album archive: Billy Yates

Billy Yates' 2009 release Bill's Barber Shop contains much of the same kind of songs that have given him a successful career over the past decade.  Does that mean that his music has grown stale or is it just what his audience wants?

For his first self-issued album release in 2001, Billy Yates showcased a love of traditional-minded country music with blend of modern production sensibilities.  Check out what we had to say about it in our latest Album Archive showcase.

By the time of this release Billy Yates had released a debut album through a label and then If I Could Go Back via his own label. The success of the latter album allowed for more neo-traditionalist fare on the aptly titled Country.

For his third self-released album through his own M.O.D. Records label, Billy Yates came out with this 16 track collection tunes, a winning blend of traditional honky tonk barn-burners, wry story songs and sweet and reflective ballads.

Easily the hardest-to-find album of Billy Yates' Albums (it's the only out of print album), Billy Yates nonetheless shows off the potential that the singer/songwriter had exhibited as a go-to songwriter for artists like George Jones.

In our first Album Archive series, we spotlight one of the most successful country artists that you've likely not heard of.  Get to know Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Billy Yates through our series of reviews featuring each of his album releases.