Country traditionalist Craig Gerdes is debuting his cover of Johnny Paycheck’s “Slide Off of Your Satin Sheets” exclusively for readers of The Boot. Press play below to listen.

Gerdes’ take on the classic Paycheck ode to cheating keeps the original version's 1970s vibe intact, thanks in large part to some of Nashville’s finest session musicians, who play on the track. “Slide Off of Your Satin Sheets” also features the pedal steel playing of Jim Vest, who recorded the original track with Paycheck; Gerdes calls working with him "like going back through a time warp to 1977.”

“He relived every detail of recording the song, from Phil Baugh, to Pig Robbins, to legendary producer Billy Sherrill. Working with him in the studio was an incredible experience and a lesson in country music history,” Gerdes tells The Boot. “He took us all back through the paces of how the song originally came together and how it was nearly shelved before the two stumbled onto the signature lick that defined it forever. Wayne Carson and Donn Tankersly had written a great song, but it still needed that defining element. Paycheck and Jim Vest worked their magic, and rest is country music history."

Craig Gerdes Interviews Jim Vest

According to Gerdes, the song’s pedal steel is, in fact, what originally drew him to perform this cover.

“It always captured my attention for some reason, even long before I ever met Jim in Nashville. I felt good singing it and at the time was unaware of it being covered commercially by anyone since Paycheck,” he says. “I later found that out that it had been covered in 2014 by Gene Watson. Nevertheless, having the opportunity to cover it and have Jim Vest on pedal steel was something that felt historic, true and an honor to have the privilege to attempt. I couldn't be happier with the end result."

“Slide Off of Your Satin Sheets” will appear on Gerdes’ forthcoming album, Smokin’ Drinkin’ & Gamblin’, set for release in early 2018. The record will also feature seven original songs that explore “drinkin’, cheatin’, lovin’, leavin’, killin’, pride, rejection, hearts full of love [and] broken hearts with no love” -- or, as Gerdes puts it, “real life.” Visit CraigGerdesMusic.com to learn more.

Listen to Craig Gerdes, "Slide Off of Your Satin Sheets":

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