It’s six years ago since Toby Keith released his last studio solo album, 35 MPH Town. On 15th October 2021, the legendary country musician is back with a new release, Peso in My Pocket. Surely, I have been curious about this one. Here are my thoughts.
Toby Keith – About The Artist
Toby Keith Covel is a US American country artist, who is also working as songwriter, actor and producer. He was born on 8th July 1961 in Covel, Oklahoma. He initially felt to have a promising future as a defensive line player in American football, but then decided to move to Nashville to pursue a musical career. In 1993, he released his debut single. Should’ve Been a Cowboy was a massive success and lead both, the US and the Canadian Country Charts. The corresponding, self-titled album was a platinum one in the US and a golden record in Canada. Toby Keith quickly established as a big player in the country music scene. Until the end of the decade, four more albums made it to the Top 10 Country in the US, on top of a total of thirteen Top 10 singles in the 1990’s.
Keith’s most successful decade were likely the 2000’s, though. In this period only, seven Toby Keith albums topped the US Country charts, three of them were chart-toppers in the overall charts as well. He published successful albums until 2015 with a high frequency (five more albums between 2010 and 2015, none of them peaking worse than third place in US Country). Peso in My Pocket is Keith’s 19th studio album.
Toby Keith – Peso in My Pocket – Track by Track
The ten song album lasts 38 minutes.
1. Oklahoma Breakdown
The album opens with a nice country rocker with a good vibe. Very catchy song by Toby Keith at the beginning of this album, which almost feels like a comeback.
2. Peso in My Pocket
The title track is the shortest one on the whole album. A track as you would expect Toby Keith to sound alike. Classic, a good groove and a song, which stays in your mind from the very first minute. Really good listen.
3. Old School
The intense bass line of Old School leads to a nice groove, the guitars rock – the combination of that is a cool song. Could easily be a Luke Bryan track as well, but Toby Keith simply knows how to do these tunes.
4. Old Me Better
The fourth song simply makes me smile. So old school, I especially love elements like the brass sounds in the background. Cool rhythm, which feels to make you travel back to the Swinging 1960’s.
5. Days I Shoulda Died
Back to the modern times: the mid-tempo is a feast for country music and guitar lovers, there are riffs and chords all the time during Days I Shoulda Died. Needless to say that the song has a great groove again.
6. Growing Up Is a Bitch
Not only due to the B-word, this is really special song on Peso in My Pocket. Toby Keith wrote this one with nobody else than Sammy Hagar. The “Red Rocker” and Keith are a magical combination – the collaboration leads to one of the most catching melodies on the whole album – and to one of the most explicit lyrics as well.
7. She’s Drinking Again
This song with a sad background comes with a rather traditional sound and a rhythm which is at most in mid-tempo range. Again, Keith arranges the song in a way that it stays in your mind. Great listen.
8. Thunderbird
Thunderbird is the right saloon soundtrack for a country music dance. Toby Keith like in the good, old times… Or even slightly before that.
9. Take a Look at My Heart
And then there are songs like Take a Look at My Heart: Modern, catchy, rocking. It feels like Toby Keith is wandering between two sets of songs on his 2021 album. The great thing: it does not feel confusing at all – these ten songs still feel to be a fluent listen.
10. Happy Birthday America
Happy birthday America
It’s the 4th of July
I get to wake up in your freedom
But sometimes I wonder why
Seems like everybody’s pissin’
On the red, white and blue
Happy birthday America
Whatever’s left of you
You just cannot say that Toby Keith is not writing straight and clear lyrics. Thus, it is not too surprising that he is closing the album with that statement. Great song.
Toby Keith – Peso in My Pocket – Spotify
Here is Peso in My Pocket on Spotify:
Toby Keith – Peso in My Pocket – My View
We missed this guy – Toby Keith is just giving us ten good reasons for this statement in Peso in My Pocket. The album is versatile, travels through decades and gives clear statements. Provocative, clear – three songs and the truth. Just what we all feel country music should be alike.
2021 Country Music Reviews
Here are all my 2021 published Media Reviews related to country music:

Nick Walker – It’s All South From Here EP

Lucinda Williams – Have Yourself A Rockin’ Little Christmas (Lu’s Jukebox Vol. 5)

Wade Bowen – Where Phones Don’t Work EP

Alena Neubert – A Life That’s Good

Armanda Shires – For Christmas

Jason Aldean – Macon

Billy Bragg – The Million Things That Never Happened

Dennis Adamus – Right For You

Brett Eldredge – Mr. Christmas

Tenille Arts – Girl To Girl

SixForty1 – Started Right Here EP

Det Haggard – Teamwork 2.0

Ryan Hurd – Pelago

Cassadee Pope – Thrive

Josh Turner – King Size Manger

Crystal Leigh – Trading Skylines EP

Jesse Cole – SAND (Some Are Never Done)

Miko Marks & The Resurrectors – Race Records EP

Brandi Carlile – In These Silent Days

Logan Mize – Welcome To Prairieville

Billy Strings – Renewal

Mickey Guyton – Remember Her Name

Taylor McCall – Black Powder Soul

Charley Crockett – Music City USA

Peter Maffay – So Weit

Mitchell Tenpenny – Midtown Diaries EP

Riddy Arman – Riddy Arman

Ashland Craft – Travelin’ Kind

King Calaway – Midnight EP

Ashley Cooke – Already Drank That Beer Side A

Kalie Shorr – I Got Here By Accident EP

Jayne Denham – Wanted

Dan + Shay – Good Things

Clare Dunn – In This Kind Of Light EP

Emily Rose – Wings EP

Chris Young – Famous Friends

Laci Kaye Booth – Laci Kaye Booth

Leah Blevins – First Time Feeling

Jim Lauderdale – Hope

Son Volt – Electro Melodier

Ryan Kinder – Room To Dream

Clay Walker – Texas To Tennessee

Los Lobos – Native Sons

Jolina Carl – Mexican Overdrive

Rodney Crowell – Triage

Charlie Worsham – Sugarcane EP

Alee – Feels Like This

Midland – The Last Resort EP

Lucinda Williams – Lu’s Jukebox Vol. 2 – Southern Soul: From Memphis To Muscle Shoals

Callie Twisselman – Closure EP

Tigirlily – Tigirlily EP

The Flatlanders – Treasure Of Love

Lauren Jenkins – Miles On Me, Part 1 EP

The Wallflowers – Exit Wounds

LANCO – Honky-Tonk Hippies EP

Riley Green – Behind The Bar EP

Brent Moyer – Song Rider

The Heels – I Am

Vincent Neil Emerson – Vincent Neil Emerson

Gary Allan – Ruthless

Meghan Patrick – Heart On My Glass

Amythyst Kiah – Wary + Strange

pez – All Lowercase EP

Richie Necker – New Songs and Untold Stories

Kylie Morgan – Love, Kylie EP

Lukas Nelson & Promise Of The Real – A Few Stars Apart

Walker Hayes – Country Stuff EP

Brett Young – Weekends Look A Little Different These Days

Andrew Jannakos – Gone Too Soon EP

Black River Delta – Shakin’

Brynn Cartelli – Based On A True Story EP

Southerland – Boot Up EP

Lori Rayne – 1926 EP

Blackberry Smoke – You Hear Georgia

John Hiatt With The Jerry Douglas Band – Leftover Feelings

Alexander Ludwig – Alexander Ludwig EP

Jordan Davis – Buy Dirt EP

Blake Shelton – Body Laguage

Oliver Wood – Always Smilin’

Jesse Keith Whitley – Breakin’ Ground

Dillon Carmichael – Hot Beer EP

Alan Jackson – Where Have You Gone

The Steel Woods – All Of Your Stones

Emma Moore – the table EP

Travis Tritt – Set In Stone

Matt Castillo – How The River Flows EP

Thomas Rhett – Country Again: Side A

Priscilla Block – Priscilla Block EP

Ronnie Milsap – A Better Word For Love

Todd Snider – First Agnostic Church of Hope And Wonder

Elvie Shane – County Roads EP

Adam Douglas – Better Angels

Justin Moore – Straight Outta The Country

Carver Louis – Take Off EP

Eric Church – Soul

Eric Church – &

Eric Church – Heart

Brett Kissel – What Is Life?

Charlotte Young – Coffee and Conversations EP

Fancy Hagood – Southern Curiosity

Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band – Dance Songs For The Hard Times

Jon Randall – Neon Texas EP

Canaan Smith – High Country Sound

Leslie Jordan – Company’s Comin’

Truck Stop – Liebe, Lust und Laster

Tyler Braden – What Do They Know EP

Carrie Underwood – My Savior

Esther Rose – How Many Times

Sara Watkins – Under The Pepper Tree

Timo Scharf – Everything Ever Always Is All Forgotten EP

Kora Naughton – Nineteen

Midland – The Sonic Ranch

Loretta Lynn – Still Woman Enough

Morgan Wade – Reckless

Joey Hendricks – Between The Clouds EP

Alyssa Trahan – Baby Blues & Stilettos

Christina Taylor – Covers Vol. 1 EP

Jimbo Mathus & Andrew Bird – These 13

Track 45 – Big Dreams EP

Adam Warner – Big Storm

Kaylee Bell – The Red EP (EP)

Hayden Joseph – Different

Willie Nelson – That’s Life

Adam Hambrick – The Flipsides EP

Jess Moskaluke – The Demos

Carly Pearce – 29 EP

Jack McBannon – True Stories

Lainey Wilson – Sayin’ What I’m Thinkin’

Callista Clark – Real To Me EP

Haley Mae Campbell – Growing Up EP

Tobacco Rd Band – Worth Fighting For

Florida Georgia Line – Life Rolls On

Dustin Bird – Unscripted

Colton Chapman – Can’t Hide The Truth EP

Alex Hall – Six Strings EP

Ben Ransom – Brave New World

Daniel Holmes – Dead End Town

Lucero – When You Found Me

Jake Hoot – Love Out Of Time EP

Langhorne Slim – Strawberry Mansion

Logan Mize – Still That Kid

Matt Wynn – Matt Wynn EP

Tebey – The Good Ones

Jimmy Weber – Black & Blue Heart

Willie Jones – Right Now

Chelsea Berman – Can You Just Not EP

Kerri Watt – Neptune’s Daughter

Petric – Flashbacks

Devin Dawson – The Pink Slip EP

Whitney Duncan – Heartbreaker EP

Morgan Wallen – Dangerous – The Double Album

Colby Keeling – Catch Me If You Can EP

Aaron Watson – American Soul

Barry Gibb & Friends – Greenfields – The Gibb Brothers’ Songbook Vol. 1

Tanner Sparks – Living A Nightmare
Travel – United Kingdom
Here are all my Travel postings related to the United Kingdom:

The Privilege of the Loo – On Bathroom Distribution in Airplanes

ibis London Shepherd’s Bush

Food I Had Onboard X (July 2023 til early September 2023)

Premier Inn Swansea City Centre

The Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth (Pictured Story)

Car Rental Review – Hertz London City Airport (LCY) – Citroen C4

A Walk Through Inverness (Pictured Story)

Great Western Railway First Class Lounge London Paddington

Food I Had Onboard IX (Mid-May 2023 til June 2023)

Aspire Lounge Manchester (MAN) Terminal 2

Holiday Inn Express Glasgow – City Centre Riverside

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum & Tour

Car Rental Review – Hertz Newcastle Airport (NCL) – Ford Puma

Heathrow Express – The Fastest Rail to the City (Business First and Express Class)

Trafford Palazzo – Posh Shopping in Manchester (Pictured Story)

Food I Had Onboard VIII (April 2023 til Mid-May 2023)

Northern Trains Class 331/0 from Manchester Airport to Blackpool North

The Silverstone Interactive Museum

Food I Had Onboard VII (mid-February 2023 til March 2023)

Hampden Park Stadium Tour (Glasgow)

British Airways Boeing B777 Club Suite Cabin

Kourion Archaeological Park

Nice Upgrades to Manchester Airport (MAN) Terminal 2 (Pictured Story)

Holiday Inn Express Glasgow Airport

Comfort Inn Blackpool Gresham

hub by Premier Inn London Soho

Riding the TransPennine Express Nova 2 / CAF Civity First Class

Food I Had Onboard VI (December 2022 til mid-February 2023)

Royal College of Music Museum

Premier Inn Peterborough City Centre

Puttshack White City (London)

Sofitel London Heathrow (Terminal 5)

Leadenhall Market in London (Pictured Story)

Crazy Putt London

Covid-19, Strikes and more – My Flight Rebooking Experience

Wizard Afternoon Tea at Wizards Exploratorium (London)

Premier Inn London Southwark (Southwark Station)

Swingers London West End / Big Wheel Course

Holiday Inn Washington (near Newcastle UK)

Food I Had Onboard V (September 2022 til November 2022)

Weird Al Yankovic is touring Europe 2023 – Tour Dates and Travel Hints

Aspire Lounge Inverness Airport (INV)

Sunderland Empire Theatre Guided Tour with Rock of Ages Stage

Food I Had Onboard IV (May 2022 til August 2022)

Premier Inn Inverness Centre River Ness

Inverness Airport (INV)

Traveling Avanti West Coast Railways Pendolino First and Standard Premium Class

Premier Inn Portsmouth City Centre

Courtyard by Marriott London City Airport

Avanti First Class Train Station Lounge London Euston Station

Premier Inn London Paddington Basin

Charles Dickens Birthplace Museum (Portsmouth)

Epsilon Hotel London-Stratford

Premier Inn London Gatwick Airport South

Car Rental / Sharing Review – Hertz 24/7 in London (Uxbridge) – Toyota Corolla Hybrid

Food I Had Onboard III (Mar 2022 til April 2022)

Kicking Off The Weird Al Yankovic Tour 2022 (Day 6/7, 30.4./1.5.2022)

Jet Age Museum Gloucester

DoubleTree by Hilton Milton Keynes

My Top 15 Airports Flown – With Some Brief Thoughts

Food I Had Onboard (Oct 2021 til Nov 2021)

Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall Hotel

Expo 2020 Dubai – The Opportunity District Pavilions

Car Rental Review – Sixt London Heathrow (LHR) T5 / Sofitel – Audi Q2

The Twelve Best Flights Of My Life (… so far)

The View At The Palm (Dubai)

Walking in the London Docklands (Pictured Story)

Crumlin Road Gaol Belfast

SeaLife London Aquarium

Madame Tussauds London

Quarry Bank Cotton Mill

Riding the London Eye

Views of London from One New Change (Pictured Story)

Conrad Hotel London St. James

Namco Funscape London (Pictured Story)

Charles Dickens Museum London

Singapore Airlines SilverKris Business Lounge London-Heathrow

The train to Hogwarts? King’s Cross, Platform 9 3/4 (Pictured Story)

Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Terminal 2/3

Pullman London St Pancras

Novotel London Canary Wharf

Watching London from Sky Garden

British Airways First Class Lounge London Gatwick Airport

London Mithraeum – The Roman Temple at Bloomberg Space

The View from The Shard in London

Imperial War Museums Duxford

St. Helier (Jersey) Markets (Pictured Story)

British Airways i360 in Brighton

Hilton London Kensington

Jersey Airport (JER)

Tombo x Sanrio – Hello Kitty-branded meals in London

De Havilland Aircraft Museum (London Colney)

Hilton London Gatwick Airport

British Airways Lounge Jersey Airport

DoubleTree by Hilton London Victoria

George Best Airport Belfast (BHD)

Pokemon Center London – A Gamers’ Paradise just for a Month

Newcastle International Airport (NCL)

Hilton Newcastle Gateshead

Twinings – The Oldest Tea Room in London

SS Nomadic (Belfast)

TWG – My Favorite Tea Brand

Motel One Glasgow

Titanic Belfast

Loganair From Glasgow To Barra Airport (BRR)

Exploring Barra With Barra Island Tours

Hampton by Hilton Belfast City Centre

National Football Museum Manchester

The British Country Music Festival (Blackpool) – A Preview

Premier Inn Sunderland City Centre

Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Airport

Oxford University Museum of Natural History

Premier Inn London Stratford

Weird Al & Grass Court Tennis 2019 (Day 1 – 17th July 2019)

ibis Styles London ExCeL

Cotswold Lodge Hotel Oxford

ibis London City – Shoreditch

Flying Sun-Air of Scandinavia

Concorde Technical Tour at Manchester Airport

Beefeater Gin Distillery Tour (London)

British Airways B747-400 Club World (Business Class)

Bate Collection of Musical Instruments (Oxford)

Bus Transfer from Heathrow to Oxford: The Airline

ibis London Canning Town (Review)

Sheffield Winter Garden

National Emergency Services Museum Sheffield

London City Airport (LCY) – UK’s Capital best choice?

Novotel Sheffield Centre

National Videogame Museum Sheffield

Chelsea FC and Stamford Bridge Tour

Emirates Aviation Experience London

Novotel Glasgow Centre (Review)

Country 2 Country in London 2019

Glasgow Rangers Ibrox Stadium Tour

Churchill War Rooms in London

Hampton by Hilton Stansted Airport (Review)

Air Belgium Business Class from London to Dubai

Alexander Thomson Hotel Glasgow (Review)

Glasgow Airport (GLA) Review

Scotland Street School Museum (Glasgow)

Rock of Ages – My favourite Musical

Manchester United Stadium Tour & Museum

International Slavery Museum (Liverpool)

Manchester (MAN) Airport Review

Hilton Manchester Deansgate (Hotel Review)

The Beatles Story – The Fab Four in Liverpool

BA 1 – British Airways’ Most Exclusive Intercontinental Experience

Riding the Hogwarts Express

Six Intercontinental Flight Weekend – Day 2 (Trip Report)

A Day at the Country 2 Country 2018