It’s a bittersweet day for fans of the late great Luke Bell. When Bell passed away so tragically just over three years ago, he left behind a relatively deep catalog of recordings that had yet to reach the ears of his steadily growing cult following. Now, with the release of his aptly titled posthumous record The King is Back, all of Bell’s unreleased material is on streaming platforms for fans to cherish forever. I can’t help but mention the bitter part of this equation, though, as it also means that we will never get to hear new music from Bell again. It’s all out there now. Nevertheless, the sentiment surrounding the album release is much more sweet than it is bitter, as it gives the country music industry another excuse to celebrate Bell’s life and the wonderful music he left behind. And now us fans get to wear these tunes out just like we have the rest of his catalog. Featuring 28 tracks, The King is Back showcases Bell’s timeless honky tonk sound, one that I can only imagine the pioneers of country music’s yesteryears would appreciate just as much as those aiming to carry on the tradition today. Moreover, Bell is a seasoned storyteller and deft lyricist, whose wordplay and narratives are as captivating as anyone’s, and the larger than life stories he tells reflect the manner in which he navigated his tumultuous life. These newly released songs are truly some of his best yet, adding to an already remarkable legacy. But before you give the album a listen, if you aren’t familiar with Bell’s tragic story, I recommend you study up to understand the full context and magnitude of this release. Born in Kentucky and raised in Wyoming, Bell spent most of his adult life as a drifting musician, spending time in Austin, New Orleans, and Nashville, among plenty of other places, and recorded three albums between 2012 and 2016. The third record, his self-titled project Luke Bell, is the only one available on streaming services, which in some ways, contributes to the mysterious nature of Bell’s life and career. Bell struggled with severe bipolar disorder and substance abuse issues throughout his life, and although he touched countless people with his kindness and eccentric personality over the years, he was no stranger to trouble and despair, and largely lived his life outside of the public eye. At just 32 years old, amidst a change in his bipolar medication, Bell was reported missing in Tucson, Arizona on August 20, 2022, and he was found dead nine days later. While the cause of death was ultimately reported to be a fentanyl overdose, his volatile mental issues undoubtedly played a large role in the tragedy. Gone way too soon with dozens of songs in his arsenal that never saw the light of day during his lifetime, Bell left behind an impressive catalog of unreleased music that is finally available for all to hear. Check out a few of my early favorites, and feast your ears on the spectacular music that Bell wasn’t able to release during his lifetime. Daydream Blues All I’ve Got Hand to Hold Rounder The King Is Back Tiger’s Mouth If you live in the Nashville area, I highly recommend heading over to Grimey’s this evening for the album release. There are some pretty amazing artists lined up to pay tribute to Luke Bell and carry on his legacy, and trust me, you don’t want to pass up on an opportunity to hear his music live. View this post on Instagram The King Is Back Tracklist 1) Rattlesnake Man 2) Don’t Mind If I Do 3) Long Gone Love 4) Cold Stew 5) Daydream Blues 6) I’m Not 7) Black Crows 8) On Our Own 9) All I’ve Got 10) Dark House of Fools 11) Ready for Love 12) Horse Flies 13) Guitar Man 14) Hand to Hold 15) Blue Freightliner 16) Hard Time 17) Rounder 18) Stag 19) Roofer’s Blues 20) River 21) Bottom of the Sea 22) The King Is Back 23) Irrigator’s Blues 24) Orangutang 25) Waste of Time 26) Seven and Steady 27) The Party Song 28) Tiger’s MouthThe post The King Is Back Indeed: Luke Bell’s Posthumous 28-Track Record Adds To His Remarkable Legacy first appeared on Whiskey Riff.