Legendary Country songwriter Alice Randall has released her first album after decades of writing hits for other artists. Randall’s album, “My Black Country: The Songs of Alice Randall,” encompasses recordings of previously released songs she wrote, but this time, sung by Black women.
The 11-track album includes features artists Leyla McCalia, SistaStrings, Adia Victoria, Rhiannon Giddens, Sunny War, Miko Marks, Allison Russell, Saaneah, Rissi Palmer, Valerie June and Caroline Randall Williams.
In 1994, Randall became the first Black woman songwriter to score a #1 Country song with Trisha Yearwood’s “XXX’s And OOO’s (An American Girl).”
Download Randall’s “My Black Country” here.
In a social media post, Randall talks about releasing her first album, and at the age of 64.
“What an amazing early birthday present genius, music-making women have given me by carving joy and history and love into these tracks! Join the party that began in a Motown cherry tree. Lil, DeFord, Ray, Charley, and Herb, the first family of Black Country, the party is for you!”
Palmer spoke with us in March about being featured on Randall’s tribute album and said that being on this album is a way to honor someone who honors her.
“Being on this record meant the world to me,” Palmer said. “It was a way to honor someone who always honors me. And so, it was a really small thing that I could do. And really, even the record is kind of a selfless thing because we all get to say that we’re on this record and put out new material and all kinds of stuff. So even in the moment where she’s supposed to be thinking of herself, she’s thinking of others. I’m among some really amazing women artists, black women that are not only artists but activists that are change-makers in their own way.”
In connection with the album, Randall has also released her book, “My Black Country: A Journey Through Country Music’s Black Past, Present, and Future.”
Part of the description of the book reads as follows:
“Randall found inspiration and comfort in the sounds and history of the first family of Black country music: DeFord Bailey, Lil Hardin, Ray Charles, Charley Pride, and Herb Jeffries who, together, made up a community of Black Americans rising through hard times to create simple beauty, true joy, and sometimes profound eccentricity.
“What emerges in My Black Country is a celebration of the most American of music genres and the radical joy in realizing the power of Black influence on American culture.
“As country music goes through a fresh renaissance today, with a new wave of Black artists enjoying success, My Black Country is the perfect gift for longtime country fans and a vibrant introduction to a new generation of listeners who previously were not invited to give the genre a chance.