I could’ve picked a more conspicuous song today: Bruce Springsteen’s ‘4^th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)’ probably would’ve been the most obvious choice. And though definitely not about fireworks and celebration, another Bruce tune, ‘Independence Day’, might’ve even fit. No go for either one (though when I get my courage up I do hope to have a piece on The Boss coming soon). No, to mark today I’m going with a fine, fun record by Shooter Jennings, another second-generation star of the Outlaw Country family, son of the great Waylon Jennings.

Shooter, 39, released this tune back in 2005 as the first single on his debut album Put The “O” Back In Country (that’s no feckless title, eh Samantha Bee?), in which he impressively manages to mingle name-checks within the same chorus of both Ted Nugent (“We sang ‘Stranglehold’ to the stereo”) and the legendary “Possum” of country music (“We put on a little George Jones and just sang along”). And Jennings has been prolific ever since, recording six more full-length studio albums along with a live album and numerous EPs, with a new album, simply titled Shooter, due out this August.

Another note of interest about Shooter: Between 2001-2013 he dated and had two children with actress Drea de Matteo – Adriana La Cerva from The Sopranos – so this song was definitely created during their relationship. It’s too bad we don’t know for sure if Adriana was in fact the girl “pretty as can be, sitting in the front seat” to whom Shooter sang his song, but…whatayagonnado. It’s a pretty cool 4^th Of July tune regardless. Bada bing, bada boom.