Trouble Is a Lonesome Town

Last updated

Trouble Is a Lonesome Town
Lee Hazlewood - Trouble Is a Lonesome Town.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 1963 (January 1963)
Length35:17
LanguageEnglish
Label Mercury
Producer Lee Hazlewood
Lee Hazlewood chronology
Trouble Is a Lonesome Town
(1963)
The N.S.V.I.P.s
(1964)

Trouble Is a Lonesome Town is the debut studio album by country pop artist Lee Hazlewood. The work is a concept album about the fictional town of Trouble and its colorful characters [1] and was originally recorded as demos to showcase for other singers. [2] It has received mixed reviews from critics.

Contents

Reception

Editors at AllMusic rated this album 3.5 out of 5 stars, with critic Stanton Swihart writing that it is "a perfectly legitimate effort in its own right and characteristically wonderful Hazlewood" and not just a showcase of Hazelwood's songwriting capability meant for other singers. [3] In The Austin Chronicle , Margaret Moser reviewed Hazelwood's first three albums and rated them all 1 star, writing that they "are not particularly good" and continued that this album is "by turns moody and humorous, [but] it's also contrived in retrospect, and you kinda start wishing he'd either break into Jeff Foxworthy or Ray Stevens and get it over with". [4] Matthew Fiander of PopMatters scored this release a 7 out of 10, calling the music "the kind of storytelling that’s full of clever lines and memorable characters" making for "a nearly perfect batch of songs" where "Hazlewood injects it with enough dark humor and brief moments of hope and absurdity... that things never get too bleak". [5]

Track listing

All songs written by Lee Hazlewood.

  1. "Long Black Train" – 3:39
  2. "Ugly Brown" – 4:43
  3. "Son of a Gun" – 3:45
  4. "We All Make the Flowers Grow" – 3:02
  5. "Run Boy Run" – 2:55
  6. "Six Feet of Chain" – 3:14
  7. "The Railroad" – 2:29
  8. "Look at That Woman" – 4:04
  9. "Peculiar Guy" – 3:04
  10. "Trouble Is a Lonesome Town" – 4:22

Personnel

Thriftstore Masterpiece Presents Lee Hazlewood's Trouble Is a Lonesome Town

Thriftstore Masterpiece Presents Lee Hazlewood's Trouble Is A Lonesome Town is a 2013 various artists tribute album that features re-recordings of Trouble Is a Lonesome Town from contemporary artists. Devised by producer Charles Normal and released by SideOneDummy, the compilation features a variety of Americana styles. [6] He began work on the album in 2007 and recorded artists at Magnetic Real Studio and Wavelength Studios, but the work was interrupted by the death of his brother Larry Norman and would not be completed until years later, at the behest of Isaac Brock. [7]

In American Songwriter , Christopher Treacy gave this release 3 out of 5 stars, recommending it to "those that enjoy some camp in their twang". [2] Hannah Phillips of DIY rated it 3 out of 5 stars, characterizing it as "a ramshackle collection that sometimes distracts from the storytelling itself". [8]

  1. "Long Black Train" – 4:28
  2. "Ugly Brown" – 4:35
  3. "Son of a Gun" – 4:31
  4. "We All Make the Flowers Grow" – 4:37
  5. "Run Boy Run" – 3:47
  6. "Six Feet of Chain" – 4:11
  7. "The Railroad" – 3:42
  8. "Look at That Woman" – 5:54
  9. "Peculiar Guy" – 4:18
  10. "Trouble Is a Lonesome Town" – 4:12

"Long Black Train"

"Ugly Brown"

"Son of a Gun"

"We All Make The Flowers Grow"

"Run Boy Run"

"Six Feet of Chain"

"The Railroad"

"Look at That Woman"

"Peculiar Guy"

"Trouble Is a Lonesome Town"

Technical personnel

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Long Line of Leavers</i> 2000 studio album by Caedmons Call

Long Line of Leavers is a studio album from Caedmon's Call. It was recorded at the following studios:

<i>The Restless Kind</i> 1996 studio album by Travis Tritt

The Restless Kind is American country music artist Travis Tritt's fifth studio album, released on Warner Bros. Records in 1996. The tracks "More Than You'll Ever Know", "Helping Me Get Over You", "She's Going Home with Me", and "Where Corn Don't Grow" were released as singles, all peaking in the Top 40 on the country charts. "Where Corn Don't Grow" was previously recorded by Waylon Jennings on his 1990 album The Eagle, and was his #67-peaking single that year. "Double Trouble" was a duet with Tritt's long-time friend and recording partner Marty Stuart.

<i>Silver</i> (Johnny Cash album) 1979 studio album by Johnny Cash

Silver is the 25th anniversary studio album by American country singer Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records in 1979. It peaked at #28 on the Billboard albums chart. "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" peaked at #2 on the singles chart; the two other singles, "Bull Rider" and "I'll Say It's True", had reached #66 and #42, respectively. Recordings of "Cocaine Blues" had previously appeared on At Folsom Prison and Now, There Was a Song!, under the title "Transfusion Blues" on the latter. The album was produced by Brian Ahern, who controversially introduced digital elements into the songs to the disapproval of some listeners. This is the last album that featured bassist Marshall Grant, longtime Cash collaborator in Tennessee Two. He departed from Cash's band the following year.

<i>Elton John and Tim Rices Aida</i> 1999 soundtrack album by various artists

Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida is a 1999 concept album that contains songs with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice from the 2000 musical Aida.

<i>Gershwins World</i> 1998 studio album by Herbie Hancock

Gershwin's World is a thirty-seventh studio album by the American jazz pianist Herbie Hancock.

<i>The Trumpet Child</i> 2007 studio album by Over the Rhine

The Trumpet Child is the tenth studio album by Over the Rhine, released in 2007. In addition to the CD, the album was also released on 180-gram vinyl.

<i>Morning Dance</i> 1979 studio album by Spyro Gyra

Morning Dance is the second album by the jazz fusion group Spyro Gyra. The album was released in March 9, 1979 and was certified gold by the RIAA on September 19, 1979, and was certified platinum on June 1, 1987.

<i>Freetime</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Spyro Gyra

Freetime is the fifth album by Spyro Gyra, released in 1981. At Billboard magazine, the album reached No. 41 on the Top 200 albums chart and No. 1 on that magazine's Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Dancin on the Boulevard</i> 1997 album by the American band, Alabama

Dancin' on the Boulevard is the seventeenth studio album by American country music band Alabama, released in 1997 by RCA Records. It includes the singles "Dancin, Shaggin' on the Boulevard", "Sad Lookin' Moon," "She's Got That Look in Her Eyes" and "Of Course I'm Alright". Also included on the album are cover versions of The Temptations' "My Girl" and Bruce Channel's "Hey! Baby". The album peaked at No. 5 on Billboard Country Albums Chart and No. 55 on Billboard 200.

<i>Pistola</i> 2008 studio album by Willy DeVille

Pistola is the last album by Willy DeVille, released on Mardi Gras day 2008 as a nod to DeVille's musical roots in New Orleans. The album was recorded in Los Angeles with Brian Ray, Lon Price, The Valentine Brothers, and other musicians who had played with DeVille for years. For this album, DeVille borrowed bassist Davey Faragher and drummer Pete Thomas from Elvis Costello's backup band, the Imposters. John Philip Shenale produced the album, his fourth production effort for Willy DeVille.

<i>Del Rio, TX 1959</i> 1992 studio album by Radney Foster

Del Rio, TX 1959 is the debut solo studio album by American country music artist Radney Foster. It was released in 1992 on the Arista Nashville label, and it produced five singles for Foster on the Billboard country charts: "Just Call Me Lonesome", "Nobody Wins", "Easier Said Than Done", "Hammer and Nails", and "Closing Time". All of these except "Closing Time" were Top 40 hits on the country charts; "Nobody Wins" was the highest-charting, reaching #2.

<i>Workbench Songs</i> 2006 studio album by Guy Clark

Workbench Songs is an album by American singer-songwriter Guy Clark, released on July 10, 2006. It was nominated for "Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album" at the Grammy Awards.

<i>The Braille Night</i> 2001 studio album by Ida

The Braille Night is the fifth studio album by American indie rock duo Ida, released in 2001 on Tiger Style Records.

<i>The Camera Never Lies</i> 1987 studio album by Michael Franks

The Camera Never Lies is a jazz vocal album by Michael Franks, released in 1987 by Warner Bros. Records.

<i>Hard 2 Love</i> (Lee Brice album) 2012 studio album by Lee Brice

Hard 2 Love is the second studio album by American country music artist Lee Brice. It was released on April 24, 2012 by Curb Records. The album includes the number one singles "A Woman Like You”, “Hard to love” and “I Drive Your Truck”.

<i>Occupy This Album</i> 2012 compilation album by Various artists

Occupy This Album: 99 Songs for the 99 Percent is a four-disc compilation box set released in May 2012 through the record label Music for Occupy. The album concept, and initial production was initiated by Executive Producer Jason Samel. Jason Samel later recruited Producers Maegan Hayward, Alex Emanuel and Shirley Menard to assist with the project. The set consists of 99 songs inspired by or related to the Occupy movement. Proceeds from the album went "directly towards the needs of sustaining this growing movement."

Charles Edward Norman, known by the stage name Charles Normal, is an American record producer, audio engineer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is perhaps best known for his work with Frank Black, Pete Yorn, Jetboy, and his brother, musician Larry Norman. He has collaborated with Guns N' Roses, Steve Jones, Isaac Brock, Courtney Taylor-Taylor, and actor Kiefer Sutherland.

<i>The Beach Boys with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra</i> 2018 remix album by The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a 2018 album of remixed Beach Boys recordings with new orchestral arrangements performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. It was produced by Nick Patrick and Don Reedman, who conducted similar projects for Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley.

<i>The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show</i> (album) 2019 soundtrack album by Kacey Musgraves

The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show is a soundtrack album by American country singer Kacey Musgraves, released on November 28, 2019 by MCA Nashville. The album accompanies the Prime Video special of the same name, and is Musgraves' second Christmas album, following 2016's A Very Kacey Christmas.

<i>Kicks</i> (Rickie Lee Jones album) 2019 studio album by American singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones

Kicks is a 2019 studio album by American singer–songwriter Rickie Lee Jones. The collection of cover versions received positive reviews from critics. The collection of songs incorporates jazz, pop, and rock music influences and was Jones' second album recorded with a group of New Orleans–based musicians.

References

  1. "Lee Hazlewood – Trouble Is A Lonesome Town/Cowboy In Sweden/Requiem For An Almost Lady/13/Farmisht, Flatulence, Origami, ARF!!! And Me..." Reviews. No Depression . March 1, 2000. ISSN   1088-4971 . Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Treachy, Christopher (July 17, 2013). "Thriftstore Masterpiece: Trouble Is A Lonesome Town". Reviews > Album Reviews. American Songwriter . ISSN   0896-8993. OCLC   17342741 . Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  3. Swihart, Stanton (n.d.). "Lee Hazlewood – Trouble Is a Lonesome Town". AllMusic . RhythmOne . Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  4. Moser, Margaret (December 10, 1999). "Review: Lee Hazlewood Trouble Is a Lonesome Town (Smells Like Records) / Lee Hazlewood Requiem for an Almost Lady (Smells Like Records) / Lee Hazlewood Cowboy in Sweden (Smells Like Records)". Music. The Austin Chronicle . ISSN   1074-0740 . Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  5. Fiander, Matthew (March 28, 2013). "Lee Hazlewood: Trouble Is a Lonesome Town". Reviews. PopMatters . Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  6. Zemler, Emily (July 9, 2013). "Recreating Lee Hazlewood's 'Trouble Is A Lonesome Town': The Story Behind the Tribute". Music > Music News. The Hollywood Reporter . ISSN   0018-3660 . Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  7. Danton, Eric R. (May 8, 2013). "Pete Yorn, Pixies, Modest Mouse Make a 'Thriftstore Masterpiece'". The Wall Street Journal . ISSN   1042-9840. OCLC   781541372 . Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  8. Phillips, Hannah (July 9, 2013). "Thriftstore Masterpiece – Trouble Is A Lonesome Town review". News. DIY . Retrieved December 1, 2023.