Cold Hard Facts

Amazon.com
There's nothing soft or fuzzy about this aptly titled album; even without a drummer, the choppy mandolin and guitar chords propel the music forward relentlessly. Whether describing the murderous "Henry Walker" or a hard-working "Loggin' Man," Del McCoury sings in a roughened, high, lonesome tenor that scrubs all the sentimentality off such subjects. When he sings about marital infidelity on Robert Cray's "Smoking Gun" or Ronnie's title tune, Del lets the raw moment of realization cut through his voice. Even when he tackles Ray Price's honky-tonk "I'll Be There" or Tom Petty's folk-rock "Love Is a Long Road," Del gives them the starkness of an Appalachian culture where the rocky soil and dirt-road isolation leave little margin for error. --Geoffrey Himes

Cold Hard Facts,Del McCoury,Rounder / Pgd,Bluegrass,Contemporary Bluegrass,Country,Country & Western,Pop,Traditional Bluegrass

Average customer rating: Hard-Driving Bluegrass real country YOW-SAAA!! This music gets in your blood Phenomenal Bluegrass

Cold Hard Facts Del McCoury Manufacturer: Rounder / Umgd ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Contemporary | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Traditional | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Rounder Records | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Family Del and the Boys The Company We Keep A Deeper Shade of Blue It's Just the Night ASIN: B0000002O1 Release Date: 1996-09-17

Tracks:

1. The Cold Hard Facts
2. Blue Darlin'
3. Smoking Gun
4. Love Is A Long Road
5. Henry Walker
6. Baltimore Jonny
7. Blackjack County Chains
8. Hard On My Heart
9. Snake In The House
10. The First Time She Left
11. Loggin' Man
12. Member of the Blues
13. I'll Be There

Amazon.com

There's nothing soft or fuzzy about this aptly titled album; even without a drummer, the choppy mandolin and guitar chords propel the music forward relentlessly. Whether describing the murderous "Henry Walker" or a hard-working "Loggin' Man," Del McCoury sings in a roughened, high, lonesome tenor that scrubs all the sentimentality off such subjects. When he sings about marital infidelity on Robert Cray's "Smoking Gun" or Ronnie's title tune, Del lets the raw moment of realization cut through his voice. Even when he tackles Ray Price's honky-tonk "I'll Be There" or Tom Petty's folk-rock "Love Is a Long Road," Del gives them the starkness of an Appalachian culture where the rocky soil and dirt-road isolation leave little margin for error. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews:

Hard-Driving Bluegrass.......2001-05-22

Now in his seventies, Del McCoury is one of the few surviving traditionalists from the Bill Monroe school of bluegrass featuring the trademark high lonesome vocal sound. In fact, in the mid-Sixties, McCoury served a stint with the father of bluegrass music as guitar player and lead vocalist in Monroe's Bluegrass Boys.

While McCoury takes a traditionalist's approach to bluegrass, his song selection certainly steps outside the box as shown by his covers of Robert Cray's "Smoking Gun" and Tom Petty's "Love Is a Long Road."

And you won't find a better collection of musicians in bluegrass music. Del's band includes sons Rob (banjo) and Ronnie (possibly the best mandolin player around), Jason Carter (fiddle), Mike Bub (bass) and the best Dobro player on the planet, Jerry Douglas. They all get a chance to shine on Ronnie's instrumental "Baltimore Jonny."

This is hard-driving bluegrass with standout tracks like "Hard on My Heart" and "Snake in the House" and will make a fine addition to your collection. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

real country.......2001-05-17

With the watered-down pop-slick music that's labeled "country" these days, what a joy it is to hear The Del McCoury Band. The musicianship is absolutely astoundingly jaw-dropping good in its perfection, with raw emotion and soul pouring out of each song.

Del's voice, with that "high & lonesome" sometimes raspy sound, has a terrific range of feeling...listen to "Smoking Gun", and another favorite, "Blackjack County Chains", with its weeping fiddle and guitar work, and marvelous melody.

Sadly, the booklet insert doesn't include the lyrics. As Robert Oermann says in it: "Del is particularly noted for choosing dark, almost morbid lyrics and dramatic story songs"...and the songs in this CD have a "bite" and a lot of humor nestled between the hard-luck and "cold hard facts" of life stories.

This CD is true blue Americana art at its finest, and if you like bluegrass, it's a must to own.

YOW-SAAA!!.......2000-12-29

Hum (see above review), Hell!, I'm DANCIN'!! Can't wait to get home (I'm listening at work)and get my ol'man's Ovation out and pick along - well, I'll coerce HIM to pick along! Warm's up a cold Minnesota winter. Not recommended for the faint of (hillbilly) heart. YEEHAWWW

This music gets in your blood.......2000-06-21

I find myself humming the tunes on this CD all the time.

This is the CD that introduced me to Del McCoury, recently, even though Gov. Zell Miller of Georgia proclaimed a Del McCoury day, some years ago, for Del's enormous contribution to bluegrass music.

Unfortunately for me, a buddy of mine has borrowed this CD from me and keeps "forgetting" return it. He's not forgetting, he loves the CD as I do and is just too cheap to buy one of his own.

Phenomenal Bluegrass.......1999-11-28

I absolutely LOVE this album. Del McCoury has a high,distinct voice that lends itself perfectly to bluegrass. Top that with flawless musical ability and a great selection of songs and you'll see why this album such a great achievement. My favorites include Snake in the House, Blackjack County Chains, and Love is a long Road (also covered by Tom Petty on his Full Moon Fever Album). Even so, there is not a single poor track on this album. If you enjoy bluegrass, you will Love this album.

Average customer rating:

Chris Gaffney & the Cold Hard Facts Chris Gaffney & The Cold Hard Facts Manufacturer: Paulstarr Enterprise ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Latin Music | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Loser's Paradise live and then some Mi Vida Loca ASIN: B0000012C3 Release Date: 1992-08-28

Tracks:

1. Lift Your Leg
2. King O' the Blues
3. Gardens
4. Frank's Tavern
5. Glasshouse
6. I Was Just Feeling Good
7. Fight (Tonight's the Night)
8. Room 208
9. Accordiana
10. As Far as I'm Concerned
11. If I Had a Dream
12. Lonely Mile
13. Daddy's Little Girl

Album Description

Classic Chris Gaffney only recently re-available.

Average customer rating: The Best Bar Band in the World Captured Live

live and then some Chris Gaffney & the Cold Hard Facts Manufacturer: Tres Pescadores ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Country | Styles | Music General | Latin Music | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music General | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Mi Vida Loca Loser's Paradise Hacienda Brothers What's Wrong with Right Nashville ASIN: B000046S25 Release Date: 1999-12-12

Tracks:

1. Six Nights
2. Frank's Tavern
3. Fight (Tonight's the Night)
4. Tequila Interlude
5. Fade to Grey
6. Come On Joe
7. Monkey Hat Interlude
8. Albuquerque
9. Dallas
10. Waltz for Minnie
11. Hound Dog Interlude
12. Every Now and Then
13. Are You Listening Lucky
14. Buono Sera
15. Pony Show Interlude
16. East of Houston
17. King of the Blues
18. Lord Knows I'm Drinkin'
19. 68
20. Road to Indio
21. Bridge Too Far
22. White Girl
23. Alcoholidays
24. There's Still a Few More Honkytonks in Town
25. Don't Let Love Tear Apart (What Lust Has Brought Together)
26. I'm an Old Old Man

Amazon.com

Fans of tough-to-peg Texans such as Joe Ely and Doug Sahm ought to give this singer and accordion player a good listen. A fixture on the Southern California country and roots-rock scene for the better part of the '80s and '90s, Gaffney stirs up an appealing blend of Bakersfield honky-tonk, soul, garage rock, and conjunto music. The "then some" part of this two-CD set is actually a straight reissue of his cult-classic 1986 debut, The Road to Indio. Gaffney's accordion bounces vibrantly off Gary Brandin's pedal steel while Gaffney's songwriting boasts a knack for clever country wordplay on honky-tonkers like "Don't Let Love Tear Apart (What Lust Has Brought Together)" and "Alcoholidays." Gaffney would actually release two acclaimed Hightone albums during the 1990s before he got to the "live" part of this two-CD set, recorded in March of 1999. The intervening 13 years made Gaffney's already gruff voice that much gruffer though his lighthearted spirit and tangy musical stew remain undiminished. Here he balances nifty originals with covers of Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, and Bill Anderson's defiant "The Lord Knows I'm Drinkin'," a country No. 1 hit for Cal Smith in 1973 and a perfect manifesto for this Tex-Mex twister. --Marc Greilsamer

Album Description

This is a two CD package. Disk 1 is Chris Gaffney and the Cold Hard Facts recorded live at The Swallows Inn in San Juan Capistrano, CA, at their honky-tonkin', road house best. Disk 2 is the re-release of their legendary 1986 vinyl only LP, "Road to Indio."

Customer Reviews:

The Best Bar Band in the World Captured Live.......2000-08-25

Outside of Orange County, California most people don't know who Chris Gaffney is. Actually, there aren't all that many people in Orange County who know much about him either.

THAT'S THEIR LOSS. The Cold Hard Facts are the greatest bar band in the world, and Chris Gaffney is probably the most likeable and best sounding band leader you will ever listen to or see live.

This is a 2-disc set which inlcudes a re-release of a previous album and the other disc is a live recording of the band when it played the Swallow's Inn in San Juan Capistrano, California. The re-release disc is fine, the live disc is one of the best live recordings you will ever hear.

Gaffney plays country, zydeco, Joe Ely-style tex-mex, R&B, you name it. He understands how music can move people on an emotional level. Most of time, the emotion will include a smile on your face, although he can get the tears flowing with songs like 1968. Although you can't characterize the type of music he plays, you can characterize the quality of what he does, and it's impressive.

Buy this record and see him live, especially if he is playing with his close friend and sometimes songwriting partner Dave Alvin.

Average customer rating: the one guy who knows This is a classic contemporary country sound.

Mi Vida Loca Chris Gaffney & The Cold Hard Facts Manufacturer: Hightone Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Latin Music | Styles | Music Conjunto | Latin Music | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Loser's Paradise live and then some Hacienda Brothers What's Wrong with Right Into the Music ASIN: B0000005PU Release Date: 1992-06-10

Tracks:

1. Silent Partner
2. Artesia
3. Get Off My Back Lucy
4. Six Nights A Week
5. '68
6. Waltz For Minnie
7. They Made A Mistake
8. Quiet Desperation
9. Psychotic Girlfriend
10. Mi Vida Loca
11. So Tired To Be Me
12. I Never Grew Up

Customer Reviews:

the one guy who knows.......2005-05-04

...Chris Gaffney is the real deal. He is the one songwriter who really writes about growing up in LA and especially southeast county with insight and deep feeling. "68" and "Artesia" are masterpieces. This guy should recognized as a master of the form and the band rocks too.

This is a classic contemporary country sound........1999-09-12

Chris Gaffney continues to be one of the best unknown artists in the world. He plays with a sincerity and sound not heard in country since Hank Williams. But, he can rock with the best of them.

Average customer rating:

The Cold Hard Facts of Life The Nomads Manufacturer: lance rock records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Gangsta & Hardcore | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music ASIN: B000KJARAE

Product Description

Rare '96 release of Swedish Punk/Garage from The Nomads. Songs: 1) Hard To Cry 2) She Ain´t No Use To Me 3) Picture My Face 4) Get Away From It All 5) Who Dat? 6) Nothin´ 7) That´s My Girl 8) Been Burnt.

Average customer rating: Stereotypical traditional country

The Cold Hard Facts of Life / The Carroll County Accident Porter Wagoner & The Wagonmasters Manufacturer: RCA ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Nashville Sound | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music Country | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00000JZZM Release Date: 1967-01-01

Tracks:

1. First Mrs. Jones
2. Words and Music
3. Cold Hard Facts of Life
4. Sleep
5. Hundred Dollar Funeral
6. If I Could Only Start Over
7. Tragic Romance
8. Try Being Lonely
9. I'll Get Ahead Someday
10. I Just Can't Let You Say Goodbye
11. Shopworn
12. Julie

Album Details

Remastered Twofer Reissue of Two Classic Albums on RCA from 1967 and 1969.

Customer Reviews:

Stereotypical traditional country.......2005-04-25

Porter Wagoner was a major country star of the sixties with a popular American TV show. To those who can't stand country music, he represents all that is wrong with it - gaudy outfits, songs (and narrations) about prison, murder and every other kind of tragedy, a musical backing featuring steel guitar, and so the list goes on. This kind of country music just isn't recorded any more. Some artists record in a traditional style while others explore life's darker side the way that Porter did - but nobody does both.

Porter had many hit records on the country charts including the original version of Green green grass of home (later to become an international pop hit when Tom Jones covered it). Yet these days, Porter is largely forgotten. His name sometimes appears on Dolly Parton compilations as her duet partner. Most people who come across his name don't realize that Porter was responsible for giving Dolly her big break - first on his TV show, then by getting her a recording contract, for which he had to agree to stand any losses out of his own royalties. Of course, there were no losses although real success was slow to come to Dolly.

During his career, Porter recorded many albums, both solo and with Dolly. Two of his finest solo albums are presented in this twofer. The first album, The cold hard facts of life, is a very dark album, full of tragic songs often involving murder although there is some relief in I'll get ahead someday (which Porter also recorded with Dolly as We'll get ahead someday). Another song that some Dolly fans will recognize is Try being lonely - Dolly included her version on her first RCA album, Just because I'm a woman. The opening song (The first Mrs Jones) is about a man whose first wife left him and is eventually murdered by him, so the man warns the second Mrs Jones not to leave him. It sets the tone of the album.

The second album is somewhat lighter although the two big hits are both tragic. The title track (which Dolly also recorded) is about a road accident in which two people die but it has a twist in the tale. Banks of the Ohio, a traditional folk song that suits Porter well, later became a British top ten pop hit for Olivia Newton-John. The album also includes covers of Rocky Top (Lynn Anderson) and Sing me back home (Merle Haggard) as well as a song written by Dolly (I lived so fast and hard) but not recorded by her, unless it's hiding in some record company vaults un-released.

There are many fine songs here for those who love traditional country music.If you're new to Porter's music, try a hits package first but remember that there are separate compilations for Porter's solo music and for his duets with Dolly. So maybe you need one of each before worrying about this.

Average customer rating:

Cold Hard Facts of Life The Nomads ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B0002N62DE

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1. Country Funnies
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3. Cowboy Cool
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5. Crossroads, Southern Routes: Music Of The American South [Enhanced CD] [Enhanced]
6. For My Broken Heart
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