Born out of the love of rock music and admiration for the virtuosity of bluegrass musicians, the Pickin’ On Series brings together talented and innovative bluegrass and Americana talent to perform tributes to the biggest and most-loved artists in music. A beloved tradition at CMH Records for over 30 years and 300 albums, the latest release will be Pickin’ On Post Malone, out on digital release July 31. Those taking on the singer, songwriter, rapper, and record producer’s plethora of massive hits include Water Tower, Big Richard, JD Casper, The Barefoot Movement, Holler Choir and series stalwarts Iron Horse. 

For the collection’s first single, Post Malone’s chart-topping smash “Sunflower” gets a down-home makeover. Pickin’ On Series teamed up with Water Tower, a high-energy, punk-rock bluegrass band out of Los Angeles, to reimagine this beloved Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse anthem with banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and raw acoustic soul. Water Tower brings their signature raw energy and technical brilliance to a song that was already impossibly catchy – proof that great songwriting sounds just as good with strings as it does with a beat. Check out the track and music video, out today, June 19. WATCH HERE

“Sunflower” by Water Tower out June 19: 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=77t-6MoTWzY | https://lnk.to/POsun  

Pickin’ On Post Malone brings together a new generation of bluegrass and Americana talent to reinterpret the music of Post Malone. It features Water Tower’s take on three hand-picked favorites, Big Richard’s lush harmonies, JD Casper’s drive, The Barefoot Movement’s soulful sonics, and Holler Choir’s intricate acoustics. Not to be outdone by the young’uns, series stalwarts Iron Horse return with their take on two of Post’s biggest hits. Special featured guests MyVerse and Sean Jacobs–who’s opened for Post Malone previously–also lend their talents to a pair of tracks. A rundown of the track listing is below. 

Each band’s own brand of roots music shines through Post Malone’s earlier atmospheric trap, his more recent down-to-earth country pop, and the songs in-between. Post Malone fans will love to hear how well these hooks lend themselves to traditional ensembles, and the more traditional-minded won’t need to be familiar with Post Malone to put this album on repeat.

Though Pickin’ On started modestly in 1993 with the release of Pickin’ On the Movies, tributes to The Beatles and Eagles soon followed, and by 1997 the Pickin’ On Series was on fire. It continues to thrive with one hand in traditional bluegrass and the other in popular music, ready for the next chance to create innovative bluegrass music. Now over 30 years in and 300 albums deep, the Pickin’ On Series is one of the most beloved traditions at CMH.

Recent Pickin’ On releases, Pickin’ On Creedence Clearwater Revival, Pickin’ On The Doors, Pickin’ On Pearl Jam and Pickin’ On Nirvana, were well-received and garnered press from Rolling Stone, Brooklyn Vegan, and Uproxx, among others. Pickin’ On Modest Mouse and Fade to Bluegrass: The Bluegrass Tribute to Metallica both charted on Billboard’s Top Bluegrass Albums chart. The series has also been given extensive retrospective write-ups by Los Angeles Times and No Depression and songs from Pickin’ On have been featured in the television series Revolution and HBO’s True Blood. Other artists that have been given the Pickin’ On treatment include Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, the Allman Brothers Band, Coldplay, The Black Keys, Jack White, The Killers and many more.

Track listing for Pickin’ On Post Malone:

1. Sunflower (Performed by Water Tower)

2. Chemical (Performed by JD Casper)

3. I Had Some Help (Performed by Iron Horse)

4. Better Now (Performed by Holler Choir)

5. Lemon Tree (Performed by Big Richard)

6. White Iverson (Performed by Water Tower feat. Sean Jacobs)

7. Circles (Performed by JD Casper)

8. Guy For That (Performed by Iron Horse)

9. Wrapped Around Your Finger (Performed by The Barefoot Movement)

10. Congratulations (Performed by Holler Choir)

11. rockstar (Performed by Water Tower feat. MyVerse)

12. Sunflower (Performed by JD Casper)

About CMH Records:

Founded in 1975 by Martin Haerle, CMH Records has released albums from artists whose monumental influence on American roots music is unparalleled. The label is responsible for essential recordings throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s by bluegrass, old time and traditional country legends such as Merle Travis, The Osborne Brothers, Mac Wiseman, Joe Maphis, Jim & Jesse McReynolds, Grandpa Jones, Lester Flatt and Eddie Adcock. Throughout the ‘90s and into the new millennium, CMH Records continued to cut records with artists such as Wanda Jackson (aka “The Queen of Rockabilly”), Raul Malo, Larry Cordle, Pine Mountain Railroad, Jimmy Gaudreau, and many others. Producing songs rich in American heritage by artists with their own distinct style created a strong backbone and history for the label.

The label remains a proud family business, now run by Martin’s son David. Described by the Los Angeles Times as a “stubborn, curious Silver Lake music company,” the label has been a strong proponent for honest music and has found success with its classic catalog and its ongoing Pickin’ On Series, which features bluegrass interpretations of contemporary artists, including recent hit albums dedicated to the music of Nirvana and Modest Mouse. The Times piece added that CMH “meets unsung needs in the music industry” and cited its “creative diversification.”

Follow CMH RECORDS:

Web | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Spotify