The biggest hit from Eric Church’s fifth album Mr. Misunderstood, “Record Year” continued the North Carolina native’s impressive run of singles topping the country radio charts. But it’s more than just a bittersweet breakup song, folding references to some of Church’s favorite music into a tale of getting over heartbreak with the help of a turntable. His heroes George Jones and Waylon Jennings get a namecheck, Willie Nelson’s landmark album Red Headed Stranger has a cameo, and progressive bluegrass cult heroes New Grass Revival get a shout out. Yet Church’s songs have always been rich with influences from outside of country, and James Brown and Stevie Wonder’s records get a spin as well.
