Kenny Takes Dwight Song on "Wild Ride"

7/25/2007 Stephen L. Betts Kenny Chesney has always held the country artists who came before him in special regard. Throughout his career, whether it's Bill Anderson, Keith Whitley, or Conway Twitty, he has included their music either in his live shows or on record. With Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates, his first new music in two years, Kenny reaches not quite so far back to put his own stamp on Dwight Yoakam’s “Wild Ride.” Dwight's orignal version appears on his 1993 album, This Time. Of his version, Kenny says, “We really did get to open up on that one. You know, sometimes you just wanna tear things up [and] recording something by an artist like Dwight Yoakam comes with its own built-in fear factor. You wanna be man enough for the job.” Also man enough for the track: Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and occasional Flip Flop Summer tour surprise guest Joe Walsh, who added some blistering electric guitar and a bit of voice box. “I went to LA to put him on the track,” Kenny reports, “and he just blew me away. I mean, there’s only one Joe Walsh - and when you hear him open it up, then tighten it down … Wow!” Since he was in LA, Kenny says he relished the opportunity to play the track for Dwight "[He] came by the hotel. We sat in the parking lot in his car and just listened. It was like high school - that getting in somebody’s car to check out some song you’re totally into. Only it was his song - and he liked it.”