James Cotton will release Cotton Mouth Man on May 7, 2013 via Alligator Records. Produced by GRAMMY-winning Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy, Joe Louis Walker, Susan Tedeschi), Cotton Mouth Man features seven new tracks co-written by Cotton and Hambridge. These new tracks were inspired by Cotton’s colorful and sometimes perilous life and his memories of the Mississippi Delta, Memphis, Chicago, Sun Records, Sonny Boy Williamson II and Muddy Waters (a Rosebud artist until his passing). Cotton Mouth Man features guest appearances from a number of Blues, Rock, and Roots greats including Gregg Allman, Warren Haynes, Rosebud artist and 2013 GRAMMY-nominee Ruthie Foster, Joe Bonamassa, Delbert McClinton, and Keb Mo. The core backing band on the new album is composed of Hambridge (drums), Rob McNelley (guitar), Chuck Leavell (keyboards), Glenn Worf (bass), as well as Tommy MacDonald and Colin Linden each adding guitar to one track.

Cotton, who after a bout with throat cancer turned his vocal duties over to others, was inspired during Cotton Mouth Man’s sessions to return to the microphone. About his new album and vocal revival he stated, "I feel so happy about the music in this album. The Blues is all about feeling – – if I don’t feel it, I can’t play it. My hope is that everyone who listens, feels it. I know I sure did!" As of this writing, James has just returned from a series of dates in Japan to begin an extensive worldwide tour in support of Cotton Mouth Man.