Rough Diamonds [Import]

Product Description:
When the original Lindisfarne lineup split in 1973, Alan Hull and Ray Jackson continued in the name of the old band, whilst Ray Laidlaw, Rod Clements and Simon Cowe were joined by Billy Mitchell to form Jack the Lad. This album is originally from 1975 and is now remastered. EMI/Virgin. 2005.

Rough Diamonds,Jack the Lad,EMI Int'l,Brazilian,Int'l & World Music,Pop,Prog-Rock/Art Rock,Rock/Pop

Average customer rating: My Favorite Prine The best John Prine album ever Roots Prine Great Album. 6 stars out of 5 (OWN A COPY!)

Diamonds in the Rough John Prine Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Country General | Country | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Country General | Country | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Country | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: John Prine Sweet Revenge Bruised Orange Common Sense The Missing Years ASIN: B000002I71 Release Date: 1990-09-17

Tracks:

1. Everybody
2. The Torch Singer
3. Souvenirs
4. The Late John Garfield Blues
5. Sour Grapes
6. Billy The Bum
7. The Frying Pan
8. Yes I Guess They Oughta Name A Drink After You
9. Take The Star Out Of The Window
10. The Great Compromise
11. Clocks And Spoons
12. Rocky Mountain Time
13. Diamonds In The Rough

Amazon.com

The fireworks that accompanied the appearance of John Prine's 1971 debut cast a long shadow over its deceptively modest follow-up.Diamonds in the Rough admittedly isn't as laden with contemporary folk standards in the making as its predecessor, but it stands with 1978's Bruised Orange as one of Prine's most unified collections. Working in an acoustic setting, the raw-voiced wordsmith explores a melancholy milieu with "The Torch Singer," "Souvenirs," and "Rocky Mountain Time." "Everybody" recounts a conversation with a down-to-earth Almighty while "Billy the Bum" and "Take the Star Out of the Window" focus respectively on a local character and a weary Vietnam vet. Those are all excellent songs, but Diamonds in the Rough's strength lies less in the tunes themselves than in how sympathetically they're performed and sequenced. --Steven Stolder

Amazon.com

The fireworks that accompanied the appearance of John Prine's 1971 debut cast a long shadow over its deceptively modest follow-up.Diamonds in the Rough admittedly isn't as laden with contemporary folk standards in the making as its predecessor, but it stands with 1978's Bruised Orange as one of Prine's most unified collections. Working in an acoustic setting, the raw-voiced wordsmith explores a melancholy milieu with "The Torch Singer," "Souvenirs," and "Rocky Mountain Time." "Everybody" recounts a conversation with a down-to-earth Almighty while "Billy the Bum" and "Take the Star Out of the Window" focus respectively on a local character and a weary Vietnam vet. Those are all excellent songs, but Diamonds in the Rough's strength lies less in the tunes themselves than in how sympathetically they're performed and sequenced. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

My Favorite Prine.......2006-02-18

I was a kid working graveyard in a gas station working my way through my freshman year of college when the first self-titled John Prine album was released. I still remember the rush when I first heard "Illegal Smile" playing over the station radio one night about midnight. Shortly after that, he showed up in the studio of my favorite radio station - I think it was KPPC - you old LA'ers will remember that one, and played "the Late John Garfield Blues live over the radio. The DJ was so blown away by the song that he asked John if he would play it again, and he did. After running out and getting the album ($3.00 for vinyl those days), and hearing it all the way through, I knew he was another great one like my other singer/songwriter idols Lennon, Dylan and Ochs. The second album - "Diamonds In the Rough" - was somehow even better. Not as slick, or even as deep, but incredibly organic and heartfelt. Even though his biggest hits are on other albums, if I could only keep one of his, it would be "Diamonds." Even though I am an old fart now, that listens mostly to jazz, I still love it and consider it an essential.

The best John Prine album ever.......2005-09-21

A very simple set of brilliant tunes. Mainly just John and his guitar - just the way it ought to be. Funny tunes ("yes I guess they ought to name a drink after you" & "The Frying Pan") and soulful tunes ("John Garfield blues" and "The Tourch Singer").

This is a must have for anyone that likes Prine!

Roots Prine.......2005-09-14

Another reviewer mentioned the sort of 'earth'y-ness to this album.. i agree-- it seems to be just like the young Prine that had said all he had to say on his 1st and prior album (haystack album) is now just ready to go down and sit by the creek and play what's on his mind next, and he's barefoot--- maybe somethin' to smoke and a bunch've memories of bein' on the road... and the songs themselves.... 'everybody' opens with the feel of 'Spanish Pipedream' or 'Paradise', but a clever story of an encounter with a barefoot, sea-skippin' Jesus in need of an ear and the album just bleeds on through 'torch singer' which paints the picture of a bar-rooms soul as well as kristoffersons 'to beat the devil'; 'souvenirs' simply can't be matched, poetically or the way prine sings and plays it; "old man sleeps with his conscience at night, Young kids sleep with their dreams - While the mentally ill sit perfectly still and live through life's in-betweens" ('late john garfield blues');
'sour grapes' can be your guitars best friend on a rainy day, and 'frying pan' and 'they oughtta name a drink after you' take the pain off like a shot of good southern whiskey.... 'take the star out of the window' re-explores, in another speed, some of the issues a sam stone would 've encountered, and 'the great compromise' explores america in the form af a young lady and a lover who got had... '...she spent all the money i give her, just the see the ol' man in the moon'... 'clocks and spoons' is just very well written and sung, a strumming pattern similar to 'six o clock news' from the first album, and clever tense-changes in each chorus... go get lost on a train in europe and listen to 'rocky mtn. time' about the time you get home or lover sick... 'diamonds in the rough' sounds like an old mountain spiritual that made it down to the town streets around the early 30's..... the strenght of this album, i believe, lies in not only the way prine performs them (as the editorial review stated), but also in the quality and short-story-book feel of the songs and stories themselves... The strenght of some of these stories can be literally flooring at times.....

Great Album........2005-05-09

This album is very bare-bones but is strong throughout, and contains one of the greatest songs ever written - "Souvenirs" The most heartfelt song of rememberence ever penned will send shivers down your spine every time you hear it.

"I hate graveyards and old pawnshops, for they always bring me tears. I can't forgive the way they rob me, of my childhood souvenirs".

This album also contains "The Great Compromise" which would otherwise be the best song on this album (or any other album) if it weren't for Souvenirs.

6 stars out of 5 (OWN A COPY!).......2004-12-24

Best John Prine- One of the best albums ever recorded. Blows Dylan out of the water. EVERY song is a diamond. Get Diamonds in the Rough and a bottle of Jeremiah Weed. Do it for yourself!!

Average customer rating: The problem with this album ........... About what I expected 4.5 stars - The final days of Bad Company... DEFINITELY AN EXCELLENT ALBUM BY BAD COMPANY Paul Rodgers Fans only . . .

Rough Diamonds Bad Company Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Classic Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Hard Rock & Metal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Desolation Angels Burnin' Sky Run with the Pack Straight Shooter Bad Company ASIN: B000002JT7 Release Date: 1994-09-20

Tracks:

1. Electricland
2. Untie The Knot
3. Nuthin' On The TV
4. Painted Face
5. Kickdown
6. Ballad Of The Band
7. Cross Country Boy
8. Old Mexico
9. Downhill Ryder
10. Racetrack

Customer Reviews:

The problem with this album ..................2007-04-14

.......is that it came out when Van Halen was laying the ground work for the next wave of artists for this particular brand of Rock and Roll.
It was all over for bands like Bad Company.
It's a shame because this album is better than 80% of the Van Halen catalog

About what I expected.......2005-08-01

I became a huge Paul Rodgers fan because of Bad Company and I had never owned this CD until now because I was not please with Bad Company's direction. It seemed each album was worse than the previous. I still feel that way but having recently purchased all of Free's catalog and keeping up with Paul's solo career this was the only cd I did not own. Electicland is a great song but all-in-all the album is just okay.

If you're a big Bad Company fan and don't own it yet, go ahead. If you like Bad Company and don't own any Free albums, get them instead. A note about Free, their earlier albums are bluesy and as they progressed you can start to hear the early Bad Company sound coming through.

4.5 stars - The final days of Bad Company..........2005-06-24

Rough Diamonds (1982.) Bad Company's sixth album.

They say supergroups don't last very long, but one of them proved that claim wrong - Bad Company. The foursome of Free's Paul Rodgers and Simon Kirke, King Crimson's Boz Burrell, and Mott The Hoople's Mick Ralphs released many an excellent classic rock song in their time together, and they remain one of the supergroups that lasted longer than most others from their respective era. The group was nearing the end when the eighties arrived, though - Led Zeppelin's John Bonham died, and this was crushing since the group was on Swan Song, the record label started by Zeppelin. Likewise, tensions in the band were rising. A split was inevitable. Bad Company's classic line-up released its final album, Rough Diamonds, in 1982. Does the album show the group in shambles, or is it their swansong (no pun intended)? Read on for my review of Rough Diamonds.

Many of Bad Company's albums get unfairly bashed, often due to the lack of hit singles. Due to this flaw, Rough Diamonds pretty much goes unknown, even by fans of the group. This is a real shame, because this is a GREAT album. So what if it didn't top the charts or have any big-time hit singles? The music RULES. You can definitely see that the synthesizer/keyboard experimentation began on Desolation Angels is continued here, and to a greater degree, more likely than not due to all the other bands of the day experimenting with similar trends. But this is a small factor - the rock excellence never left the band's domain. Kicking the album off was Electricland, which was the band's big hit, or at least the song that came the closest to being such. It's a melodic rocker that should have been a bigger hit than it was - quite honestly, no other song the band ever did sounds anything like this one. You've gotta love that backing synth pattern. Untie The Knot comes next. This is one of my favorite songs here, since it shows off the band's eagerness to try new things. It heavily emphases piano, but is still a solid pop tune - it almost sounds like "seventies soul meets eighties new wave" - and it's still an excellent song through and through, too. The bluesy, poppy stylings of Nuthin' On The TV come next. This song is VERY similar to the Loggins and Messina classic, Your Mama Don't Dance, and that's a good thing. Yet another song that should have been more of a hit. Painted Face is one of the more classic rock-styled tunes on the albums that shows some major elements of the band's older sound, while at the same time adding in some of the new ones. This makes it another damn good Bad Company tune from this forgotten age. Kickdown is a Robin Trower-esque rocker that combines some awesome riffs from Mick Ralphs with backing piano, making for a very interesting listening experience. Coming up next is Ballad Of The Band, a fast and frantic bluesy rock tune with horns. This is the kind of thing you'd expect to hear Bob Seger doing in the late seventies, not Bad Company - but the song is still great. And like I said, the experimentation is one of the reasons I love this album. Cross Country Boy is another bluesy tune, and this time around, the piano is the main instrument. It's great to see the band get in touch with their blues roots, and they do it excellently on this number. Also not to be missed is the underrated classic Old Mexico, in which you'll see a side to Paul Rodgers you don't see very often - you've got to hear the song to see what I mean. Another tune on the album I enjoy immensely is Downhill Ryder, because it's one of the rockers. It's more bluesy than the rockers the band put out in the past, but as far as I am concerned, this only adds to the song's charm. Closing out the album (and Bad Company's classic career) is Racetrack. This is one of the band's finest compositions, as well as one of their most unique-sounding. The band couldn't have closed out the album better. Ultimately, the experimentation on this album pays off. Rough Diamonds is just that - a diamond in the rough.

Sadly, Bad Company's albums (with the exception of hits compilations and the first album) are long since out of print and tough to find. This means that to get them (the later ones in particular) you're gonna have to do some serious hunting in used CD shops, and more likely than not some online ordering. I hope the record company remasters and reissues these albums, but until then, you're just gonna have to search.

Rough Diamonds is an appropriate title for this album - Rough in that it takes some time for you to get used to, being that it sounds different from every other Bad Company album, and Diamonds in the aspect that once you get used to it, you'll agree that it really is some of the finest rock and roll Rodgers and the boys ever shelled out. Bad Company broke up after this album was released, but the musicians didn't quit there. Paul Rodgers went on to perform in several other acts. Bad Company reunions occured over the years, but most of them lacked some of the original members (one late eighties-early nineties formation even lacked Rodgers), and the reincarnation versions of the band couldn't recapture the thunder of the classic Ralphs/Burrell/Kirke/Rodgers formation. Rough Diamonds stands as a testament of Bad Company in their final hours - hours of uncertainty and experimentation. And what fine musical hours they were. If you're a die hard fan of Bad Company and/or Paul Rodgers, this is must-own material.

DEFINITELY AN EXCELLENT ALBUM BY BAD COMPANY.......2005-03-22

I remember when I finally got this cd in 1992 after I graduated from high school since it was the only album I did not have at the time I became a huge fan of BAD COMPANY in 1985. When I first listened to it, it consisted of songs built around various keyboards instead of MICK RALPH's guitar riffs throughout the 1970s. However, the revamped sound of his honey surburst GIBSON LES PAUL STANDARD plugged into a 100-watt MARSHALL amp really shines thoughtout this album like on the previous DESOLATION ANGELS, and SIMON KIRKE is still playing excellent drums throughout the album. Furthermore, lead singer PAUL RODGERS plays excellent lead guitar on PAINTED FACE, CROSS COUNTRY BOY, and the synthesizer driven DOWNHILL RYDER (one of my favorite songs with outstanding rhythm guitar riffs) besides the keyboards throughout the album. ELECTRIC LAND that has PAUL still delivering those soulful vocals and piano skills is an excellent opening song for the album. The RODGERS/KIRKE penned UNTIE THE KNOT that features excellent vocals and piano playing is an excellent sequel, and then comes BOZ BURRELL'S NUTHIN' ON THE TV that features ex KING CRIMSON sax player MEL COLLINS. All three of these songs have excellent sounding guitar riffs by MICK RALPHS. BALLAD OF THE BAND is a good fast-paced song with PAUL'S singin', MICK'S guitar riffs, and MEL'S sax playing. OLD MEXICO is a excellent ballad with MICK'S slide guitar playing and PAUL'S singin' and piano playing, and RACETRACK is an excellent closing track with the synthesizer, piano, slide guitar, and vocals by PAUL. Another one of favorite songs is MICK'S KICKDOWN with his guitar riffs, PAUL'S singing, the piano, and the organ. Plus, this song reminds me of the live version of DAVID GILMOUR'S THERE'S NO WAY OUT OF HERE from his 1984 vhs live video tape that MICK RALPHS plays guitar on (I wrote a review about this video too). The only major complaint I have about this album is that Paul does not play a grand acoustic piano (although he used it on some of their songs) instead of the newer type of pianos, and I do not like the sound of BOZ'S bass guitar(the new unpleasant sound of the 1980s) throughout the album in contrast to the sound of his bass guitar on the BAD COMPANY albums from the 1970s. Furthermore, I heard how the recording sessions for this about were dark and rough going too, considering the death of SWAN SONG label mate JOHN BONHAM, the departure of manager PETER GRANT, and PAUL wanting to spend more quality time with his children. Meanwhile, this album is definitely a must have for all original BAD COMPANY fans, despite how the sound and style of their music are different from their 1970s albums.

Paul Rodgers Fans only . . ........2004-11-24

This was Paul Rodgers last Bad Co album(1982).Electricland is a
strong opening number. My Fave song on this album is Kickdown - I play it to death.Untie the Knot is classic
Pop/ Rock (I could never Figure out why it
didn't close the album).Straight Shooter & Runnin' with the Pack are Far Better albums.

Average customer rating:

Rough Diamonds Bad Company Manufacturer: Wea Japan ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Run with the Pack Desolation Angels Bad Company Burnin' Sky Straight Shooter ASIN: B000MQ4X32 Release Date: 2007-03-19

Tracks:

1. Electricland
2. Untie the Knot
3. Nuthin' on the TV
4. Painted Face
5. Kick Down
6. Ballad of the Band
7. Cross Country Boy
8. Old Mexico
9. Downhill Ryder
10. Racetrack

Album Details

Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.

Average customer rating: Goes well with pints! EXCELLENT! More like 4 1/2 stars.

Rough Diamonds Jack the Lad Manufacturer: EMI Int'l ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Folk | Styles | Music Brazil | South & Central America | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Its Jack Old Straight Track Pipedream Roll on Ruby Dingly Dell ASIN: B000B5QD6E Release Date: 2005-10-31

Tracks:

1. Rocking Chair
2. Smokers Coughin'
3. My Friend the Drink
4. Letter from France
5. Gentlemen Soldier
6. Gardener of Eden
7. One for the Boy
8. Beachcomber
9. Ballad of Winston O'Flaherty
10. Jackie Lusive
11. Draught Genius
12. Baby Let Me Take You Home

Album Description

When the original Lindisfarne lineup split in 1973, Alan Hull and Ray Jackson continued in the name of the old band, whilst Ray Laidlaw, Rod Clements and Simon Cowe were joined by Billy Mitchell to form Jack the Lad. This album is originally from 1975 and is now remastered. EMI/Virgin. 2005.

Album Details

When the Original Lindisfarne Lineup Split in 1973, Alan Hull and Ray Jackson Continued in the Name of the Old Band, Whilst Ray Laidlaw, Rod Clements and Simon Cowe were Joined by Billy Mitchell to Form Jack the Lad. This Album is Originally from 1975 and is Now Remastered.

Customer Reviews:

Goes well with pints! EXCELLENT! More like 4 1/2 stars. .......2006-07-31

This is the third album released by the Lindisfarne spin-off band that originally featured Ray Laidlaw, Rod Clements, and Simon Crowe. Clements was long gone by this point (leaving after the first album)and had been replaced by a couple of guys from the excellent obscure folk-rock band Hedgehog Pie. I have a reference book on British music, covering the mid 60's through the mid 70's that states Simon Crowe had left the band by this point and was replaced by Ray Jackson. This is NOT true. Crowe was still an active member of the band here. Lindisfarne's Ray Jackson does appear as a guest, playing harp on the opening cut, and he was the one that contributed the cover artwork. Basically, this album is a mixture of very catchy Lindisfarne-style sing-along folk songs and the traditional sounding heavy folk rock of the second album. IMHO the songwriting is some of their strongest, and the album comes very close to capturing the spirit of the first couple of Lindisfarne albums (after hearing this, you just can't help but compare the two bands). The producer for this album was Simon Nicol, and he did an excellent job blending these two styles of songwriting! I would recommend getting this, and "The Old Straight Track", as well as the excellent Alan Hull solo album "Pipedream" before you get any of the Lindisfarne Mk.II albums.

Average customer rating:

Diamonds in the Rough Chicago Blues Harmonica Project Manufacturer: Severn ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Blues | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Similar Items: Buried Alive in the Blues (+ Bonus DVD) Nickels & Dimes Hammers & Strings For the Chosen Who The Billy Gibson Band ASIN: B0009PLLY0 Release Date: 2005-06-21

Tracks:

1. I Got To Go - Dusty Brown
2. Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone - Omar Coleman
3. How Many More Years - Russ Green
4. Mean Old World - Larry Cox
5. Baby What You Want Me To Do - Harmonica Khan #1
6. Look on Yonder Wall - Little Addison
7. He Don't Love You - Dusty Brown
8. Goin' to New York - Larry Cox
9. Next Time You See Me - Harmonica Khan #1
10. Eveythings Gonna Be Alright - Russ Green
11. Respect Me - Little Addison
12. You Don't Love Me - Omar Coleman

Average customer rating: Should have won a Grammy Newby to Texas Undiscovered Gems! great folk/country/contemporary/austin city sound

Diamonds in the Rough Bill and Bonnie Hearne Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Country General | Country | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Country General | Country | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Folk General | Folk | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Folk General | Folk | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Country Folk | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Country | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Watching Life Through a Windshield The I-10 Chronicles, Vol. 2: One More for the Road The I-10 Chronicles All the Roadrunning Half the Perfect World ASIN: B000002NDP Release Date: 1997-04-08

Tracks:

1. Grapes On The Vine
2. Alison Lives By The Big Bend
3. Muley Brown
4. Georgetown
5. Wild Geese
6. Walk Through The Bottomland
7. Bluebonnet Girl
8. Invitation To The Blues
9. Going Back To Georgia
10. Rose Of Sharon
11. Sweet Desert Rose
12. Every Drop Of Water
13. New Mexico Rain

Customer Reviews:

Should have won a Grammy.......2004-09-03

"Star inflation" is a factor on Amazon - understandably enough, people tend to review music that they feel strongly about. This is the first time I've given a recording 5 stars, but "Diamonds In The Rough" is a genuine musical treasure, and could legitimately have been a Grammy winner.

This record came about when Bill and Bonnie Hearne fan Barney Crutchfield offered to finance a first-class studio production of their music. The first step was hiring producer Jim Rooney, who brought together some of the finest session musicians in Austin and Nashville (Lloyd Maines and Roy Huskey, Jr, among many others) to back up Bill and Bonnie, along with old friends Jerry Jeff Walker, Lyle Lovett, Tish Hinojosa, and Nanci Griffith (who dedicated her classic "Other Voices, Other Rooms" in part to "Bill and Bonnie Hearne, who play the best darn folk music I ever heard"). They even got Kris Kristoffersen to do the photography.

What makes this CD so rewarding is not the stellar production or the guest appearances. The true stars of this record are Bill and Bonnie, and the songs they chose. Bill and Bonnie are both worthy of the name of instrumentalists, Bill flat-picking his guitar and Bonnie playing the piano with fine honky-tonk style, but it is their harmonizing, polished over 25 years of performing together, that provides the finest moments on this recording. The session musicians stay mostly in the background. The guest artists, famous as they may be, only sound like old friends trading verses. (The only one who sort of takes over is nephew Michael Hearne on "New Mexico Rain.")

Bill and Bonnie's version of Ian Tyson's "Wild Geese" is simply exceptional. Geese, which are supposed to mate for life, leaving for winter quarters. Bill and Bonnie's voices so different, yet blending so touchingly after many years.

The songs as a group are exceptional. They are real stories about people living through life's joys and struggles. Unlike many current Nashville hits, the people in these songs have their disappointments and failures but they don't boast about them or make them into a joke. A Nashville song may catch your attention on Top 40 radio, as being a reflection of your day, but the songs on "Diamonds In The Rough" are reflections of well-lived lifetimes. These songs are built to last.

In every way, this CD is an absolute gem. Barney Crutchfield, who made his money in fast food, has given us a wonderful gift. May he sell a billion hamburgers.

Newby to Texas.......2001-06-30

Just listening to music one evening and came across this gem. The music on this CD can instantly uplift a perons's spirit. I am not a country fan at all but the music of Bill and Bonny are different than all the nose twanging music that you hear on the country stations.

Undiscovered Gems!.......1998-11-21

Bill and Bonnie now live in Santa Fe, NM where they are considered a local treasure. Each of them is a first-rate soloist in his/her own right and they are marvelously complementary together. This is music you can listen to (and dance to) over and over again. It is both romantic and poignant. It just feels good!

great folk/country/contemporary/austin city sound.......1998-05-11

Bill & Bonnie Hearne lived & worked in Austin,Tx for many years. While this is their first label CD, they have performing in clubs in TX & NM for over 20 years. Their work reflects the Austin folk/contemporary sound which the likes of Nancy Griffith and Lyle Lovett made popular. In fact, Griffith, Lovett, Jerry Jeff Walker & Tish Hinojosa appear with Bill & Bonnie on this CD. This CD is a MUST have for anyone who likes to listen to Nancy Griffith, MaryLou Harris and/or other Austin City artists.

Average customer rating: Diamonds In The Rough Willie's the Diamond but the production's rough .

Diamonds in the Rough Willie Nelson Manufacturer: Elap ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Country General | Country | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Country General | Country | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Outlaw & Texas Country | Country | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Outlaw & Texas Country | Country | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music ASIN: B00002DFV1 Release Date: 2000-01-12

Customer Reviews:

Diamonds In The Rough.......2000-06-22

If you're looking for "Willie" the songwriter, this is the CD for you. All songs written by Willie, and you can tell. Simple, to the point and honest. Willie at his best. Willie doing Willie, not Willie doing what the studio says to do. His early recording are; true Willie.

Willie's the Diamond but the production's rough ........2000-06-18

Firstly , and most importantly , believe me when I tell you I am a Willie Nelson fan .

Here we have yet another compilation from a relatively obscure , minor record company ,which has probably purchased these forty year old recordings in the hope of " cashing in " on Willie Nelson's popularity and his enormous fan base , which should mean huge sales . A further complication when considering this album was the lack of information about its contents .

I have nothing against the songs on this album , in fact there are a number which I like and enjoy , among them are " A New Way To Cry " , " Broken Promises " , " Lets Pretend " its the fact that they all exist on previous albums whose production and sound quality is invariably much better to listen to and enjoy . The production of this album and the sound quality you recieve can only be as good as forty year old recordings can be expected to be ; thats rather poor and inferior .

Although it states that this is a " new " year 2000 release the recordings are not and I believe this to be quite unfair and misleading . However should you like Willie Nelson and have a desire to experience what he was producing in his early twenties ; his vocals accompanied by his guitar , piano and little else , then this is for you . If , on the other hand you would prefer a similarly priced compilation with some of his more recent material give " Yours Always " or " All Of Me " a try as both are much better albums yet similarly priced .

Average customer rating:

Rough Diamonds Sulo Manufacturer: Feedback Boogie/Hepcat ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000N0MTPQ Release Date: 2005-02-15

Average customer rating:

Rough Diamonds Sulo Manufacturer: Feedback Boogie ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B00012QKD8 Release Date: 2006-03-22

Tracks:

1. Weekend Monster
2. Inflammable 69: Er
3. Rough Diamond
4. Living Legends Dyin' Hearts
5. Ba Ba Ba (The Word Is on the Street)
6. R'n'r Declaration
7. Vegas Vamp
8. Love Me, Hurt You
9. 8: PM
10. In Your Cave
11. I'll Be Your Monkey
12. Dullsville Girl
13. Gravity Blues
14. Golden Trash

Album Description

Sulo goes solo! The Diamond Dogs vocalist has recorded an amazing solo album featuring Nicke Andersson & Anders 'Boba' Lindstrom (Hellacopters), Dregen (Backyard Babies), Honk & Stevie Karlsson (Diamond Dogs), & Thomas Skosberg. 14 tracks. Feedback Boogie. 2003.

Average customer rating:

Diamonds in the Rough The Carter Family Manufacturer: Copper Creek ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Old-Time Country | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Appalachian | North America | International | Styles | Music General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music Traditional Country | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B000000B2B Release Date: 2006-07-25

Tracks:

1. Little Moses
2. Little Log Cabin by the Sea
3. Room in Heaven for Me
4. Storms Are on the Ocean
5. Your Mother Still Prays (For You, Jack)
6. Engine 143
7. Where Shall I Be?
8. Homestead on the Farm
9. Diamonds in the Rough
10. Broken Hearted Lover
11. Darling Daisies
12. Little Joe
13. My Heavenly Home Is Bright and Fair
14. Last Letter
15. Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
16. My Old Pal of Yesterday

Music Album:

1. Sacred Nation
2. Scripture Songs II - King James Bible Music
3. Severin Browne [Original recording remastered] [Import]
4. SFWMF 2000 LIVE
5. Shaarei Shabbat: Songs & Blessings For Your Jewish Home
6. Shiron L'Gan: Jewish Songs For Children Ages 2-5
7. Song Writers Notebook
8. Spencer the Rover is Alive and Well
9. Spirits of the Voyage: Music From The Documentary Video [Soundtrack]
10. Stay in the Shade [CD-single] [Import]

Music Album