Editing Dwight Yoakam (section)

===2002{{ndash}}04: ''Population Me'' and compilations===
Yoakam spent much of 2001 and 2002 touring with [[Brooks & Dunn]]. He also founded a new record label called Electrodisc after his contract with Reprise expired.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cmt.com/news/g7y1yg/yoakams-next-cd-will-be-an-electrodisc | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904033829/https://www.cmt.com/news/g7y1yg/yoakams-next-cd-will-be-an-electrodisc | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 4, 2022 | title=Yoakam's next CD will be an electrodisc | publisher=CMT | date=July 25, 2002 | access-date=September 3, 2022 | author=Jay Orr}}</ref> The label partnered with Audium Records (now [[MNRK Music Group]]) for distribution.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cmt.com/news/v5arko/yoakam-brings-electrodisc-to-audium | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904021240/https://www.cmt.com/news/v5arko/yoakam-brings-electrodisc-to-audium | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 4, 2022 | title=Yoakam brings electrodisc to Audium | publisher=[[CMT (American TV channel)|CMT]] | date=November 20, 2002 | access-date=September 3, 2022}}</ref> His first Audium release was 2003's ''[[Population Me]]''.<ref name="allmusic"/> This album charted two singles, both of which were covers: [[Gregg Henry]]'s "The Back of Your Hand" and [[Mike Stinson]]'s "The Late Great Golden State".<ref name="whitburn"/> Also covered on this album was [[Burt Bacharach]]'s "[[Trains and Boats and Planes]]". [[Timothy B. Schmit]] provided backing vocals on "The Late Great Golden State", while [[Willie Nelson]] sang duet vocals on "If Teardrops Were Diamonds". Jurek found influences of [[Jackson Browne]], the [[Eagles (band)|Eagles]], and [[Chuck Berry]] in the album's sound.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/population-me-mw0000031097 | title=''Population Me'' | publisher=AllMusic | access-date=September 3, 2022 | author=Thom Jurek}}</ref> Messinger wrote of the album that "the complex, innovative sound he and Anderson have developed certainly merits repeated exploration."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=971 | title=''Population Me'' review | publisher=Country Standard Time | access-date=September 5, 2022 | author=Eli Messinger}}</ref>

Between 2003 and 2004, Yoakam released three more compilations of covers albums to fulfill contractual obligations with his labels.{{sfn|McLeese|2012|p=191}} The first was 2003's ''[[In Others' Words]]'' on Reprise. This consisted entirely of cover songs mostly from movie soundtracks and tribute albums to which Yoakam contributed. The oldest track was a cover of the [[Grateful Dead]]'s "[[Truckin']]", which Yoakam cut in 1991.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cmt.com/news/jmw6sl/yoakams-second-album-of-covers-due | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904035338/https://www.cmt.com/news/jmw6sl/yoakams-second-album-of-covers-due | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 4, 2022 | title=Yoakam's second album of covers due | publisher=CMT | date=July 30, 2003 | access-date=September 3, 2022}}</ref> Jurek wrote that the compilation was "far from a stellar set but does fill in the gaps nicely."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/in-others-words-mw0000317949 | title=''In Others' Words'' | publisher=AllMusic | access-date=September 3, 2022}}</ref> [[Rhino Records]] released a greatest-hits package titled ''[[The Very Best of Dwight Yoakam]]'' in 2004. This compilation was certified gold after its release.<ref name="riaa"/> Erlewine thought that while the album did not contain many of his earlier songs, it otherwise showed the range of his styles and would have potential appeal to fans who preferred his more rock-influenced cuts such as the covers of "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and "I Want You to Want Me".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-very-best-of-dwight-yoakam-mw0000207796 | title=''The Very Best of Dwight Yoakam'' | publisher=AllMusic | access-date=September 5, 2022 | author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine}}</ref> His third and final compilation was ''[[Dwight's Used Records]]'' on Audium also in 2004. Among the collaborators on this project were [[Heather Myles]], [[Deana Carter]], and the [[Nitty Gritty Dirt Band]]. Artists covered included [[John Prine]]'s "[[Paradise (John Prine song)|Paradise]]", [[ZZ Top]]'s "[[I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide]]", and [[Johnny Cash]]'s "[[Understand Your Man]]".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/dwights-used-records-mw0000333310 | title=''Dwight's Used Records'' | publisher=AllMusic | access-date=September 3, 2022 | author=Mark Deming}}</ref> Country Standard Time writer Eli Messinger thought that, by drawing from a decade's worth of material, the album showed new variety in Yoakam's style over his traditional studio albums.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/cdreview.asp?xid=970 | title=''Dwight's Used Records'' | publisher=Country Standard Time | access-date=September 3, 2022 | author=Eli Messinger}}</ref>