Lasso from El Paso

Amazon.com essential recording
After riding with Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue in 1976, Friedman's star, as it were, was at a peak. Therefore, Lasso from El Passo, his first post-Revue record, is his least country sounding and is populated with very big names from the rock world: Eric Clapton (on Dobro), Roger McGuinn, Dr. John, and four members of the Band among them. Ironically, the best cuts here are the ballads, notably "Twinkle," "Lady Yesterday," and a dead-serious reading of Johnny Cash's "Ballad of Ira Hayes." Upbeat covers of Ronnie Hawkins's "Kinky" and Dylan's "Catfish" (produced by Van Dyke Parks with a funky New Orleans feel and featuring Lowell George on guitar) balance out the wide-ranging album. As Friedman himself sings, "When it gets too kinky for the rest of the world, it's getting just right for me." --Marc Greilsamer

Lasso from El Paso,Kinky Friedman,Varese Records,Country,Country & Western,Country Comedy,Country-Rock,Outlaw Country,Pop

Average customer rating: Typically eclectic and irreverant LP from Friedman + friends Wonderful Kinky at his best

Lasso from El Paso Kinky Friedman Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Country Comedy | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Under the Double Ego ASIN: B00000I89X Release Date: 1999-03-23

Tracks:

1. Sold American
2. Twinkle
3. Ahab The Arab/Dear Abbie
4. Kinky
5. Lady Yesterday
6. Catfish
7. Men's Room, L.A.
8. Bananas And Cream
9. Ol' Ben Lucas
10. The Ballad Of Ira Hayes
11. Waitret, Please, Waitret

Amazon.com essential recording

After riding with Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue in 1976, Friedman's star, as it were, was at a peak. Therefore, Lasso from El Passo, his first post-Revue record, is his least country sounding and is populated with very big names from the rock world: Eric Clapton (on Dobro), Roger McGuinn, Dr. John, and four members of the Band among them. Ironically, the best cuts here are the ballads, notably "Twinkle," "Lady Yesterday," and a dead-serious reading of Johnny Cash's "Ballad of Ira Hayes." Upbeat covers of Ronnie Hawkins's "Kinky" and Dylan's "Catfish" (produced by Van Dyke Parks with a funky New Orleans feel and featuring Lowell George on guitar) balance out the wide-ranging album. As Friedman himself sings, "When it gets too kinky for the rest of the world, it's getting just right for me." --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

Typically eclectic and irreverant LP from Friedman + friends.......1999-07-03

Friedman's acclaim as a mystery writer has mostly obscured his earlier work as a most irreverent country-rock singer-songwriter. This reissue should help clear the cobwebs.

"Lasso From El Paso" is the most eclectic of a mid-70s LP trio. Friedman champions the faded and forgotten with effective portraits in "Sold American" (recorded live on Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue) and "The Ballad of Ira Hayes." In contrast, he imbues "Ahab the Arab" with bombast above and beyond the song's lyrical content, and laughs his way through the ode to snot, "Ol' Ben Lucas." Also included is the Bob Dylan outtake, "Catfish" and appearances by Eric Clapton, Dr. John, Roger McGuinn and Ringo Starr as Jesus.

Wonderful Kinky at his best.......1999-04-17

Kinky has taken some old material and done it differently. "Ol'Ben Lucas" with the kids is a hoot! He also demonstrates that he can really sing with "Dear Abbie." But the kicker to the whole CD is "The Ballad of Ira Hayes", I have never heard it done better. All in all it is a fun, Kinky CD.

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