Genre: Soul
Rating: 8.2

Track List:
1. Sleeping Without You Is a Dragg 04:01
2. Good, Better, Best 02:50
3. Don’t Take Her (She’s All I Got) 04:59
4. Family Pain 03:08
5. I Lay Awake 03:42
6. Memories (feat. John Prine) 04:47
7. I’d Rather Be Your Used To Be 04:15
8. Billy 02:44
9. A Good Song 02:54
10. Please Let Me Go Round Again (feat. John Prine) 04:40

Country inspired funkified soul music.

Two tracks feature the late John Prine. They are among some of the last known studio work that Prine was involved in before losing the battle to Covid-19. The album was released a month before Prine’s death but still, the title Sorry You Couldn’t Make It takes on a somber new meaning with the loss. Hearing Prine sing the lyrics ‘memories don’t leave like people do‘ and ‘please let me go round again‘ take on a haunting layer of significance in the country legends absence.

Speaking of Memories, the chorus has been an earworm that hasn’t left my head since the album’s release back in March 2020. I find myself singing or humming along to it all the time.

Sorry You Couldn’t Make It balances it’s upbeat funky soul songs with some heart wrenching ballads and covers all the territory in between with ease. A new classic from an under-appreciated master.

Favourite Tracks: ‘Memories’, ‘Good, Better, Best’ & ‘Family Pain’

Support and sample here.

Enjoy.