Lord of the Highway

Last updated
Lord of the Highway
Lord of the Highway.webp
Studio album by
Released1987
Genre
Label HighTone [1]
Producer Joe Ely
Joe Ely chronology
Hi-Res
(1984)
Lord of the Highway
(1987)
Dig All Night
(1988)

Lord of the Highway is an album by the American musician Joe Ely, released in 1987. [2] [3] It had been three and a half years since his previous album, during which time he recorded an unreleased album for MCA Records, assembled a new band, and toured. [4] Ely supported the album with a North American tour. [5] [6]

Contents

Production

Ely considered the album to be merely recorded (on an 8-track, at Ely's home), not produced. [7] [8] [9] The title track and "Row of Dominoes" were written by Butch Hancock. [10] Bobby Keys played saxophone on the album; David Grissom played guitar. [11] [12] The CD version of Lord of the Highway includes "Screaming Blue Jillions" as the 11th track. [13]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Chicago Sun-Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [7]
Robert Christgau B+ [14]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [15]
The Gazette 7.9/10 [10]
New Musical Express 5/10 [16]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [17]
The Philadelphia Inquirer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [18]
Richmond Times-Dispatch A [4]

Robert Christgau lamented that "a decade of being told what a hot shit he is has Ely oversinging to signify his intensity." [14] The Los Angeles Times wrote that "Ely's cooked up a tasty rock 'n' roll chili with country flavoring based on much the same recipe as Let it Bleed/Sticky Fingers Stones." [17] The New York Times stated that Ely "hasn't simplified what he sings to fit the rock format; he still prefers lyrics with wry, unheroic twists." [19]

The Chicago Tribune opined that Ely's "tales of hard living and even harder loving work both as true life tales and striking, image-rich fragments of a new American mythology." [5] The Philadelphia Inquirer opined that "Me and Billy the Kid" "is as supple a narrative as Ely has ever constructed." [18] The Philadelphia Daily News listed the album as the ninth best of 1987. [20]

AllMusic noted that "the roots rock sound of Lord of the Highway is much closer to 1981's Musta Notta Gotta Lotta than to Hi-Res. [13] Record Collector determined that Ely's setting is "a cut above standard bar room chugs thanks mainly to the wit of the lyrics." [21]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Lord of the Highway"3:54
2."(Don't Put a) Lock on My Heart"4:08
3."Me and Billy the Kid"3:23
4."Letter to L.A."8:12
5."No Rope, Daisy-O"0:40
6."My Baby Thinks She's French"3:45
7."Everybody Got Hammered"3:34
8."Are You Listenin' Lucky?"3:19
9."Row of Dominoes"3:37
10."Silver City"4:31

Related Research Articles

<i>Babble</i> (That Petrol Emotion album) 1987 studio album by That Petrol Emotion

Babble is the second album by the Northern Irish band That Petrol Emotion, released in 1987. The album was re-released in 2001 and in 2010. It peaked at No. 30 in the UK. The band supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Sweet Revenge</i> (David Johansen album) 1984 studio album by David Johansen

Sweet Revenge is an album by David Johansen, released in 1984. It is the only Johansen album to be released on Passport Records. It was his first album without any participation by any other former members of the New York Dolls.

<i>Crushin</i> 1987 studio album by The Fat Boys

Crushin' is the fourth studio album by the hip hop group the Fat Boys, released in 1987. It was their breakout album, charting in the top 10 on both Billboard Pop and R&B album charts and selling more than a million copies by the end of the year. It includes a cover version of the Surfaris' hit "Wipe Out" with the Beach Boys singing back-up vocals. The cover made it to No. 12 on the Billboard chart, and No. 10 on the corresponding R&B listing. The album peaked at No. 49 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>Kill Tunes</i> 1986 studio album by Leaving Trains

Kill Tunes is the second album by the American indie rock band Leaving Trains. It was released in 1986 via SST Records. The band supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Un "Sung Stories"</i> 1986 studio album by Phil Alvin

Un "Sung Stories" is the first solo album by the American musician Phil Alvin, released in 1986. Alvin supported the album with a North American tour. He then returned to his graduate studies in mathematics.

<i>Adequate Desire</i> 1994 studio album by Michael Hall

Adequate Desire is an album by the American musician Michael Hall, released in 1994. The album title comes from a line in an Emily Dickinson poem. Hall supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Rumble</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers

Rumble is the second album by the American band Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers, released in 1988. It was the band's first album for a major label.

<i>Old Wives Tales</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Exene Cervenka

Old Wives' Tales is an album by the American musician Exene Cervenka, released in 1989. Cervenka told the Los Angeles Times that she considered the album to be "for and about women."

<i>Human Soul</i> 1989 studio album by Graham Parker

Human Soul is an album by the English musician Graham Parker.

<i>True Jit</i> 1987 studio album by Bhundu Boys

True Jit is an album by the Zimbabwean band the Bhundu Boys, released in 1987, with an international release in 1988.

<i>Its Alright</i> (Chris Stamey album) 1987 studio album by Chris Stamey

It's Alright is an album by the American musician Chris Stamey, released in 1987. Stamey supported it with a North American tour that included Alex Chilton on keyboards. It's Alright was expected to be somewhat of a mainstream success; it did not perform as well as envisioned, and Stamey was dropped from A&M Records two years after its release.

<i>Christmas Island</i> (Leon Redbone album) 1988 studio album by Leon Redbone

Christmas Island is an album by the musician Leon Redbone. It was released in 1988, with a rerelease the following year.

<i>The Pursuit of Happiness</i> (Beat Farmers album) 1987 studio album by the Beat Farmers

The Pursuit of Happiness is an album by the American band the Beat Farmers, released in 1987. The band supported the album with a North American tour that included shows with Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper.

<i>Burning Questions</i> (Graham Parker album) 1992 studio album by Graham Parker

Burning Questions is an album by the English musician Graham Parker, released in 1992. It was his only album for Capitol Records. Backed by his band, the Small Clubs, Parker supported the album with a North American tour. The album cover contained a sticker with the message "Caution: Contains Worthwhile Lyrics". A video was shot for "Release Me".

<i>Used Guitars</i> 1988 studio album by Marti Jones

Used Guitars is an album by the American musician Marti Jones, released in 1988. Jones supported the album by playing shows that included many of the album's guest musicians. The album was a commercial disappointment, and A&M Records dropped Jones shortly after its release.

<i>All My Life</i> (Charles Brown album) 1990 studio album by Charles Brown

All My Life is an album by the American musician Charles Brown, released in 1990. It was Brown's first album for Bullseye Blues, and part of a comeback effort that began with his previous release, One More for the Road. Brown supported the album with a North American tour.

<i>Touch and Go</i> (album) 1987 studio album by Force M.D.s

Touch and Go is the third album by the American vocal group Force M.D.'s, released in 1987. "Love Is a House" was the first single; "Couldn't Care Less" was also released. The group supported the album by playing shows with Madonna and Alexander O'Neal.

<i>Tales of the New West</i> 1985 studio album by the Beat Farmers

Tales of the New West is the debut album by the American band the Beat Farmers, released in 1985. The band signed a one-album deal with Rhino Records. The album peaked at No. 186 on the Billboard 200. It had sold more than 40,000 copies by the end of 1985. An expanded edition of Tales of the New West was reissued in 2004.

<i>Surprise</i> (Syd Straw album) 1989 studio album by Syd Straw

Surprise is the debut solo album by the American musician Syd Straw, released in 1989. The first single was "Future 40's ". Straw supported the album with a North American tour, backed by a band that included D.J. Bonebrake and Dave Alvin. Surprise was a commercial disappointment.

<i>Flyin High</i> (Johnny Copeland album) 1992 studio album by Johnny Copeland

Flyin' High is an album by the American musician Johnny Copeland, released in 1992. Copeland supported the album with a North American tour.

References

  1. Oglesby, Christopher J. (June 11, 2013). "Fire in the Water, Earth in the Air: Legends of West Texas Music". University of Texas Press via Google Books.
  2. "Joe Ely Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. Cullman, Brian (Nov–Dec 1987). "Spins". Spin. 3 (7): 31.
  4. 1 2 Perry, Claudia (August 16, 1987). "ROCKING AND WAILING". Richmond Times-Dispatch. p. J5.
  5. 1 2 Heim, Chris (24 Aug 1987). "JOE ELY TEARS UP PARK WEST JUST LIKE A TEXAS TORNADO". CHICAGOLAND. Chicago Tribune. p. 5.
  6. Emerson, Bo (January 15, 1988). "Ely's a 'Lord of the Highway' and the king of his own road". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. P6.
  7. 1 2 McLeese, Don (July 20, 1987). "Joe Ely has right mix: muscle and soul". Features. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 33.
  8. Forte, Dan (September 6, 1987). "Joe Ely – Blue Enough to Front The 15th S.F. Fest". SUNDAY DATEBOOK. San Francisco Chronicle. p. 29.
  9. Bermant, Charles (29 Sep 1987). "Career heats up for Joe Ely". The Globe and Mail. p. D7.
  10. 1 2 Griffin, John (30 July 1987). "Joe Ely - LORD OF THE HIGHWAY". The Gazette. p. C9.
  11. Mackie, John (3 Sep 1987). "First up is Texas fireball Joe Ely...". Vancouver Sun. p. D8.
  12. Strauss, Duncan (13 Sep 1987). "JOE ELY: NO FRILLS AND LOTS OF SPARKS". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 73.
  13. 1 2 3 "Joe Ely - Lord of the Highway Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" via www.allmusic.com.
  14. 1 2 "Robert Christgau: CG: Joe Ely". www.robertchristgau.com.
  15. Larkin, Colin (1998). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. III (3rd ed.). MUZE. p. 1750.
  16. Romney, Jonathan (31 October 1987). "Joe Ely: Lord Of The Highway". New Musical Express . p. 34.
  17. 1 2 Hochman, Steve (23 Aug 1987). "'LORD OF THE HIGHWAY'. Joe Ely". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 71.
  18. 1 2 Tucker, Ken (30 Aug 1987). "JOE ELY Lord of the Highway". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. F3.
  19. Pareles, Jon (1 Feb 1988). "Joe Ely and Band, at the Ritz". The New York Times. p. C29.
  20. Takiff, Jonathan (30 Dec 1987). "SILVER TRACKS AMONG THE OLD". FEATURES TONIGHT. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 45.
  21. "Lord Of The Highway/ Dig All Night - Record Collector Magazine". recordcollectormag.com.