – Cafe Du Nord
Oct. 21 – Santa Cruz, CA – Moe’s Alley
Oct. 23 – Eugene, OR – WOW Hall
Oct. 24 – Portland, OR – The Showdown
Oct. 25 – Seattle, WA – Clock-Out Lounge
Oct. 28 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge
Nov. 6 – Houston, TX – McGonigel’s Mucky Duck
Nov. 8 – Fischer, TX – Devil’s Backbone Tavern
Nov. 9 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
Nov. 12 – Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark
Nov. 13 – Cleveland, OH – Music Box Supper Club
Nov. 14 – Bloomington, IN – Buskirk-Chumley Theater
Nov. 15 – Covington, KY – Madison Theater
Nov. 16 – Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theatre
Nov. 20 – St. Paul, MN – Turf Club
Nov. 22 – Lawrence, KS – The Bottleneck
Nov. 23 – Tulsa, OK – Mercury Lounge
Dec. 2 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi
Dec. 3 – Madison, WI – Atwood Music Hall
Dec. 4 – Milwaukee, WI – Vivarium
Dec. 5 – Davenport, IA – Raccoon Motel
Dec. 11 – Washington, D.C. – Union Stage
Dec. 12 – Wayne, PA – 118 North
Dec. 14 – Charlottesville, VA – The Southern