Jason Allen - Something I Dreamed

In this week's episode we're featuring the debut album of Houston area country singer Jason Allen: "Something I Dreamed" (2001). Though 25 years old at the time of recording, Allen's early influences included Lefty Frizzell, Bob Wills and Hank Williams - and it shows. After several years spent in Nashville honing his skills as a songwriter and making all-important business connections, Allen returned to Texas and it was at a local club where Wes Daily took an interest in this upcoming talent and signed to him a revived D Records in the early part of the new millennium. Wes Daily is the grandson of HW "Pappy" Daily - the man credited with bringing George Jones to fame and producing his early records in the 1950s - and other big names in the area were quick to jump on board too. Starring Bobby Flores on fiddle and harmonies, produced by Daily & Clay Blaker in Tommy Detamore's Cherry Ridge Studios (Detamore is also steelin' on this album), "Something I Dreamed" is surely one of the best debuts of the 21st Century. The Daily family still owns Glad Music Publishing as well as D Records, and taking particular aim at songs George Strait had put on hold but never recorded, Jason Allen whittled down almost fifty songs to a robust twelve track project that oozes country tradition. Highlights are plentiful, but standouts include songs written by ace team Curtis Wayne and Wayne Kemp - a splendid version of Conway Twitty's 1968 "Next In Line"; the aching "Love Don't Get Much Colder" and a piece of country wordplay mastery in "Cryin' For Their Mamas". You need this album in your collection - trust me.