Releases socially resonant music video for “Story of Everything” featuring Chuck D, Andra Day + Gary Clark Jr.
Sheryl Crow’s final studio album Threads, released on August 30th via The Valory Music Co., arrives at No. 1 on both Billboard’s Americana/Folk Albums chart and iTunes Singer/Songwriter Top Albums Chart, after ascending to No. 5 on the iTunes all-genre US Top Albums Chart. The 17 track, career capping album features musical collaborations with the cream of rock, pop and country – Stevie Nicks, Emmylou Harris, Johnny Cash, Mavis Staples, Eric Clapton, Sting, Keith Richards, Willie Nelson, Brandi Carlile, Gary Clark Jr., Maren Morris, St. Vincent, Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton, James Taylor and more.
This week, Crow released a brilliant new kaleidoscopic video for the timely “Story Of Everything,” a song that recalls the socially conscious inner-city 1970’s funk grooves of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield. Guest appearances are woven brilliantly with Crow’s roots rock style as hip hop founding father and track co-writer Chuck D, retro-pop soul singer/songwriter Andra Day and boundary-defying musician/guitarist Gary Clark Jr. add fire. Producer Steve Jordan also receives co-writing credit, and his signature drum swing anchors the track.
“’The Story of Everything’ was born out of a feeling of frustration with the state of affairs in America at this moment in time,” says Crow. “As a single mother, I feel a responsibility to my children to speak to the urgent issues that are shaping the world they will inherit from us through my music. I felt that so much hope accompanied our first black President into office, but that hope turned into fear and division. My old friend Chuck D has been speaking to the history of racial struggle and inequality in his music for decades. We got to know each other around 1994, in the Rock-The-Vote days. He is one of the most important poets of our day. And Gary Clark Jr., who plays guitar on the track, has risen to make his own fierce musical and social statements. Back in 2009, Gary came in to audition for my ‘100 Miles From Memphis’ tour and it was evident from the second he plugged in his guitar that he had a bigger destiny than being a sideman. I heard Andra Day’s incredible song ‘Rise Up’ on the radio and asked her to sing on ‘Story’ because when you hear her singular voice, you BELIEVE what she’s saying. Also adding the funk to this track is the great Greg Phillinganes, a dear friend who spent many an hour teaching me his philosophy to writing musical hooks. Deep love and gratitude to Greg!”
With Rolling Stone pronouncing Crow is “in the midst of a deserved critical renaissance,” Variety offering, “some of the best writing she’s done,” The New York Times announcing, “built for loudness-wars radio and women’s self-sufficiency,” PEOPLE raving “soul-stirring” or The Los Angeles Times noting “the defiant perspective of a woman adventurer in pursuit of herself.”
Earlier this week, Crow appeared on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon with Jason Isbell and made an appearance at Nashville’s Americanafest. Next, she’s heading to Los Angeles for two shows at the historic Ace Theater later this week.