I have been following the new Taylor Sheridan drama, Landman, which focuses on the complex world of West Texas oil. The cast included veteran actors and musicians Billy Bob Thornton and Mark Collie. However, I discovered that these actors brought more than just acting talent to the set.
Thornton and Collie have major contributions to the official soundtrack. This musical work truly captures the heart and grit of the show's setting. My discovery instantly changed how I view the series.
Landman: I was surprised by the depth of the musical collaboration

I learned that Billy Bob Thornton and Mark Collie are known for being both actors and musicians. Thornton plays M*Tex president Tommy Norris on Landman. Collie portrays local Sheriff Walt Joeberg. These two prolific artists found time to co-write and produce songs while filming the last two seasons of the show.
Their musical collaboration happened naturally during their downtime. The exciting results of their work are now featured on the forthcoming soundtrack.
The album, titled Landman - Songs From and Inspired by the Paramount+ Original Series (Volume I), offers a mix of rock, Americana, and country genres. Thornton and Collie worked with several respected artists to create the track list.
Their musical output was directly inspired by the oil business and the West Texas area. This element adds genuine depth to the overall feeling of the series for me.
Songs they wrote for the Landman soundtrack
I confirmed that Thornton and Collie worked together on five of the album’s fifteen tracks. Their combined efforts range from songwriting to composing and even instrumental performance.
The actors worked with well-known names in country and rock music. They wrote the track “Livin’ It Up in Texas” with Billy Gibbons, the singer from ZZ Top. They also share writing credit on “She’ll Dance for Whiskey,” which Texas singer-songwriter Parker McCollum performs. These collaborations showed me the level of musicians who joined the project.
Billy Bob Thornton and Mark Collie appear as writers and composers on three more songs. They earned credit with Dwight Yoakam on “That’s What Lonely People Do.” They also worked with Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn on “Blood for Black Gold.” Also, Thornton plays the drums on the “Blood for Black Gold” recording.
The solo songwriting credit

I found that Thornton and Collie wrote the final song themselves. They are the only songwriters credited for the track "Midland After Midnight." The Lubbock, Texas, band Flatland Cavalry performs this song on the record. I realized the song titles reflect the environment and themes of Landman perfectly.
Why this musical effort matters
I believe this deep musical involvement makes the series feel more authentic. The rest of the soundtrack includes performances by a wide variety of popular artists. These performers all help establish the show's musical tone. The album features artists like Ella Langley and Drayton Farley. Country stars George Strait and Chris Stapleton also appear. The Red Clay Strays and other performers round out the track listing.
The show’s co-creator, Christian Wallace, confirmed that Thornton started writing during the first season. Thornton mentioned that he and Collie wrote a couple of songs inspired by the business world and the geographic area.
This sort of personal connection to the setting makes the Landman musical experience feel authentic. The album serves as a true reflection of the series' setting and drama. I think fans will love hearing this extra layer of commitment from the stars.