NEW LP
New sealed copy.
Darling Blue finds Marcus King stretching into new territory without abandoning his roots. Released in 2025 and produced by Eddie Spear, the album marks the first time King has co-credited the Marcus King Band since his early career. While it’s not a country record outright, it’s unmistakably steeped in Nashville character. Collaborations with Kaitlin Butts, Jamey Johnson, Billy Strings, and Jesse Welles lend the record a sense of communal warmth, while contributions from Paul Franklin and Billy Contreras add fiddle, steel, and banjo to King’s trademark mix of Southern soul and blues-driven rock.
The album’s opening half leans toward country and acoustic textures, led by “On & On” and “Here Today,” while songs like “Honky Tonk Hell,” “Heartlands,” and “Die Alone” deliver twang and storytelling with real conviction. The latter half swings back to the gritty, horn-streaked R&B and Southern rock sound that has long defined King’s catalog. “No Room for Blue” channels the vintage sweat of FAME Studios, and “Levi’s & Goodbyes” closes on a bittersweet note that’s both intimate and assured.
Ultimately, Darling Blue is a personal statement—less about genre and more about grounding. It reflects King’s sobriety, his marriage, and his deep ties to Greenville, South Carolina. Soulful and reflective, it’s a love letter to home and to the life he’s built after years of hard touring. The guitars may take a step back, but the heart of Marcus King’s music beats stronger than ever.
TRACKLIST:
A1 On & On
A2 Here Today
A3 Honky Tonk Hell
A4 Heartlands
A5 Die Alone
A6 Somebody Else
A7 Levi's & Goodbyes
B1 Carolina Honey
B2 No Room For Blue
B3 Blue Ridge Mountain Moon
B4 Dirt (Nashville Version)
B5 The Shadows
B6 Pretty Petty
B7 Carry Me Home
