Song Premiere: Walk Wilkins "Dreams Like This"

​Early next year, Eight 30 Records will release the digital collection, Sideman's Dream (And Other Stories) on Spotify, CD Baby, Apple, Amazon, and other streaming services. The new album features twelve songs including Verlon Thompson's moving title track (a tribute to Thompson's longtime musical partner Guy Clark), as well as tunes performed by Matt Harlan, Chris Fullerton, BettySoo, and more. “We're so excited to release Sideman's Dream (And Other Stories) through our friends at CD Baby,” says Jenni Finlay, who co-produced the dozen tracks with label co-owner Brian T. Atkinson. “This album shines a spotlight on some of our very favorite singer songwriters from the Lone Star state and beyond.”

​Sideman's Dream also includes first single, the reflective "Dreams Like This." Performed by Walt Wilkins, the previously unreleased song by Greg Trooper is the first since he passed two years ago and today, TDC has the true pleasure of premiering the song.

Led by Wilkins' singular, emotive vocals alongside a reserved acoustic guitar (and featuring a vocal cameo from the divine Jamie Lin Wilson), "Dreams Like This", with its uncomplicated, thoughtful lyricism and gentle melody, conveys an enormity of wistful romanticism that can simply be described as sadly beautiful.

"Shelter from a Monday rain
Standing under an elevated train
A knowing smile, a tender kiss
I still have dreams like this
I still have dreams like this

"I hope you're doing fine
As fine as you can be
Am I ever on your mind?
You have no idea what that would mean to me"

Wilkins reflects on his friend Trooper,
"I consider Trooper a true “Fellow Traveler.”   We played a lot of the same circuits, and met in Nashville when we were trying to get other folks to record our songs.  But it was clear he was a lot bigger than that game - a beautiful writer about real life, a natural & accessible performer, and a romantic with a huge, expressive soul.  He was one of the best storytellers ever.  And: I just liked the hell out of him, personally.  I wished we’d seen each other more.  Singing his songs keeps part of him with me."

Track listing for Sideman's Dream (And Other Stories)
​
• Verlon Thompson, “Sideman's Dream”
• Walt Wilkins feat. Jamie Lin Wilson, “Dreams Like This” (Greg Trooper)
• Matt Harlan, “What We Saw”
• Chris Fullerton, “The Last Thing I Want to Do Is Die” (Kent Finlay)
• Tim Easton, “Cold and Bitter Tears” (Ted Hawkins)
• Randy Weeks, “Sunny”
• Bill Chambers, “I'll Never Let You Go”
• Noel McKay, “I See Brown People”
• Jaimee Harris, “Where Are You Going Now?”
• BettySoo, “Wake Up to the World”
• Curtis McMurtry, “Bayonet”
• Graham Weber, “Love Don't Quit”

SIDEMAN'S DREAM (AND OTHER STORIES) WILL RELEASE ON EIGHT 30 RECORDS ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, 2019