Buddy Miller has spent decades making other people’s records better, whether playing guitar, singing harmony, producing or simply bringing his unmistakable touch to the room. On his new self-titled album, Buddy Miller, one of American roots music’s most trusted collaborators gathers some of those friends around him for his first solo album in 15 years.

Miller originally set out to make a country-soul record, going so far as clearing out his kitchen to make room for a drum kit. But as the sessions developed, the idea widened to include country, soul, gospel and early rock & roll, along with several songs written or co-written by his wife and longtime musical partner, Julie Miller. The result is a 12-song collection that draws from the music that has shaped Miller throughout his career while sounding completely natural in his hands.

The album opens with the early Temptations song “As Long As I Have You,” backed by the McCrary Sisters, who appear throughout the record. Miller also turns to Jesse Winchester for “Lay Down The Burden Of Your Heart,” performed with the War & Treaty, while soul songwriting legend Dan Penn joins him on Smokey Robinson’s “Don’t Look Back.” Julie Miller’s writing is an important part of the album as well, including “You Never Really Get Over It,” “Losers’ Celebration” and closing track “Masterpiece In The Sand.”

And then there’s the rest of the guest list. Emmylou Harris, Shawn Colvin, Jim Lauderdale, Lee Ann Womack, Ashley Monroe, Elizabeth Cook, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams all make appearances, reflecting relationships Miller has built across decades of recording and touring. The core band is equally impressive, with Fred Eltringham on drums, Viktor Krauss on bass, Tim Lauer on keyboards, Steve Fishell on pedal steel and Fats Kaplin on fiddle.

One of the album’s most personal moments comes with “Till The Wheels Come Off,” written by Ashley Monroe, Elizabeth Cook, Angaleena Presley and Meg McRee about Buddy and Julie Miller’s enduring relationship, with Monroe and Cook joining Buddy on the recording.

Miller produced the album himself, with Mike Poole recording the sessions in Miller’s home studio, appropriately called The Kitchen. After 15 years without a solo album, Buddy Miller brings him back surrounded by the songs, sounds and people that have defined a remarkable career, and reminds us why so many great artists have wanted Buddy Miller standing beside them in the first place.