A Truer Sampler 06 - The Sound Of Texas 1970 - 1979

Allright, first let me state that I'm not from Texas, nor have I ever been to Texas. I do know a couple people from Texas, but that still doesn't qualify me to make a definitive "Texas Music" sampler.....even though I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night :P. So this is just a compilation with an outsider's (who happens to love Texas music) perception. Besides, I like to think Texas and Virginia have a rich musical connection that goes all the way back to when the Carter Family relocated there to be on border radio back in the 30's, and more recently....Steve Earle who was born in VA and legend has it that his grandfather had dirt brought in from texas in a shoebox so that the first piece of soil Earle's feet touched would be Texas soil.

So with this sampler I wanted it to be different and not include the "standard" texas songs you would normally get on something like this, so I tried to choose more obscure songs from the higher profile guys. Also, a couple of the guys on here aren't specifically Texas (Steve Young & Gary Stewart) but I would consider them "Texas-centric". Another thing is the Blaze Foley song was not released until 2006 but was recorded in 1979, so I snuck it in there. I think the end result is a pretty good compilation that is easy on the ears.
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1. The Year 2003 Minus 25 - Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson
Off the 1978 album "Waylon & Willie". It's a Kristofferson song, so he's represented too. Just thought I would kick it off with the two who really opened the doors for everyone else.
2. Dallas - The Flatlanders
Originally released in 1972, then re-released years later on "More a Legend Than A Band", this is just a classic Texas song.
3. Texas Lullaby - David Allan Coe
Off his 1975 album "Longhaired Redneck" which is among his best work. DAC gets a bad rap but in my opinion he is one of the best.
4. Kiss Money - Bob Neuwirth
Off his 1974 self-titled album, Bob Neuwirth is often overlooked but I just love this song. He is probably most famous for writing the song "Mercedes Benz" with Janis Joplin. He also helped Bob Dylan assemble his Rolling Thunder Revue tour.
5. Desperados Waiting For A Train - Guy Clark
Off his 1975 debut album "Old No. 1" this is another classic song. Features Steve Earle on background vocals, so he's represented too. (Emmylou sings backup vocals too)
6. Pancho and Lefty - Townes Van Zandt
Off his 1972 album "The Late Great Townes Van Zandt". His most famous song, made famous by Willie & Merle and Emmylou. I always liked the sparseness of his version though.
7. Treat Me Like A Saturday Night - Joe Ely
Off his self titled 1977 debut album. Joe Ely was 1/3 of the legendary Flatlanders out of lubbock.
8. Amarillo Highway - Terry Allen
Off his 1979 masterpiece "Lubbock (On Everything)", Terry Allen also hails from lubbock and is well known in the artists community for his artwork.
9. Election Day - Blaze Foley (and the Beaver Valley Boys)
OK, this is off the 2006 release "Cold, Cold World" but was actually recorded in 1979 Sessions and lost for years. Blaze was a character....and one of my favorites. He was best friends with Townes Van Zandt, and was shot in 1989 by one of his friends son. Also the subject of numerous songs, most notably Lucinda Williams "Drunken Angel".
10. (Up Against The Wall) Redneck Mother - Ray Wylie Hubbard
Off his 1978 release "Off The Wall", this song was made famous years earlier by Jerry Jeff Walker, and is what I would like to consider an anthem for the cosmic cowboys. Check out this Youtube vid where RWH tells the storie of writing this song.
11. Georgia On A Fast Train - Billy Joe Shaver
Off his 1973 masterpiece "Old Five And Dimers Like Me". Billy Joe was the fuel behind the whole outlaw/progressive country movement, and many, many others recorded his songs and made them famous. Hell Waylon did a whole album of his songs.
12. Jaded Lover - Jerry Jeff Walker
Off his 1975 album "Ridin’ High" Jerry Jeff is probably most famous for penning the song "Mr. Bojangles" but his later mid 70's stuff is where I think he really shines.
13. Devil In A Sleepin’ Bag - Willie Nelson
Off his 1973 album "Shotgun Willie", It's vintage Willie, what else can I say. Also he namechecks Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge in this song....so there represented.
14. Memories of You and I - Waylon Jennings
Off his 1974 album "The Ramblin’ Man", this is when Waylon was really hittin' his stride and could do no wrong.
15. The White Trash Song - Steve Young
Steve Young, not from texas. This is off his 1972 album Seven Bridges Road....that's right, THAT seven bridges road. Probably his most famous song, but he also wrote "Lonesome, On'ry and Mean" which Waylon made famous.
16. Drinkin’ Thing - Gary Stewart
Gary Stewart, also not from texas. This is off his 1975 release "Out of Hand" and Stewart was a master of the hardcore honkytonk style, and was at home in Texas during the 70's.
17. Texas Tornado - Doug Sahm
Off his 1973 LP Texas Tornado, Doug Sahm was a true Texas rebel. Probably most famous for his late 80's early 90's band The Texas Tonadoes with Freddy Fender, this is the song that band took their name from.
18. Asshole From El Paso - Kinky Friedman
Off 1976's Lasso From El Paso album, Kinky is probably most famous now for his bid for governership of texas this past election. Shame he didn't win.
19. Gettin’ By - Jerry Jeff Walker
Off the essential 1973 live album Viva Terlingua!, just a good song.
20. Ride Me Down Easy - David Allan Coe
Off his 1977 album with controversial cover art Texas Moon. This is a Billy Joe Shaver song, but I love what DAC has done with it.
21. The Girl Who Danced Oklahoma - Terry Allen
Another song off his 1979 "Lubbock (On Everything)" album. I love it when he gets to the part about her sitting in a french chair naked.
22. Let Him Roll - Guy Clark
Another one off Guy's 1975 album "Old No. 1", I just really like this song so I put it on here.
23. Rake - Townes Van Zandt
Off 1971's Delta Momma Blues, another song I really like and thought it was a fitting end to this collection.

MP3

ATS06 - The Sound of Texas 1970-1979