Beyond The Headlines
After its release on his album “Leather” in 2023, the song “Dirt Cheap” quickly became a beloved hit on country radio, soaring to the top of the charts. This Texas-born troubadour, Josh Phillips, has gained a devoted fan base that adores this particular track. However, the story behind the creation of this song takes us back to Tennessee, where Phillips and his wife purchased a run-down farmhouse with the intention of renovating it and eventually selling it.
To fund their renovation project, Phillips and his wife decided to sell off unnecessary possessions and saved up the money along with additional income, wedding gifts, and their personal savings.
While they worked on rebuilding the house over the years, the couple also built their own little family, welcoming the arrival of three children. In 2022, when the renovations were finally completed, they sat outside around a fire they had built, contemplating the idea of selling the house. It was during this conversation that Phillips realized he had developed an attachment to the property and no longer wanted to move.
Phillips has a knack for jotting down phrases that he believes could make good song titles. During the renovation period, he came across the phrase “dirt cheap” and jotted it down, setting it aside. However, while talking by the fire and reflecting on their shared memories in the house they had built, Phillips remarked, “You can’t buy this kind of dirt cheap.” This very phrase sparked the inspiration for the song.
In the course of the song, Phillips expresses that the memories his family created on their land hold immeasurable value to him, surpassing any monetary worth. He includes lines like “the little girl that used to swing right there/I still see her pink bow in her brown hair,” offering a personal touch that resonates with his own experiences on the family property.
Initially, Phillips pitched the song to country star Luke Combs, but Combs declined to record it. Eventually, Phillips’s wife suggested sending the demo of “Dirt Cheap” to Cody Johnson, who happened to be close friends with Trent Willmon, one of Johnson’s trusted producers. Phillips sent the demo to Willmon, hoping Johnson might be interested. Fortunately, Johnson decided to include the song on his third studio album “Leather”.
When Johnson first listened to the demo, he was so moved that he said, “It was so incredible the first time I heard it [that] I almost started tearing up and crying.” When Phillips and his wife heard Johnson’s final recording of the song, they too were moved to tears.
Johnson explains that country music fans are now craving songs with storytelling elements once again. He is thrilled about what this means for the entire genre, stating, “People want to hear these songs again. These songs tell a story and you feel something… I think it’s cool to see country music in general coming back around to those types of songs.”
Initially, Johnson was unsure about releasing “Dirt Cheap” as a single, but the overwhelming support from fans changed his mind. After the release of the “Leather” album, listeners discovered “Dirt Cheap” on their own and its popularity soared. This prompted Johnson and his team to officially release it as the album’s second single in March 2024. Prior to its official release, the song had already garnered significant airtime due to fans streaming it independently.
“Dirt Cheap” is part of Johnson’s double album release, “Leather: The Deluxe Edition,” with the first half already available and the second half set to debut in the fall of 2024. Currently, Johnson is on his “The Leather Tour,” where he promotes “Dirt Cheap” and other songs from his latest record.
Phillips regards “Dirt Cheap” as one of his favorite songs he has ever written. Months after its initial release, he observes that the song continues to resonate with people, including himself and his family. In his own words, he states, “This song has been nothing but a series of thanking God. It seems like every other month it takes on a new life, which has been amazing.”
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