Song Premiere: Patterson Hood, 'Come Back Little Star'

Click to listen to Patterson Hood's 'Come Back Little Star'

Patterson Hood teamed up with friend Kelly Hogan for "Come Back Little Star," the lead single from the Drive-By Truckers frontman's solo album Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance. 

"She began the lyrics as a song for our late, dear friend Vic Chesnutt, and I rewrote it with the intention of her recording it for her album," Hood tells Rolling Stone. "She ended up letting me put it on my album and it's a highlight to me."

Hood says he was thrilled to work with Hogan. "I've only done a little bit of co-writing, but I was crazy about our collaboration as I felt it took both of us places we hadn't gone. We recorded this one with Jay [Gonzalez] on grand piano and my dad on bass. [John] Neff's pedal steel does a call-and-response with our strings [Jacob Morris on cello and Scott Danbom on fiddle]. Hogan's gorgeous harmony took it all to the next level. It may be my favorite song I've ever recorded."

Hood is playing solo shows this summer, including dates with the Drive-By Truckers, and he will join Craig Finn and Will Johnson for a European tour in November. Heat Lightning Rumbles in the Distance hits stores on September 11th.