Name: Honky Tonk Masquerade
Brand: MCA
SKU: 7176
Price: 16.82 GBP
Availability: InStock

Honky Tonk Masquerade

Rating

Album: Honky Tonk Masquerade
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Cornbread Moon	More Info...
2)	Because Of The Wind	More Info...
3)	Boxcars	More Info...
4)	Jericho (Your Walls Must Come Tumbling Down)	More Info...
5)	Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown	More Info...
6)	Honky Tonk Masquerade	More Info...
7)	I'll Be Your Fool	More Info...
8)	Fingernails	More Info...
9)	West Texas Waltz	More Info...
10)	Honky Tonkin'	More Info...

Album: Honky Tonk Masquerade
#	Song Title		Time
1)	Cornbread Moon	More Info...
2)	Because Of The Wind	More Info...
3)	Boxcars	More Info...
4)	Jericho (Your Walls Must Come Tumbling Down)	More Info...
5)	Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown	More Info...
6)	Honky Tonk Masquerade	More Info...
7)	I'll Be Your Fool	More Info...
8)	Fingernails	More Info...
9)	West Texas Waltz	More Info...
10)	Honky Tonkin'	More Info...

Performer Notes

Personnel: Joe Ely (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar); Jesse Taylor (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, background vocals); Lloyd Maines (vocals, steel guitar, lap steel guitar, background vocals); Gregg Wright, Lea Jane Berinati, Butch Hancock (vocals, background vocals); Ginger Holladay, Lisa Silver Reynolds (vocals); Chip Young (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Ponty Bone (accordion, piano, keyboards); Shane Keister (piano, keyboards, synthesizer, Moog synthesizer); Steve Keeton (drums); Farrell Morris (percussion); Lisa Silver (background vocals).
Audio Remixer: Chip Young.
Recording information: Youngun' Sounds Studios, Murfreesboro, TN.
As strong as Joe Ely's self-titled solo debut was, his second album, 1978's Honky Tonk Masquerade, actually managed to top it, and the album remains one of the great creative triumphs of the Texas singer/songwriter community, as well as a high-water mark in Ely's career. Displaying a very Texan sense of eclecticism, Honky Tonk Masquerade's ten tunes run the gamut from beer-stained weepers (the title cut) and late-night declarations of loneliness ("Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown") to barrelhouse rock & roll ("Fingernails") and honky tonk dance numbers ("West Texas Waltz" and "Cornbread Moon"), and Ely's simple but expressive delivery makes the most of every song he sings. Ely's band deserves a special nod as well, especially steel guitarist Lloyd Maines and Ponty Bone on accordion, who can seemingly conjure up an orchestra or a horn section at will. And as strong as Ely's songs are, he has the good sense to also accept contributions from fellow ex-Flatlanders Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore, whose more introspective lyrical approach makes for a satisfying contrast to Ely's more down to earth style. Smart without sounding pretentious, and musically ambitious without losing focus or drive, Honky Tonk Masquerade is a superb album that captures Ely and his band at their best. ~ Mark Deming