To say that many of us were shocked when the legendary Toby Keith passed away is an understatement. After breaking the news in 2022 concerning the stomach cancer diagnosis, he had also shared that he’d undergone chemotherapy, surgery and immunology. Surely, if anyone could come out winning it would be Toby. He was a former semi pro football player, and roughneck that worked the make or break oilfields at the ripe old age of 18!
Speechless was a phrase I kept seeing over and over because when we lost Toby on February 5th, 2024, we truly lost a legend. He was 62. We were very happy to see the resurgence with his music. His greatest hits album The Show Dog Years topped the all genre Billboard Hot 200 posthumously.
It was clear that the love for the Big Dawg extended far beyond country music as the world mourned the passing of a cultural icon. Though, I’m pretty sure, he never saw himself that way. He was just being Toby after all.
Now we get an opportunity to hear a brand new song from Toby by way of HARDY'S HIXTAPE. Since 2019, Hardy has released a countrified version of what in the hip hop/R&B world is known as a mixtape. As legend notes, originally, a mixtape was an actual cassette with songs from a variety of independent artists. It has since evolved to mean different things, but can often mean self produced songs in a compilation form.
HARDY'S HIXTAPE Vol. 3, DIFFTAPE is a tribute to one of the best honky tonk country singers of all time Joe Diffie. We lost Joe on March 29, 2020. That was a very hard one to lose for me. He was the last show I saw before the Covid lockdown.
Opry star, Joe Diffie was such a nice person. Despite being a Grammy winning, multi platinum artist, and George Jones mentee, he always embraced his younger fans.. He followed our account on Twitter after the show. Joe was also an incredible songwriter. If he didn’t finish you off with his stone cold singing, the heart-wrenching lyrics would do the trick like the ones in this song..
HARDY'S HIXTAPE Vol. 3 DIFFTAPE presents a stealthy selection of some of Joe Diffie’s greatest hits. Joe Diffie sings the original version of the song on each track, and the artists trade off verses. I really like how the original interpretation or vibe of the songs are in tact. Joe Diffie's son Parker also makes an appearance in the closing song "Life Had Plans For Me".
Featured Artists
Joe Diffie
Toby Keith
HARDY
Morgan Wallen
Post Malone
Sammy Kershaw
Ernest
Luke Combs
Tracy Lawrence
Randy Houser
Reba McEntire
Jake Worthington
Darius Rucker
Hailey Whitters
Parker Diffie
Lainey Wilson
Old Dominion
Jon Pardi
Luke Bryan
Mark Wills
Nate Smith
Randall King
Jack Ingram
Koe Wetzel
Lauren Watkins
Kameron Marlowe
Chris Young
Blake Shelton
Brooks & Dunn
Clint Black
Larry Fleet
Aaron Tippin
They all do a fine job, but of course, the standout track for many will be Toby Keith’s voice on Ships That Don’t Come In. It took me well over a year before I could hear Joe sing that song after his passing. The lines that always tug at my heart strings are as follows:
“I guess we can't complain
God made life a gamble
And we're still in the game..”
Hearing Toby sing those lines was impactful. His Twitter account chimed in on the song as well..
Luke Combs singing on the track with Joe, and Toby seemed almost like a passing of the torch from Toby to the Tarheel. Luke did a fine job. You’ve probably already heard some of the songs on The DIFFTAPE like this one..
As you can hear, HARDY'S HIXTAPE, Vol 3, DIFFTAPE is a banger!
It is a total vibe, and a top shelf tribute to one of the greatest honky tonk singers of all time Joe Diffie. AND, We're also treated to Toby Keith's last recorded song on this newly released tribute to Joe Diffie. All good things. So, what are you waiting for? Pop a top and play it!
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