Article Contributed by Missing Piece Group
Published on 2026-09-27
Savannah Lauren @savannahlaurenphoto
Langhorne Slim crafts a memorable take on “What A Wonderful World,” the Bob Thiele/George David Weiss composition made ubiquitous by Louis Armstrong, for Dualtone Records’ 25th anniversary compilation, Keep Pressing On: 25 Years Of Dualtone. The 17-song collection of rarities and covers, out December 4, 2026, brings together Dualtone artists past and present. Keep Pressing On includes The Lumineers, flipturn, Mt. Joy, Shakey Graves, Kathleen Edwards, Shovels & Rope and more in celebration of the label’s enduring legacy and the artist-first vision established by Co-founder (ret.) Scott Robinson and the late President and Partner Paul Roper, who passed away in 2024.
Stream Langhorne Slim’s “What A Wonderful World”
“I’ve always loved ‘What A Wonderful World,’” explains Slim about his interpretation. “For some, it’s too idealistic and sentimental. Their loss. It’s a movie in a song. I can picture every scene Armstrong sings. It’s an endlessly cruel world but it’s also infinitely wonderful and I appreciate the reminder. One of my all-time faves.”
Slim goes on to describe his experience with Dualtone. “Years ago, I started dancing with Dualtone Records and I haven’t longed for another partner since. The great Paul Roper led the label up until his passing and embodied a unique intelligence of heart and mind. He said what he meant and meant what he said. He loved music and all the artists on the label. Zero bullshit. Man, that’s rare to find and thank you brother Paul for everything. We miss and love you. It’s been a blessing to experience that spirit passed down to Whitaker Elledge and the team at the label and I still feel deeply honored to dance with them.”
Last week, Dualtone’s 25th anniversary celebration kicked off in earnest with two special events during AmericanaFest: the panel discussion Dualtone at 25: Keep Pressing On and Dualtone’s official 25th Anniversary Bash showcase. Moderated by World Cafe host Raina Douris, the panel featured Dualtone Records Co-Founder Scott Robinson, Dualtone General Manager and SVP of Artist Development Whitaker Elledge, SVP of Promotion and Strategy Julie Muncy, The Team’s Keith Levy and Dualtone recording artist Aubory Bugg.
The next day, Dualtone’s 25th Anniversary Bash took over a packed-to-the-gills Basement East (the line to get in went around the block) as the label’s official AmericanaFest showcase. The evening featured performances by Houndmouth, Shakey Graves, The Brook & The Bluff, Langhorne Slim, Futurebirds, Abraham Alexander and Aubory Bugg. To wrap up the magical evening, most of the Dualtone artists in attendance performed two songs: Jim Croce’s “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown,” Paul Roper’s go-to karaoke song, and Bob Dylan and The Band’s “I Shall Be Released.”
Keep Pressing On marks the third anniversary compilation in Dualtone’s history, following 2016’s In Case You Missed It and 2021’s Amerikinda: 20 Years Of Dualtone. While those collections celebrated the label’s history in their own ways, Keep Pressing On arrives at a particularly meaningful moment, honoring Roper’s legacy while looking toward the future.
“They say if you want to succeed, don’t follow in the footsteps of your heroes, but rather seek what they sought,” says Dualtone General Manager and SVP of Artist Development Whitaker Elledge. “We’re not trying to replicate what Scott and Paul built here. We’re just trying to chase the same things they were after: meaningful art, genuine community, and sustainable careers for artists we believe in. June Carter Cash once told us to ‘Press On,’ and twenty-five years in, we intend to.”
Keep Pressing On: 25 Years of Dualtone Records Tracklist:
