Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Casey James fans might soon have some new music to download. At last.

Earlier this week, Casey sent out this tweet: “I have waited my whole life to be able to say this. My first single, “Let’s Don’t Call It a Night,” goes to radio this week.

It’s been two years since Casey auditioned for American Idol and more than a year after he finished third on Season Nine, behind Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox.

But he’s made it clear in interview after interview that he’s more interested in putting out a solid first album than he ever worried about striking while the proverbial iron was hot.

“I know a lot of people are anxious to hear it,” he told Hollywoodreporter.com earlier this year. “And I could have absolutely had a record out by now, but you know what? I want it to be deserving of the fans that put me in this position. I want it to be worth their money. I want to be able to look back on it and be proud of it.”

More recently, he told The Arizona Republic that he’s had a hand in writing all the songs destined for his album.

That would include “Let’s Don’t Call It a Night,” which he unveiled as his first single at the California State Fair in Sacremento last weekend, according to thecaseyjamesblog, which has posted video of him performing the song and making that announcement here.

The song was co-written by Brice Long and Terry McBride. The former wrote Gary Allen’s number one single from 2004, “Nothing On But the Radio;” the latter has written a number of songs for Brooks & Dunn, including “Play Something Country.” And, in an odd Idol link, McBride penned one of Josh Gracin’s early hits, “Stay with Me (Brass Bed).”

If you haven’t followed Casey since Idol, you’ve caught on by now. This is a country album he’s recording.

That might seem odd, consider Casey was kind of classified as Season Nine’s “rocker” on Idol. But he says the folks at Sony/Nashville have welcomed touches of blues and rock in his music. He explains why country music is a natural fit for him in that interview with The Arizona Republic.

You can go here to listen to that first single. It sounds like a song his female fans in particular will love. No word yet on when it will be available for download.