The Hard Way (Steve Earle album)

Last updated • 2 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
The Hard Way
Steve Earle & the Dukes - The Hard Way.jpg
Studio album by
Steve Earle
ReleasedJuly 1, 1990
Studio
Genre
Length55:47
Label MCA [3]
Producer Steve Earle, Joe Hardy
Steve Earle chronology
Copperhead Road
(1988)		The Hard Way
(1990)		 Train a Comin'
(1995)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Austin American-Statesman Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Calgary Herald B+ [6]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Entertainment Weekly A [2]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Ottawa Citizen Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Select Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [10]

The Hard Way is the fourth studio album by Steve Earle, released in 1990. [11] [12] Earle is backed by the Dukes. [13] The album is dedicated to Emilio Lorenzo Ensenat (1930–90).

Contents

The album peaked at No. 100 on the Billboard 200. [14] It peaked at No. 22 on the UK Albums Chart. [15]

Production

The album was produced by Joe Hardy and Earle. It was recorded at Sound Emporium Studios, in Nashville, and at Ardent Studios, in Memphis. [16]

Critical reception

The Los Angeles Times noted the Springsteen influence, writing that the album contains "no fewer than two racing-in-the-streets songs and no fewer than two Death Row laments." [17] Lone Star Music Magazine wrote that "although it’s admittedly over-long at just under an hour and burdened with even more of a hair-metal production aesthetic than Copperhead Road, it’s loaded with genuinely great songs." [18] The Dallas Observer called "Billy Austin" "storytelling at its stark, bleakest best." [19]

Track listing

All songs written by Steve Earle unless otherwise noted.

  1. "The Other Kind" - 5:09
  2. "Promise You Anything" - 2:43 (Earle, Maria McKee, Patrick Sugg)
  3. "Esmeralda's Hollywood" - 6:01 (Earle, Maria McKee)
  4. "Hopeless Romantics" - 2:45
  5. "This Highway's Mine (Roadmaster)" - 3:54
  6. "Billy Austin" - 6:16
  7. "Justice in Ontario" - 4:47
  8. "Have Mercy" - 4:41
  9. "When the People Find Out" - 4:10
  10. "Country Girl" - 4:11
  11. "Regular Guy" - 3:17
  12. "West Nashville Boogie" - 3:09
  13. "Close Your Eyes" - 4:44

Personnel

The Dukes

with:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Earle</span> American musician

Stephen Fain Earle is an American country, rock and folk singer-songwriter. He began his career as a songwriter in Nashville and released his first EP in 1982.

<i>The Bridge</i> (Billy Joel album) 1986 studio album by Billy Joel

The Bridge is the tenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Billy Joel, released on July 25, 1986. It was Joel's last studio album produced by Phil Ramone as well as the last to feature Joel's long-time bassist Doug Stegmeyer and rhythm guitarist Russell Javors. The album yielded several successful singles, including "A Matter of Trust", "Modern Woman", and "This Is the Time".

<i>Copperhead Road</i> 1988 studio album by Steve Earle

Copperhead Road is the third studio album by Steve Earle, released in 1988. The album is often referred to as Earle's first "rock record"; Earle himself calls it the world's first blend of heavy metal and bluegrass, and the January 26, 1989 review of the album by Rolling Stone suggested that the style be called "power twang".

<i>Transcendental Blues</i> 2000 studio album by Steve Earle

Transcendental Blues is the ninth studio album by Steve Earle, released in 2000. It features Sharon Shannon on the track "The Galway Girl". The album was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Contemporary Folk Album category.

<i>Guitar Town</i> 1986 studio album by Steve Earle

Guitar Town is the debut studio album from American singer-songwriter Steve Earle, released on March 5, 1986. It topped the Billboard country album charts, and the title song reached #7 on the country singles charts. Earle was also nominated for two 1987 Grammy Awards, Best Male Country Vocalist and Best Country Song, for the title track.

<i>El Corazón</i> (Steve Earle album) 1997 studio album by Steve Earle

El Corazón is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Steve Earle, released in 1997.

<i>Jerusalem</i> (Steve Earle album) 2002 studio album by Steve Earle

Jerusalem is the 10th studio album by American singer-songwriter Steve Earle, released in 2002. A concept album, it has a political theme, and contains songs about a post–September 11, 2001 world.

<i>Exit 0</i> 1987 studio album by Steve Earle & The Dukes

Exit 0 is the second studio album from American singer-songwriter Steve Earle, released in 1987. Earle was nominated for a 1988 Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, for the album.

<i>The Revolution Starts Now</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Steve Earle

The Revolution Starts... Now is the 11th studio album by American singer-songwriter Steve Earle, released in 2004.

<i>Train a Comin</i> 1995 studio album by Steve Earle

Train a Comin' is the fifth studio album by Steve Earle, released in 1995. In addition to Earle, it features Peter Rowan, Norman Blake, Roy Huskey, and Emmylou Harris. The album was nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

<i>Shut Up and Die Like an Aviator</i> 1991 live album by Steve Earle and the Dukes

Shut Up and Die Like an Aviator is a live album by Steve Earle and the Dukes. The album was released in 1991 and recorded live in London and Kitchener Ontario, Canada, in October 1990.

<i>I Feel Alright</i> 1996 studio album by Steve Earle

I Feel Alright is the sixth studio album by Steve Earle, released in 1996.

<i>Just an American Boy</i> 2003 live album by Steve Earle

Just An American Boy is a live album by Steve Earle. The album was released in 2003.

<i>The Devils Right Hand: An Introduction to Steve Earle</i> 2001 compilation album by Steve Earle

The Devil's Right Hand: An Introduction to Steve Earle is a compilation album by Steve Earle. The album was released on May 8, 2001.

<i>They Dont Make Them Like They Used To</i> 1986 studio album by Kenny Rogers

They Don't Make Them Like They Used To is the nineteenth studio album by American country music artist Kenny Rogers, released in 1986 through RCA Records. The album hit the top 20 on the country charts with the single "Twenty Years Ago" peaked at number two.

<i>Something Inside So Strong</i> 1989 studio album by Kenny Rogers

Something Inside So Strong is the twenty-first studio album by American country music singer Kenny Rogers, released in 1989. The album includes the singles "When You Put Your Heart in It", "Planet Texas", "The Vows Go Unbroken", "Something Inside So Strong", and "Maybe". Gladys Knight, Anne Murray, Holly Dunn, and Ronald Isley are featured as duet partners. Jim Ed Norman produced the album, with additional production from Steve Dorff on "If I Ever Fall in Love Again".

<i>Love Is Strange</i> (album) 1990 studio album by Kenny Rogers

Love Is Strange is the twenty-third studio album by American country music artist Kenny Rogers. It was released on September 11, 1990, by Reprise Records. The album includes the single "Love Is Strange", which charted at number 21 on Hot Country Songs that same year.

<i>If Only My Heart Had a Voice</i> 1993 studio album by Kenny Rogers

If Only My Heart Had a Voice is the twenty-fifth studio album by country music artist Kenny Rogers released in 1993 by Giant Records. It was Rogers' first album not to chart since 1976. The album includes the singles "Missing You", "Ol' Red" and "Wanderin' Man".

<i>The Low Highway</i> 2013 studio album by Steve Earle

The Low Highway is the 15th studio album by singer-songwriter Steve Earle, released in 2013. The album features two songs co-written by Earle and Lucia Micarelli: "Love's Gonna Blow My Way", "After Mardi Gras". Two songs from the album, "After Mardi Gras" and "That All You Got?", are featured in the HBO TV Series Treme.

<i>Dancin With Them That Brung Me</i> 2000 studio album by Stacey Earle

Dancin' With Them That Brung Me is the second solo album by Stacey Earle, following her 1998 release Simple Gearle, both albums released independently through Gearle Records.

References

  1. 1 2 Erskine, Evelyn (3 Aug 1990). "Falling from grace: Earle's country-rooted rock tells bad-guys' side". Ottawa Citizen: D6.
  2. 1 2 "Notable music for the week of July 6, 1990". EW.com.
  3. ↑ "Steve Earle's MCA Catalogue To Be Remastered, Released on Vinyl". American Songwriter. March 31, 2016.
  4. ↑ "The Hard Way - Steve Earle, Steve Earle & the Dukes | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  5. ↑ MacCambridge, Michael (28 June 1990). "Loose connection shorts Earle effort". Austin American-Statesman: 19.
  6. ↑ "RECENT RELEASES". Calgary Herald: E3. 28 June 1990.
  7. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 195.
  8. ↑ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 373.
  9. ↑ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 218.
  10. ↑ Perry, Neil (July 1990). "The Harder They Come". Select . p. 91.
  11. ↑ "Steve Earle | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  12. ↑ The Rough Guide to Rock (2nd ed.). Rough Guides Ltd. 1999. p. 310.
  13. ↑ Kening, Dan (16 July 1993). "STEVE EARLE RETURNS WITH A VENGEANCE". chicagotribune.com.
  14. ↑ "Steve Earle". Billboard.
  15. ↑ "STEVE EARLE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  16. ↑ McGee, David (April 8, 2005). Steve Earle: Fearless Heart, Outlaw Poet. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN   978-0-87930-842-1 – via Google Books.
  17. ↑ "POP MUSIC REVIEW : Steve Earle Burns Rubber at the Roxy". Los Angeles Times. October 30, 1990.
  18. ↑ "Mr. Record Man: Steve Earle". May 1, 2013.
  19. ↑ Dearmore, Kelly (October 18, 2013). "Steve Earle's Top Seven Songs About Texas". Dallas Observer.



This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.