Threads is the eleventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow. The album was released on August 30, 2019, by Big Machine Records. Threads is a collaborative album featuring many of Crow's musical friends, heroes and newer artists. Crow has stated that Threads will possibly be her final album to instead focus on releasing individual tracks.
Promotion
While promoting her 2018 UK tour, Crow released "Wouldn't Wanna Be Like You" featuring St. Vincent and revealed that the duets project will possibly be her final album, citing the impossibility of releasing something that could follow up such a gathering of artists. She added that she will continue to write and tour and will potentially release short-form music akin to extended plays. "Redemption Day" was released as the album's lead single on April 21, 2019. First appearing on Crow's self-titled second album in 1996, the Threads version of the song features Johnny Cash, who had recorded a cover of the song for his 2010 posthumous release . On May 22, 2019, "Live Wire", a blues-inspired track featuring Bonnie Raitt and Mavis Staples, was released on Entertainment Weekly. Crow, Raitt and Staples subsequently performed the song on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. "Prove You Wrong", a country rock song featuring Crow's long-time friend Stevie Nicks and rising country star Maren Morris, was released on June 5, 2019. Crow joined Morris onstage at the 2019 CMT Music Awards to perform the song. On June 14, 2019, Crow released the rock track "Still the Good Old Days" featuring Joe Walsh. She performed the song that night on The Graham Norton Show. On June 28, 2019, Crow promoted Threads by performing "Prove You Wrong" and "Still the Good Old Days" during her set on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival. "Everything Is Broken", a roots rock Bob Dylan cover featuring Jason Isbell was released on July 12, 2019. On September 10, 2019 Crow was joined by Isbell on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon where the pair performed the track live for the first time. On August 2, 2019, "Tell Me When It's Over", a bluesy breakup song was released which was co-written and features backing vocals by Chris Stapleton. On September 20, 2019 Crow and Stapleton performed the song on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The funk-infused track "Story of Everything" that includes a rap by Chuck D, guitar playing by Gary Clark Jr. and vocals by Andra Day was released on August 23, 2019 and focuses on the current state of America, in particular, the racial issues that still divide the country.
Commercial performance
Threads debuted on Billboards Top Country Albums at No. 2 with 15,000 equivalent album units, of which 14,000 are in traditional sales. The album has sold 49,200 pure copies in the United States as of March 2020.
Track listing
The official track listing for the album was announced on June 14, 2019. Crow wrote or co-wrote all twelve of the album's original tracks, as well as "Redemption Day", which had previously appeared on her 1996 release Sheryl Crow. Additionally, the album includes four covers.
