Last year, the comedy legend Steve Martin joined forces with fellow banjo aficionado Alison Brown to release an album titled Safe, Sensible And Sane. Their collaboration endures, and today they’ve invited additional bluegrass luminaries to join the project for a cover… Lil Nas X?
Martin and Brown recruited none other than Del McCoury and Dan Tyminski to craft a bluegrass version of “Old Town Road,” the country-rap megahit that thrust Lil Nas X into the spotlight. Also contributing are Ronnie McCoury on mandolin, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, and Garry West on bass. Their rendition emphasizes the track’s country foundations, underscoring how ridiculous it was that country radio turned its back on “Old Town Road” at the height of its popularity.
“I’ve always loved the idea of ‘Old Town Road’ as seen through bluegrass eyes,” Martin told Billboard. “Fortunately, some of the finest bluegrass musicians in the world agreed to join us, and here we are, ready to ride.” Brown added, “It’s such a well-known song that my challenge was to devise an arrangement that would spotlight our banjos without giving the core of the song away too soon.”
Watch director David Shayne’s video for the “Old Town Road” cover below.
