Ronnie Dunn, ‘Showdown’ [Exclusive Premiere]
Brooks & Dunn member Ronnie Dunn is preparing a new album of covers for release next year, but he's been sharing songs from the project, two at a time, since early September. The singer will release two more tracks on Friday (Oct. 25), and The Boot's readers are getting an exclusive first listen to one of them: "Showdown."
Press play above to hear Dunn's take on "Showdown," originally by the English prog-rock band Electric Light Orchestra. Written by ELO leader Jeff Lynne and released in 1973, "Showdown" was a Top 20 charting song in the United Kingdom (No. 12) and landed at No. 53 on the Billboard Hot 100. Dunn's version of the song keeps the original's orchestral melody, which is aided by an urgent-sounding string section.
Dunn's covers album, dubbed Re-Dunn, is a 24-track passion project, featuring songs that have been the soundtrack of his life. Thus far, Dunn has shared his versions of George Strait's "Amarillo By Morning," the Hollies' "Long Cool Woman (in a Black Dress)," Tom T. Hall’s “That’s How I Got to Memphis” and Ace’s “How Long.” In addition to "Showdown," he'll also be releasing his take on Johnny Rodriguez's "That’s The Way Love Goes" on Friday.
"If you put together a group of songs that define the soundtrack of my life, this is what it would look like,” Dunn says. The album, which is available for pre-order now, also features the Eagles' "Peaceful Easy Feeling," Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl" and more. It's Dunn's fourth solo album, and his newest since 2016's Tattooed Heart.
The year 2019 has been a big one for Brooks & Dunn: The '90s country superstars released a new album, Reboot, in April, and were recently inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
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