The Best of Joe Ely

Amazon.com
He's never had a Top 10 single, none of his albums have gone platinum, and yet Joe Ely has carved a unique--and influential--niche for himself during nearly 25 years as a solo performer, most of them spent on MCA. His incomparable stories overflow with humanity and humor, not to mention an idiosyncratic West Texas perspective. He was "alt country" before the genre existed and can be justly credited as a fountainhead of that movement. This generously programmed set may not matter to hardcore Elyphiles who have everything he recorded. To the newcomer, however, these 20 songs--dating back to his first MCA album (Joe Ely, 1977) and ending with his last (Twistin' in the Wind, 1998)--are a compelling introduction, the music reflecting Texas's rich musical stew. Numbers like "She Never Spoke Spanish to Me" and "Me and Billy the Kid" wear well, and the inclusion of material from his two stunning live albums for MCA (Live Shots, 1980, and Live at Liberty Lunch, 1990) conveys his onstage presence. One may always quibble with selections on best-ofs, but short of a box set, this is an effective first look at his enduring vision. --Rich Kienzle

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Average customer rating: The Best of Joe Ely Legend dazzling An Excellent Joe Ely Primer First US Compilation

The Best of Joe Ely Joe Ely Manufacturer: Mca Nashville ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Country | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Essential Guy Clark Live at Antone's Dublin Blues Old No. 1/Texas Cookin' Happy Songs From Rattlesnake Gulch ASIN: B000051Y1M Release Date: 2000-11-21

Tracks:

1. She Never Spoke Spanish To Me
2. Suckin' A Big Bottle Of Gin
3. Tennessee's Not The State I'm In
4. Boxcars
5. Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown
6. Honky Tonk Masquerade
7. West Texas Waltz
8. Fools Fall In Love
9. Standin' At The Big Hotel
10. Musta Notta Gotta Lotta
11. Dallas
12. Fingernails (Live)
13. Long Snake Moan (Live)
14. Cool Rockin' Loretta
15. Settle For Love
16. Me And Billy The Kid
17. If You Were A Bluebird (Live)
18. Letter To Laredo
19. Roll Again
20. All Just To Get To You

Amazon.com

He's never had a Top 10 single, none of his albums have gone platinum, and yet Joe Ely has carved a unique--and influential--niche for himself during nearly 25 years as a solo performer, most of them spent on MCA. His incomparable stories overflow with humanity and humor, not to mention an idiosyncratic West Texas perspective. He was "alt country" before the genre existed and can be justly credited as a fountainhead of that movement. This generously programmed set may not matter to hardcore Elyphiles who have everything he recorded. To the newcomer, however, these 20 songs--dating back to his first MCA album (Joe Ely, 1977) and ending with his last (Twistin' in the Wind, 1998)--are a compelling introduction, the music reflecting Texas's rich musical stew. Numbers like "She Never Spoke Spanish to Me" and "Me and Billy the Kid" wear well, and the inclusion of material from his two stunning live albums for MCA (Live Shots, 1980, and Live at Liberty Lunch, 1990) conveys his onstage presence. One may always quibble with selections on best-ofs, but short of a box set, this is an effective first look at his enduring vision. --Rich Kienzle

Customer Reviews:

The Best of Joe Ely.......2007-05-10

An excellent CD. It really is some of the best of Joe Ely.

Legend.......2006-11-02

Joe Ely has truly become a full blown music legend - and not just in West Texas, but all over. His unique sound, with Texas influence, will only leave you wanting to hear more and more, again and again.

No matter if he is singing with the Flatlanders, Butch Hancock, or by himself, Ely will never fail to create a music masterpiece - and this album is proof of that. I own enough "Greatest Hits" albums to know that the not all the songs are truly "Great."

However, that is simply not the case here with Joe Ely. While some will have their favorites, all will listen to every song on the CD and never had the desire to skip any song. If you are new to Joe Ely or a long time fan, this is a must own CD for you.

dazzling.......2003-11-06

Texas' Joe Ely has pumped out 14 albums of material since he made his debut in 1977. But as this latent collection of his greatest illustrates, his best stuff was recorded early on with chief songsmith Butch Hancock on board. Songs plucked from the first four albums dazzle with crackerjack playing, muscular vocals and a goldmine of material (Suckin' a Big Bottle of Gin, Tennessee's Not the State I'm In, West Texas Waltz, Standing at the Big Hotel) straight from Hancock's pen. Even Ely, unpressured, was able to dash off the sporadic gem (Honky Tonk Masquerade, Fingernails). But only the deaf will miss the stylistic decline which set in after Hancock bolted in 1981. Forced to rely on his own material, Ely's focused changed and the spark in the studio all but disappeared. Only a rousing live version of Hancock's If You Were a Bluebird, recorded in 1990, makes the case for any late-career relevancy and only then because Ely's true value is the work he does on stage.

An Excellent Joe Ely Primer.......2001-02-06

This is the first domestically released Joe Ely anthology, and the only one to cover everything from his 1977 self-titled debut through 1998's Twistin' In the Wind. If you're unfamiliar with this Texas country-rocker, this is an excellent place to start.

In 1972 Joe Ely, Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore recorded their only album together as the Flatlanders and the album went nowhere. But over the next three decades each artist has garnered critical praise as a solo performer, though none has achieved more than cult status with the record buying public. Between the three of them, they wrote all but "Long Snake Moan" taken from Live Shots recorded while Ely was the opening act for the Clash. Though they don't perform with Ely on record, Hancock wrote eight of these songs, including "She Never Spoke Spanish To Me," "Suckin' a Big Bottle of Gin" and the wonderful "West Texas Waltz," and Gilmore wrote "Dallas" and co-wrote "Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown."

Ely is also an excellent songwriter as well, penning "Fingernails" (the greatest song Jerry Lee Lewis never wrote!), "Me and Billy the Kid" and "All Just To Get to You." Ely's first two albums (represented by the first seven tracks) are an exciting blend of country, rock, honky-tonk and Tex-Mex. Steel guitar player Lloyd Maines provides much of the band's muscle along with Ponty Bone on accordian on the second album. By the release of his 1981 album, Ely was more rock than country and Live Shots which came out the same year is an amazing live album. Ely didn't release another album until 1984's Hi-Res, where he virtually abandoned any connection to country music. "Cool Rockin' Loretta" is the only thing worth having from that album.

After another recording hiatus, Ely returned in the late Eighties with two albums on the Hightone label. This period is represented by "Settle for Love" and "Me and Billy the Kid." Ely's two most recent albums--Letter To Loredo and Twistin' In the Wind--find him adding flamenco to the mix (and the return of Lloyd Maines to the band). The only surprise is that there is nothing included from 1992's Love and Danger.--"The Road Goes on Forever" would have been an obvious choice.

Being limited to a single disc anthology, this collection draws from nine of his ten studio albums, and two of his three live albums and provides the listener with an excellenet overview of an underrated artist. When you decide you need more, BGO has recently released his first two classic albums as a two-fer. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

First US Compilation.......2000-11-30

This is Joe Ely's first compilation in the US. It covers all his MCA albums as well as one song from a 1987 HighTone release. Ely's unique style of Country, Rock, Blues and Tex-Mex lends his songs a unique flavor. A great songwriter he also is smart enough to use the talents of equally fine songwriters like Butch Hancock "Tennessee's Not The State", and Jimmie Dale Gilmore, "Dallas", on his albums. Hancock, Gilmore and Ely were members of the legendary Flatlanders, who made one classic album in 1972 (in print called "More A Legend Than A Band" on Rounder Records). At 20 songs and 78 minutes this is a great introduction to anyone who has a passing interest in Ely's music. But it also will serve the Ely fan. No, there are no new songs or unreleased tracks here, but it does a fine job of wrapping up Ely's 23 years of solo work. One could always quibble: I miss "Jericho" from 1978's Honky Tonk Masquerade and either one of his 2 Robert Earl Keen covers from 1992's Love and Danger: "Road Goes on Forever" or "Whenever Kindness Fails", but those are minor omissions. And besides those songs are on Ely's 3 best studio albums, which are all in print: Joe Ely (77), Honky Tonk Masquerade (78) and Love and Danger (92). Those 3 albums plus this compilation filling in the gaps are essential in starting your Ely solo collection. With fine up-to-the-minute liner notes by John Morthland and good, clear sound, this turns out to be one of 2000's best reissues.

Average customer rating:

20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Joe Ely Joe Ely Manufacturer: Mca Nashville ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music New Traditionalist | Contemporary Country | Country | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Country Rock | 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 | 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 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: Love & Danger Settle for Love Live at Antone's Joe Ely/Honky Tonk Masquerade The Essential Guy Clark ASIN: B0001GWAOW Release Date: 2004-03-09

Tracks:

1. She Never Spoke Spanish to Me
2. Suckin' a Big Bottle of Gin
3. Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown
4. Honky Tonk Masquerade
5. Fingernails
6. Fools Fall in Love
7. Dallas
8. Musta Notta Gotta Lotta
9. Settle for Love
10. Road Goes on Forever
11. Me and Billy the Kid
12. All Just to Get to You

Average customer rating:

From Lubbock to Laredo: Best of Joe Ely Joe Ely Manufacturer: Umvd Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Country | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music Country | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Twistin' in the Wind ASIN: B000063V8W Release Date: 2002-06-18

Tracks:

1. Treat Me Like A Saturday Night
2. She Never Spoke Spanish To Me
3. Johnny's Blues
4. Honky Tonk Masquerade
5. Fingernails
6. Boxcars
7. West Texas Waltz
8. Because Of The Wind
9. Down On The Drag
10. Musta Notta Gotta Lotta
11. Dallas
12. Cool Rockin' Loretta
13. Slow You Down
14. The Road Goes On Forever
15. Settle For Love
16. Letter To Laredo
17. Run Preciosa
18. Sister Soak The Beans
19. Nacho Mama
20. If I Could Teach My Chihuahua To Sing

Album Details

20 Track Retrospective (That Replaces the Old Demon Label Collection Released in the 90's) Spanning the Years 1977-1998 featuring Highlights from Eight of his MCA Albums. Includes a Booklet with Photos, Sleevenotes from Musician/Writer Sid Griffin and a Foreward by Joe Strummer.

Average customer rating: Classic Joe Ely, Vol. 2

Time for Travellin': The Best of Joe Ely, Vol. 2 Joe Ely Manufacturer: Edsel Records UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music Traditional Country | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music Country | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: No Bad Talk or Loud Talk 1977-'81 Dig All Night The Best of Joe Ely ASIN: B0000011WC Release Date: 1996-08-06

Tracks:

1. Mardi Gras Waltz
2. Tennessee's Not The State I'm In
3. Gambler's Bride
4. All My Love
5. Jericho (Your Walls Must Come Tumbling Down)
6. I'll Be Your Fool
7. Conrbread Moon
8. Standin' At The Big Hotel
9. Crazy Lemon
10. Crawdad Train
11. In Another World
12. She Leaves You Where You ARE
13. Time For Travelin'
14. Wishin' For You
15. Hold On
16. I Keep Getting' Paid The Same
17. Road Hawg
18. Dam Of My Heart
19. Bet Me

Album Description

Companion to the Demon label's 'No Bad Talk Or Loud Talk' comp, this 'best of' focuses on his MCA years between 1977-81. 19 tracks.

Customer Reviews:

Classic Joe Ely, Vol. 2.......2000-06-12

Between this CD and the previous No Bad Or Loud Talk, you have Joe Ely's first four classic MCA albums (except for four songs that were omitted).

Unlike No Bad Or Loud Talk, Time For Travelin' includes mostly Joe Ely songs--thirteen of the nineteen tracks. Standouts are "I'll Be Your Fool" and "Cornbread Moon" from Ely's 1978 country masterpiece Honky Tonk Masquerade. Among Butch Hancock's highlights are "Standin' At The Big Hotel" and "Tennessee's Not The State I'm In." [All of the Jimmie Dale Gilmore songs are on the first collection.]

Ely's core band included Ponti Bone on accordian, Lloyd Maines on steel guitar, and Jesse Taylor on lead guitar. Combined with Ely's guitar and vocals this CD represents an early creative peak. (Ely would follow this up with the electrifying Live Shots, recorded while touring behind the Clash.) If you've only started listening to Ely since 1995's Letter To Loredo, you owe it to yourself to get these two Edsel releases. You won't be disappointed. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Music Album:

1. The Capitol Years: Ode to Bobbie Gentry [Import]
2. The Cold Hard Truth
3. The Delbert and Glen Sessions 1972-1973 [Original recording remastered]
4. The Desert Rose Band
5. The Essential Doc Watson [Live]
6. The Great Divide
7. The Guitar Sounds of James Burton [Import]
8. The Jealous Kind [Enhanced]
9. The Legend [Box set] [Limited Edition]
10. The Red Dirt Album

Music Album