New York-based country songwriter Cliff Westfall writes songs about heartache, loss, addiction… you know, funny songs. Or he can turn on a dime and dive headlong into a sentimental weeper. The Kentucky native delivers with a mixture of wit and bravado that, for Westfall, is central to what country music is all about. On his new album, Baby You Win, he’s assembled a crew of some of New York’s best musicians to explore a new idea of Americana, drawing inspiration from sources often forgotten by the current country scene.
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Baby you win - new album out now
riyl | Dwight yoAkam | rodney crowell | nick lowe | robbie fulks
Baby You Win was produced by Bryce Goggin (Pavement, the Ramones, Antony and the Johnsons, Evan Dando, Phish, Akron Family) and Graham Norwood at Trout Recording in Brooklyn, NY and features:
Electric guitar: Scott Metzger (Shooter Jennings, Wolf!, Phil Lesh, Joe Russo's Almost Dead)
Electric and acoustic guitar, harmony vocals: Graham Norwood (Bryan Scary, Ward White)
Pedal steel: Dan Iead (Norah Jones, Valerie June, Cass McCombs)
Bass: Jeremy Chatzky (Ronnie Spector, Bruce Springsteen, Laura Cantrell)
Drums: David Christian (Brian Burton aka Danger Mouse, Mary Timony's Helium, Sam Cohen, Hospitality, Sweet Cream)
Keyboards: Charlie Giordano (Bruce Springsteen)
Guest harmonies from Matthew Horn (A Don Piper Situation) on "Sweet Tooth," "Hanging On," and "The Man I Used to Be."
Guest harmonies from Barbara Endes (Girls on Grass) on "A Lie If You Must."
If you'd like a physical copy, please reach out to Devon Léger at Hearth Music/HearthPR: devon@hearthmusic.com.
Recent News and Highlights:
Baby You Win received a very rare "Two Guns Up" 9/10 review by Saving Country Music and was featured in an article about Brooklyn's independent country music scene.
The album was named "Album of the Month" and received a 5 star review in the August issue of Country Music People Magazine (UK) along with a feature article.
Upon release, the album received reviews in Americana Highways, The Vinyl District, No Depression (new releases + album review + featured in “Gold Standards” and “Standards & Stanzas”), Roots Music Report (5 star review), Magnet, The Alternate Root, Country Standard Time, American Standard Time (video premiere), Goldmine, Whiskey Preachin’ Hyperbolium, Country Exclusive (8/10 review), JamBase, Lonesome Highway review + feature interview, Midwest Book Review, Listen Iowa, a 4/5 star review in Alt Country (NL), Lula 1892, The Green Man Review, & a contribution to the Gene Watson fan site alongside kind words about the album.
Baby You Win Best of 2018 lists include: Saving Country Music’s “2018 Essential Albums List,” Country Music People “Best Songs of 2018” Spotify list for ‘It Hurt Her to Hurt Me,’ Country Music People “Best Use of Bakersfield-Inspired Twang in 2018,” Americana Boogie “Top 15 Albums of 2018,” Gravel Road Radio “Best of 2018” with the track ‘Baby You Win’ placing 2nd, Lonesome Highway featured the track ‘More & More’ on its “Best of 2018” show + listed the album on multiple “Best of 2018 Lists,” New York Music Daily “The 50 Best Albums of 2018,” Lost Highway (WMBR) “Best of 2018” show featuring the track ‘I’ll Play the Fool,’ JeannieB Country Radio “One of the finest albums of 2018,” Gary Hayes Country “Top 50 of 2018” with ‘Off the Wagon’ listed among the top 10, Boots and Saddle CKUW “Favorite Tracks of the Year” radio broadcast for the track ‘Baby You Win,’ Taff Martin with Abbey 104 “Short List for Best Male Country Album of the Year,” WRIU’s Boudin Barndance “Favorite Songs of 2018” for the track ‘More and More,’ Americana und so weiter named Baby You Win #5 on its “2018 Top 20,” and Hurtin For Real’s “2018 Hurts of the Year” for the track ‘Till the Right One Comes Along.’
The title track "Baby You Win," premiered in Cowboys & Indians.
"I'll Play the Fool," from Baby You Win, premiered in Popdust.
"Till the Right One Comes Along," a track from Baby You Win, premiered in Ghettoblaster.
Baby You Win was selected as one of "Rick's Picks" for the July CD HotList alongside a glowing review.
"More and More," the first track released from Baby You Win, premiered on PopMatters alongside kind words about the song and the album.
"More and More" was a finalist in the Chris Austin Songwriting Competition. The competition is held each year at the legendary MerleFest with this year's judges consisting of Rodney Crowell and Johnny Williams.
Baby You Win was featured in the New York Music Daily and Westfall's live performance was named part of "the best Americana triplebill of the year."