The Oak Ridge Boys are digging deep into their past-and the result may be one of the most emotional albums of their legendary career.
The Country Music Hall of Famers have announced Buried Treasures, a deeply personal 10-song collection arriving October 30 through Lightning Rod Records. However, this is no ordinary covers album. The project finds the Oaks revisiting songs about faith, family, friendship, love and mortality as the group continues navigating major changes following Joe Bonsall's death in 2024.
Produced and engineered by Anderson East, with Grammy winner Dave Cobb serving as executive producer, Buried Treasures includes classics such as Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Bill Withers' "Lean on Me," Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" and Billy Joe Shaver's "Live Forever."
The Oaks also return unapologetically to their gospel roots with "Deep River," "How Great Thou Art" and "Softly and Tenderly." The latter two selections carry particular emotional weight for a group whose history stretches back to Southern gospel music-and which has now experienced the loss of one of its most beloved members.
"Every song on the album is about something that's dear to us," Duane Allen explained. "These songs are all buried treasures-great songs we've loved and sung for years, and this is the first time we've brought them all together on one record."
There is another significant change behind the familiar harmonies. Ben James, who joined the Oaks shortly before Bonsall's death, appears on his second album with the group. Meanwhile, Tim Duncan reportedly handles many of the project's famous bass vocal parts after temporarily touring in Richard Sterban's place because of Sterban's ongoing health issues.
Despite those painful transitions, William Lee Golden says the album ultimately celebrates what still matters most.
"I feel like this album touched on our love of life, love of family, love of our mates that we've chosen in life, and also the love of God," Golden said.
The record's only newly written song is its title track, "Buried Treasure," penned specifically for the project by Grammy-winning songwriter Aaron Raitiere. The song is available now, while the Oaks' rendition of "How Great Thou Art" will follow on October 2. An official video for "Live Forever" is scheduled to arrive alongside the full album on October 30.
The group also reaches back nearly 50 years with "Bridge Over Troubled Water." Duane Allen's friendship with Paul Simon led the Oaks to sing on Simon's 1977 hit "Slip Slidin' Away." Now, the group's version of another Simon classic opens an album built around memories that have apparently never loosened their grip.
Anderson East admitted that watching the veterans build their unmistakable harmonies in the studio was inspiring.
"Everything was in the moment," East said. "It's so inspiring to see a group of guys at this point in their career still excited, wanting to be there, and thoughtful about everything."
Buried Treasures will be released digitally, on CD and as a deluxe gold-vinyl LP. The Oak Ridge Boys will support the album with an extensive fall tour, beginning with three consecutive appearances at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House from September 3-5.
For a group that has endured death, health concerns and dramatic lineup changes, Buried Treasures sounds less like a nostalgic side project and more like a moving statement of faith, endurance and brotherhood.
Buried Treasures is available in CD and deluxe gold vinyl LP variants as well as across all digital services. Listen / Pre-order: https://30tgrs.ffm.to/buriedtreasures
BURIED TREASURES - TRACK LISTING:
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Bridge Over Troubled Water
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Buried Treasure
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Deep River
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How Great Thou Art
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Lean on Me
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Live Forever
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Softly and Tenderly
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Stardust
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What a Wonderful World
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You Are So Beautiful
