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James McMurtry Readies New Album ‘The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy’

James McMurtry previews his new album 'The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy' with the title track, inspired by his father, author Larry McMurtry.

One of America's greatest living songwriters previews his first album in four years with the release of the title track, inspired by his father, Lonesome Dove author Larry McMurtry That moment fully arrives on June 20, when McMurtry, one of the most respected singer-songwriters of his generation, releases The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy, his first studio LP in four years. Connected to his father, the late novelist Larry McMurtry, the title song takes its name from what he calls “two of my father’s regular hallucinations toward the end of his life.” (Watching the “squares” go to work in the morning, the title character observes them boarding commuter buses, “jammin’ out that old Weird Al song and they ain’t got time for us.”) “Annie,” featuring a vocal harmony and banjo from Jarosz, chronicles the aftermath of 9/11.

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