We’ve got an exclusive free preview of “I Hope,” a track from the upcoming Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars album.

Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars. Photo by Elsa Hahne

The song, originally written and recorded by Louisiana songwriting legend Bobby Charles, has a special meaning for Romero, as he explained to OffBeat contributor Herman Fuselier in the October 2014 cover story.

“I learned the song a long time ago on the tail end of my marriage,” Romero explains. “It was just an important song that really hit to my core at that time in my life. We came to a spot in the sessions where we started to scratch our heads. We didn’t have enough tunes and I introduced the guys to the song late at night one night.

“Prior to that, we heard some Bobby Charles ghost stories, about him being around the studio. He lived at Dockside for a period of time. It was very easy to lay down. We nailed it in the second take or so. I think we got Bobby’s blessing, at least that’s what I felt. It’s been a good vibe ever since.”

Listen to “I Hope” from the upcoming and as-yet unnamed album by the Hub City All-Stars.

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