Riley Green’s ‘Don’t Mind If I Do' has already proved he’s one of country music’s most authentic rising stars, blending classic country grit, southern rock swagger and 90s nostalgia. Across the original album, Green moved seamlessly between sultry love songs, rowdy good-time anthems and heartfelt tributes to rural life, showing off both his storytelling chops and his ability to channel old-school country spirit with a modern touch. We reviewed the original release back in October last year and you can read that review right here.
Now, the ‘Deluxe Edition' takes things a step further with six brand-new tracks that expand on those same themes. Whether he’s raising a glass in a barroom anthem, reflecting on faith and family, or turning up the heat on a late-night ballad, Green adds even more depth and range to a record that already felt like a modern country classic.
‘Don’t Mind If I Do' was already a testament to his ability to balance traditional country storytelling with a modern sheen. On the deluxe edition, he adds six new songs that broaden the record’s scope without diluting its character. Where the original project ranged from playful celebrations of small-town living to intimate portraits of family and heartache, these additions deepen the emotional core, introducing fresh collaborations and more reflective, sometimes sobering, moments. The result is an album that feels more complete and more ambitious, a record that now captures an even wider spectrum of human experience.
One of the strongest new inclusions is ‘Make It Rain,' a stripped-back ballad that thrives on its sparseness. Against a subdued acoustic backdrop, Green sings with striking vulnerability about lost love, building to a blues-tinged crescendo with soulful electric guitar flourishes and a tasteful solo. The restraint of the arrangement only heightens the track’s impact, allowing Green’s vocals to carry the weight of regret and longing. It stands as one of the record’s most affecting heartbreak songs, showing how powerful simplicity can be in a genre sometimes prone to overproduction. Listen carefully and you can hear lineage here all the way back to Brad Paisley's ‘Shattered Glass' in the melody and the timbre of Green's rich vocals.
Green’s roots and family values also find renewed focus on the deluxe tracks. ‘Cowboy as It Gets,' featuring Randy Houser, is a grittier, blues-infused tribute to their fathers, men who embody the toughness and resilience of cowboys without the mythology. Houser’s gravel-toned vocals lend the track extra heft, while subtle piano touches soften the edges. Similarly, ‘Bet They’re Biting' is a deeply personal reflection on ageing parents and the passage of time. Tenderly written and framed around imagery of fishing and familiar rural pastimes, it is quietly devastating, universal in its themes of mortality and legacy. Together, these songs reinforce Green’s place among country music’s most compelling family chroniclers.
Romance and intimacy, always central to Green’s writing, are given fresh shades here too. ‘I Just Need You,' a duet with rising singer Hannah McFarland, captures the drama of two lovers drifting apart but drawn together for one last spark. The chemistry between the two voices, heightened by dramatic fiddles and a clever, memorable chorus, makes it one of the most striking collaborations of the year. Where Green’s previous tracks such as ‘Worst Way' leaned into sultry directness, this duet adds complexity and poignancy, setting itself apart in a genre often oversaturated with formulaic partnerships.
The themes of loss and longing are explored further in ‘What Am I Supposed to Do Now?,' a mid-tempo anthem built on steady percussion and plaintive pedal steel. Green sings of loneliness and indecision, torn between chasing after a departed lover or accepting her absence. The track captures the disorienting limbo of heartbreak with a clarity and relatability that will resonate widely. In contrast, ‘One to Willie' offers a sense of uplift and aspiration. Stripped down to guitar and voice before opening into an anthemic chorus, it encourages listeners to live fully, chase dreams and measure life not by limitations but by its richness. It is a welcome note of optimism and balance in a collection that often leans toward the reflective.
Ultimately, the deluxe edition of ‘Don’t Mind If I Do' does not feel like an afterthought or a label-driven expansion. Instead, it enriches the album’s emotional landscape, adding songs of heartbreak, legacy, and inspiration that stand shoulder to shoulder with the original set. Riley Green continues to prove himself one of the genre’s most vibrant traditionalists, unafraid to sing about desire, faith, family or the fleeting nature of time. In doing so, he cements his place as a songwriter and performer carrying the lineage of Waylon, Willie and Merle into a new generation—with a voice as rich, lived-in and compelling as the stories he tells.
With the deluxe release, ‘Don’t Mind If I Do' cements Riley Green not just as a star on the rise, but as a true heir to the greats—keeping tradition alive while carving his own path forward.
Tracklist: 1. That’s A Mistake 2. Change My Mind 3. Reel Problems (Featuring Luke Bryan) 4. Turnin’ Dirt 5. Jesus Saves 6. Too Early To Drink 7. Pick A Place 8. Way Out Here 9. Waitin’ All Day 10. Chip Off The Ol’ Block 11. Alcohall Of Fame 12. Rather Be 13. Good Morning From Mexico 14. Torn 15. Damn Good Day To Leave 16. Looking Back On This 17. Don’t Mind If I Do (Featuring Ella Langley) 18. Worst Way 19. Make it Rain 20. Cowboy as it Gets 21. I Just Need You 22. What Am I Supposed to Do Now? 23. Bet They're Biting 24. One to Willie Release Date: 29th August Record Label: Big Machine Label Group Buy the Deluxe edition right here.
This article contains an affiliate link. Purchases through this link may result in us earning a commission.
