Oklahoma native James Robert Webb may have a steady day gig as a doctor, but you'd swear he's an archaeologist the way he digs up that classic '90s country vibe on new single "Now We're Gettin' Somewhere." It's his first single since the "new neo-traditionalist's" 2017 album Honky Tonk Revival.
The song traces that timeless tale of, well, hoping to get some romance going. "Everyone's been on that date," Webb tell Wide Open Country. "It doesn't matter if you're sixteen or sixty. If you're on a date there's that moment of fear and anticipation and then the sparks fly."
James Robert Webb says he listened to a hundred songs for his current project, settling on "Now We're Gettin' Somewhere" as lead single. "It immediately grabbed me," he says. "It's the type of song that I haven't heard in a while and I want to hear it on the radio."
Heavyhitters Shawn Camp, Taylor Dunn and Wynn Varble wrote the song. "Shawn Camp sings on the demo and it's animated, it's country," Webb says. Capturing equal parts Rodney Atkins and Lee Brice, Webb's vocal certainly captures the spirit of that original animated sentiment.
Listen to the premiere of "Now We're Gettin' Somewhere" below.
Providence
James Robert Webb and company recorded the song at the famed Blackbird Studios in Nashville.
If it sounds like something straight out of the '90s heyday, this next little factoid will make even more sense. "[Producer Buddy Cannon] told me he's had 'Now We're Gettin' Somewhere' for 25 years I think," Webb says. "He says that he's tried to get everyone he's worked with to cut it. Some amazing artists have passed on it: [Sammy] Kershaw, [Kenny] Chesney. I thank God for that, because I think it was meant for me."
Buddy Cannon, of course, works with some of the biggest names in country music, including Webb's personal hero Willie Nelson. "So, six months ago, if you had told me that I would be working with Buddy and that he would be producing my next record, I would have thought you were smoking something," Webb says. "But then it happened and as soon as I found, I just had this feeling inside me that said "He's gonna have a really great song that was meant for me. I don't know how to explain it otherwise."
"Now We're Gettin' Somewhere" is available for download on Sept. 21 and hits radio beginning Sept. 24.
