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Joe Ely (album)
Encyclopedia
Joe Ely is the self-titled debut album by Joe Ely
, released in 1977 on MCA Records
. The album includes several tracks with "near-classic" status among Ely fans, including several written by Ely's bandmates from The Flatlanders
. Although The Flatlanders never actually broke up, there would be several decades between their poorly distributed 1972 album and their next release.
Joe Ely, together with his follow-up, Honky Tonk Masquerade
, established Ely as a solo artist. Although the reissued CD doesn't credit Ely's backing musicians, the original LP included a one-page insert containing lyrics and musician credits. The core of the backing band that Ely had assembled for his debut was the same Lubbock-based
crack team that appeared with him the following year on Honky Tonk Masquerade and continued to follow him on the road until 1982.
Years later Ely would recall that the band had not initially made plans for a recording career:
In the years that followed the release of Joe Ely, the band would become an act of national stature.
in 1991.
In 2000, a remastered edition of Ely's first two albums (Joe Ely and Honky Tonk Masquerade
) were released together on a single disk. Dirty Linen reported that this disk was especially worth seeking out since it was (at least at the time), "the only place on two continents you can get Ely's debut." The reviewer described Ely's first two albums together: "Ely's self-titled effort and HTM are a bit leaner than most of his other honky-tonk rockers, with a bit more piano than electric guitar backing his lonesome warble -- dry and forceful as the wind whistling through Waco."
Joe Ely
Joe Ely is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist whose music touches on honky-tonk, Texas Country, Tex-Mex and rock and roll....
, released in 1977 on MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
. The album includes several tracks with "near-classic" status among Ely fans, including several written by Ely's bandmates from The Flatlanders
The Flatlanders
The Flatlanders are a country band with considerable country rock influence from Lubbock, Texas founded by singers/songwriters/guitarists Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely, and Butch Hancock....
. Although The Flatlanders never actually broke up, there would be several decades between their poorly distributed 1972 album and their next release.
Joe Ely, together with his follow-up, Honky Tonk Masquerade
Honky Tonk Masquerade
Honky Tonk Masquerade is the second album by country singer-songwriter Joe Ely, released in 1978.- Critical acclaim :Ely's second album has been highly regarded by critics around the world. It was included in the 2005 book, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die...
, established Ely as a solo artist. Although the reissued CD doesn't credit Ely's backing musicians, the original LP included a one-page insert containing lyrics and musician credits. The core of the backing band that Ely had assembled for his debut was the same Lubbock-based
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
crack team that appeared with him the following year on Honky Tonk Masquerade and continued to follow him on the road until 1982.
Years later Ely would recall that the band had not initially made plans for a recording career:
"We had recorded some songs at [Don] Caldwell's studio," Ely said. "Don took that tape to Jerry Jeff WalkerJerry Jeff WalkerJerry Jeff Walker is an American country music singer and songwriter. He is probably most famous for writing the song "Mr. Bojangles.-Biography:...
, and Jerry Jeff recorded one of the songs and played it for a guy with MCA RecordsMCA RecordsMCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
. Then one night in 1975 at the Cotton Club, an A&R guy with MCA asked, 'Do y'all want to make some records?'"
"I told him we'd sure never planned on it. But we hadn't planned anything else either, so why not?"
In the years that followed the release of Joe Ely, the band would become an act of national stature.
Side one
- "I Had My Hopes Up High" — 3:32
- "Mardi Gras Waltz" — 2:50
- "She Never Spoke Spanish To Me" (Butch HancockButch HancockButch Hancock is a country/folk music recording artist and song writer. He was born July 12, 1945 in Lubbock, Texas. Hancock is a member of The Flatlanders along with Joe Ely and Jimmie Dale Gilmore, but he has principally performed a solo career....
) — 3:34 - "Gambler's Bride" — 2:35
- "Suckin' A Big Bottle Of Gin" (Hancock) — 3:15
Side two
- "Tennessee's Not The State I'm In" (Hancock) — 3:04
- "If You Were A Bluebird" (Hancock) — 2:59
- "Treat Me Like A Saturday Night" (Jimmie GilmoreJimmie Dale GilmoreJimmie Dale Gilmore is a country singer, songwriter, actor, recording artist and producer, currently living in Austin, Texas.-Biography:...
) — 3:02 - "All My Love" — 3:09
- "Johnny Blues" — 4:10
Musicians
- BassBass (instrument)Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
– Gregg Wright - DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
– Steve Keeton - Piano, electric piano, clavinet and organ – Bobby Emmons
- Electric guitars – Jesse Taylor, Rick Hulett, Joe Ely, Chip Young
- Acoustic guitars – Joe Ely, Chip Young, Lloyd MainesLloyd MainesLloyd Maines is an American Grammy Award-winning country music record producer, musician and songwriter. He was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas and is now based in Bulverde, Texas....
, Rick Hulett, Ray Edenton - Gut & 12 String Guitar – Jesse Taylor
- F-Hole Guitar – Ray Edenton
- Steel guitarSteel guitarSteel guitar is a type of guitar or the method of playing the instrument. Developed in Hawaii in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a steel guitar is usually positioned horizontally; strings are plucked with one hand, while the other hand changes the pitch of one or more strings with the use...
– Lloyd Maines - Dobros – Jesse Taylor, Rick Hulett
- Slide dobro – Joe Ely on "Saturday Night"
- Harmonica – Joe Ely
- PercussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
– Farrell Morris - Horns – The Muscle Shoals Group
- Trumpet – Harrison Callaway
- Tenor Saxophone – Harvey Thompson
- Baritone Saxophone – Ron Eades
- Trombone – Charles Rose
- Vocal Harmonies – Joe Ely on "Johnny Blues"; Rick Hulett on "Mardi Gras Waltz", "She Never Spoke Spanish", "Tennessee" and "All My Love"
Production
- Recorded at Young 'Un Sound Studios, Murfreesboro, TennesseeMurfreesboro, TennesseeMurfreesboro is a city in and the county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 108,755 according to the United States Census Bureau's 2010 U.S. Census, up from 68,816 residents certified during the 2000 census. The center of population of Tennessee is located in...
- Engineer – Chip Young
- Mastered at MCA Recording Studio, Universal City, CaliforniaUniversal City, CaliforniaUniversal City is a community in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles County, California, that encompasses the 415 acre property of Universal Studios...
- Mastering Engineer – Larry Boden
Artwork
- Cover illustration – Paul Milosevich
- Back cover photo (of Ely and band in cafe) – Jim Eppler
Releases
The album was digitally remastered and released on CD and cassetteCompact Cassette
The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel...
in 1991.
In 2000, a remastered edition of Ely's first two albums (Joe Ely and Honky Tonk Masquerade
Honky Tonk Masquerade
Honky Tonk Masquerade is the second album by country singer-songwriter Joe Ely, released in 1978.- Critical acclaim :Ely's second album has been highly regarded by critics around the world. It was included in the 2005 book, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die...
) were released together on a single disk. Dirty Linen reported that this disk was especially worth seeking out since it was (at least at the time), "the only place on two continents you can get Ely's debut." The reviewer described Ely's first two albums together: "Ely's self-titled effort and HTM are a bit leaner than most of his other honky-tonk rockers, with a bit more piano than electric guitar backing his lonesome warble -- dry and forceful as the wind whistling through Waco."
| year | format | record company | catalog number |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | LP | MCA | 2808 |
| LP | MCA | 2242 | |
| CD | MCA | 1-219 | |
| Cassette | MCA | MCAC-10219 | |
| CD | MCA | MCAD-10219 | |
| 2000 | CD | Beat Goes On (BGO) | BGOCD502 |