Search - Joe Ely :: Lord of the Highway

The best country/rock (or rock/country) ever.

03/22/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For those who love intelligent rock 'n roll and thoughtful country music, this album is the one to have. Every track, and I do mean every track, is itself a piece of work. The most popular song on the album, "Me and Billy the Kid" is a haunting acoustic story while most of the remaining cuts are bar-tinged rockers. Long-time Joe Ely fans favor "Letter to LA" (Joe's bitter story of his brush with the country music establishment) and "Silver City."On your first listen, Joe's unique sound (I call it "West Texas Rock 'n Roll) is most noticeable; while it may sound trite, Joe Ely truly combines the best of both genres. Like most really good efforts, This disc requires multiple listenings to fully appreciate the stories and the characters it contains.Do yourself a favor - if you like good music then you need to discover this disc. You'll thank me later."

Great mid-career Ely

D. Henderson | San Marcos, TX USA | 12/13/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I can't believe this CD only has (had!) 2 reviews! Some of this material is harder-edged than what he's done before or since, such as "Lord of the Highway" and "Everybody Got Hammered" (Dave Grissom, who later played on one of Mellencamp's most guitar-oriented CD's was with the band here); yet "Row of Dominoes", and "Silver City" are much more low-key, and are some of my all-time favorite Joe Ely songs. In the middle, perhaps, is the long, rambling "Letter to L.A.", with some great sax work by Bobby Keys (check your Rolling Stones records liner notes if you're not familiar with his name)."

Joe Ely -- Keeper of the Texas Rock & Roll Flame

Craig Montesano | 04/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you don't have a reaction to "My Baby Thinks She's French," man, you don't have a pulse. Ely is one road-tested and old-time-tough rocker. He's numero uno among the true believers who still take the time to look deeper than the junk commercial radio stations foist on the public. On "Lord . . ." Ely proves he's the hombre to beat when it comes to playing the roots rock thang."