''Theme for a Trucker'' is a limited edition double 7" vinyl EP by alternative country band

Whiskeytown Whiskeytown was an American alternative country band formed in 1994 from Raleigh, North Carolina. Fronted by Ryan Adams, the group included members Caitlin Cary, Phil Wandscher, Eric "Skillet" Gilmore, and Mike Daly. They disbanded in 2000 wi ...

, released by

Bloodshot Records Bloodshot Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, which specializes in alternative country. History Bloodshot Records was founded in 1994 by Nan Warshaw, Rob Miller, and Eric Babcock, who knew each other from jobs i ...

in 1997. According to the Bloodshot Records website, only 2000 copies were pressed.

Music and lyrics

The song "Theme for a Trucker" was written by

Ryan Adams David Ryan Adams (born November 5, 1974) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, artist, and poet. He has released 23 albums, as well as three studio albums as a former member of alt-country band Whiskeytown. In 2000, Adams lef ...

as a tribute to his friend Jere McIlwean, who had recently died from a heroin overdose. McIlwean (who had also been a bandmate of Adams in his pre-Whiskeytown days) was in a band named Trucker; hence the title of the song. Said Adams of McIlwean: "He’d hate that song so bad; he hated country. Well, he didn’t hate country music, but he didn’t like my version of it, anyway.” According to a 1997 article in No Depression magazine, Whiskeytown's cover of the True Believers' "The Rain Won't Help You When It's Over" almost made it onto this release. The song's inclusion was even lobbied for by its composer,

Alejandro Escovedo Alejandro Escovedo (born January 10, 1951) is an American rock musician, songwriter, and singer, who has been recording and touring since the late 1970s. His primary instrument is the guitar. He has played in various rock genres, including punk ...

Track listing

Personnel and production credits

— guitar, vocals *

Caitlin Cary Caitlin Cary (born October 28, 1968) is an alternative country musician and visual artist from Seville, Ohio. Early life Caitlin Cary is the youngest of seven siblings (all older brothers). Her entire family was involved in music to some degre ...

— violin, vocals * Phil Wandscher — guitar * Bill Ladd — pedal steel * Steve Terry — drums *

Chris Stamey Christopher Charles Stamey (born December 6, 1954) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. After a brief time playing with Alex Chilton, as well as Mitch Easter under the name Sneakers, Stamey formed The dB's with Peter ...

— bass, piano, percussion, producer, mixing, assistant engineer * Tim Harper — recording, mixing * Greg Elkins — assistant engineer * Larry Nix — mastering * Mixed at Modern Recording Service,

Chapel Hill, NC Chapel Hill is a town in Orange, Durham and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Its population was 61,960 in the 2020 census, making Chapel Hill the 17th-largest municipality in the state. Chapel Hill, Durham, and the sta ...

, January 1997 * Mastered at Ardent Studios,

Memphis, TN Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Shelby County in the southwest part of the state; it is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 U.S. census, Memphis is the second-most ...

References

{{Whiskeytown Whiskeytown EPs 1997 EPs Bloodshot Records albums