Chris Stapleton Recalls Real Time in On the Records Book

Chris Stapleton was born and raised in east Kentucky. The album Real Time was released in 2000 and recorded by Darrell Scott and Tim O'Brien. On the Records will be published on Nov. 17 and features essays by or conversations with 80 musicians about lesser-known albums.

Stapleton was probably 21 or 22 when he first heard Real Time, while living in Kentucky and driving an ice truck. Jesse Wells, Stapleton's roommate at the time, played Real Time for him. Jesse Wells plays fiddle and is a utility member of Tyler Childers' band now.

Stapleton says listening to Real Time expanded his vocabulary as to what was possible in music. Stapleton says the track 'Weary Blues from Waitin'' is a Hank Williams song. Stapleton says he had never heard of a bouzouki until he heard Tim playing it on Real Time.

Stapleton says he still listens to Real Time when driving and keeps it on regular rotation. Stapleton names Tom Petty's Wildflowers as another of his favorite albums. Other contributors to the book include Dolly Parton, Billie Eilish, Karne O, Earl Sweatshirt, Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, the Roots' Black Thought, and Willie Colón.