Classic Joe Ely, Vol. 2
Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 06/12/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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"