Where There's Cracker Barrel, There's Smokey

LEBANON, Tenn., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Every now and then, something really special happens, and now is the time for that to happen again. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is pleased to announce that the newest CD release in its exclusive music program will be with R&B legend and American icon Smokey Robinson! Entitled Now and Then, this CD will feature 12 songs. Six are live versions of his well-known classics, including "Going to a Go-Go," "I Second That Emotion," The Tracks of My Tears," and "The Tears of a Clown," recorded in 2010 during various performances. The other six are from his 2009 CD, Time Flies When You're Having Fun, including "Time Flies," Don't Know Why," and "Girlfriend."  Now and Then serves up smooth ballads and some of the classic Motown hits that made Smokey Robinson one of the most beloved and influential figures in the history of popular music. This new CD goes on sale November 1st, and will be available only at Cracker Barrel.

"We are very excited to work with Smokey Robinson," said Cracker Barrel Vice President of Marketing Peter Keiser.  "After fifty years in the business, Smokey is still writing and performing songs that are very, very popular and he sounds great!" Keiser added, "Now and Then is a perfect CD project for Cracker Barrel because so many Americans, including me, have an emotional connection with Smokey Robinson. Who hasn't cried 'The Tears of a Clown'?"

Cracker Barrel's exclusive music program is known for featuring country and bluegrass artists and so this disc expands the appeal of the program, according to Keiser. "Our overall music offerings reflect who we are as a country, and so country music is an important part of the program. But it isn't the only part. We already have a wide variety of artists represented in our American Legends CD series, and we are pleased to be adding Smokey Robinson to our exclusive music program."  Keiser added, "Cracker Barrel serves over 200 million meals a year. We've got a broad customer base and we want our music program to reflect that, and to be of interest to all our guests, not just country music fans. We believe that this CD will have very broad appeal."

Smokey Robinson has logged 37 Top 40 hits in his career and has received a number of significant awards, including a Grammy® Lifetime Achievement Award, a Grammy® for "Best R&B Performance, Male," and the Soul Train Music Award for Career Achievement. He has been inducted into the Songwriter Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has also received the prestigious Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award from ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers). Smokey Robinson has been inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame both as a solo artist and with his group, The Miracles. He received a Kennedy Center honor in 2006 and is the sterling pen and satin voice behind such mega hits as "Shop Around," "Tracks of My Tears," "You've Really Got a Hold on Me," "Tears of a Clown," "I Second That Emotion," and "Going to a Go-Go," among many others.

"I am glad to have my new CD, Now and Then, available exclusively at Cracker Barrel," said Smokey.  "I think many of my fans are also Cracker Barrel fans, and having my CD available when they come in to have a meal will please them. With almost 600 locations and a website, I am confident that my fans will be able to get this CD easily, and that's important these days when places that sell music are becoming rarer."

Cracker Barrel's exclusive music program features numerous projects. In September of this year of this year, Cracker Barrel released the self-titled Rodney Atkins, which includes four #1 hits, and also released Mandy Barnett's Winter Wonderland, which offers up all the authentic sounds of the  holiday traditions so many of us cherish. In July, the company released Craig Morgan's That's Why- Collector's Edition, and in May the release of Wynonna's Love Heals debuted at #7 on the Billboard Magazine Top Country Albums chart. February's release of Dailey & Vincent Sing the Statler Brothers debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top Bluegrass Albums chart, where it spent nine weeks in the top position and 18 weeks overall in one of the three top positions since its release on February 1st.  Releases in 2009 included November's Songs of Love and Heartache by Alan Jackson, September's release of an exclusive new version of The Foundation by the Zac Brown Band, August's George Jones' release of A Collection Of My Best Recollection, May's release of Montgomery Gentry's For Our Heroes, which debuted at #5 on Billboard Magazine's Top Country Albums chart, and March's release of Dolly Parton's Collector's Edition of Backwoods Barbie, which debuted at #9 on that chart. Over the last few years, Cracker Barrel has released exclusive CDs with Bill Gaither, Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs, Aaron Tippin, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Josh Turner, Amy Grant, Sara Evans, and Charlie Daniels.

About Cracker Barrel

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store provides a friendly home-away-from-home in its old country stores and restaurants.  Guests are cared for like family while relaxing and enjoying real home-style food and shopping that's surprisingly unique, genuinely fun and reminiscent of America's country heritage…all at a fair price. The restaurant serves up delicious, home-style country food such as meatloaf and homemade chicken n' dumplins as well as its signature biscuits using an old family recipe. The authentic old country retail store is fun to shop and offers unique gifts and self-indulgences.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRL) was established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn. and operates 596 company-owned locations in 41 states.  Every Cracker Barrel unit is open seven days a week with hours Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. – 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. - 11 p.m.  For more information, visit crackerbarrel.com.

SOURCE Cracker Barrel