One of the most critically acclaimed albums of 2009 in the Country Music world was PILGRIMAGE from Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers. The Curb release is the first album of all-new material for the Brothers Gatlin since 1992’s ADIOS. The album is representative of Gatlin music past, present, and future.

For starters, the album contains new versions of three songs from Larry’s pen from the early years----"Sweet Becky Walker," "Penny Annie," and a stunning version of his 1978 hit "I’ve Done Enough Dyin’ Today," recorded this time as a duet with Lari White. Re-recording the first two songs, according to Gatlin, was a natural progression. The songs originally appeared on his 1973 album PILGRIM. The tunes were favorites of Johnny Cash, who wrote the liner notes for the album. As a tribute to "The Man In Black," the trio decided to record an updated version of the song----but at the same time, to keep things in the Cash family circle. "We said ‘Hey, John Carter is a great record producer," said Larry in an interview on Nashville’s Music Row. "Let’s do those songs over, and put them on this album. I was trying to think of a name for the album, and I thought ‘What do pilgrims do? They go on pilgrimages…they go on journeys…." So, that’s kinda what happened. There wasn’t any grand plan we sat around to do. I think it’s like that old deal about if you’ll bring the bucket, God will bring the well. I brought the bucket---my bucket is the songs I write, two brothers who are great singers and great guys, getting in the studio with great musicians, and it took on a life of its’ own."

The present is represented by the trio’s latest single release, "Johnny Cash Is Dead And His House Burned Down." While some might view the song as having bitterness toward the newer breed in Nashville, Gatlin says that is not the case.

"One night, my son asked me ‘What’s wrong with Country Music. It doesn’t sound right. It doesn’t sound the same.’ I said ‘Hold it, son. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just different. Those young kids are doing it their way. We’re doing it our way. We’ve got to realize that the world is a different place, and will never be the same. After all, Johnny Cash is dead and his house burned down!"

And as far as the future goes, there are several hints on PILGRIMAGE that Gatlin’s songwriting genius might very well be in full bloom once again. Several of the songs have a sound that could place them on the airwaves today---if not for the Gatlins themselves, then perhaps for other artists. Writing with such other tunesmiths as Jon Randall and Leslie Satcher, the future looks bright for more Gatlin music.

After all, that is how Gatlin got to Nashville in the first place---almost forty years ago, when the singer came to Music City on the advice of the late Dottie West. When asked about her impact on his life and career, Gatlin didn’t miss a beat. "Well I’d be a bad lawyer in Houston if it weren’t for her," he admits. "She heard some songs in Las Vegas that I had written around the time that I was trying out for the Imperials. I didn’t get the job I was trying out for, but I met her. She loved songwriters, and loved great songs. I wrote a couple of things while we were out there at the Landmark Hotel doing the Jimmy Dean Show. She introduced me to the great songwriters in town. I learned from her because she was a great songwriter, and she introduced me to Willie, Kris, Roger, Hank Cochran, and Red Lane. Her influence was great in my life, and I’m thankful for it. I still miss her."

Through people like West and Monument Records’ Fred Foster, Gatlin’s star rose steadily throughout the 1970s, thanks to a list of hits like "Broken Lady," "I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love," and his biggest hit, 1979’s "All The Gold In California." Gatlin shared with us the story of how that song got written.

"I was stuck in a traffic jam at the Hollywood Bowl in LA, and right in front of me was a 1958 Mercury station wagon with Oklahoma license plates. They had skinny kids in the car, pots and pans---all they needed was Granny Clampett on top in the rocker. It was the Jobe family from The Grapes Of Wrath---a modern day one. They had come from Oklahoma to California to strike it rich…to find their gold mine….and we were stuck in this traffic jam, and the thought came to me….’These poor Okies…Bless their hearts….They’re coming out here to find the land of milk and honey, and they’re gonna find that all the gold in California is in a bank in the middle of Beverly Hills in somebody elses’ name. I took the Hertz rental car packet, and took my pen out, and wrote that down. About that time, the traffic jam broke up. I went on over to Burbank where I had a meeting with Mo Austin of Warner Brothers Records, and after that, I went out in the parking lot and wrote the song in about eight minutes. We decided to sign with CBS…I did a show with the Charlie Daniels Band and Willie Nelson, and taught it to the brothers at a date in Houston. We sang it that night, and people went nuts. That was our first release for CBS, and the biggest record we ever had."

The singer knows that getting that type of radio play in today’s climate for PILGRIMAGE is not going to be easy, but he’s going to keep doing what he’s always done. "Some are playing the song, and I hope they do, but I’m gonna keep making music with my brothers, so we’ll see."

For more info on Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, check out www.gatlinbrothers.com!