Herald Democrat Reviews ‘Luckenbach! Compadres!’
Posted by: cjthomas in Daily Buzz, Luckenbach Texas, ReviewsBy Mary Jane Farmer, Herald Democrat
“Outlaw Country,” or “Texas Outlaw,” or “Cosmic Cowboy” music hit the 1970s like a boulder, with its arrangements that were at once fun, freeing, and danceable. It changed country music forever, providing a spot for more imagination, more personalization, more variety in what had previously been a formula-only genre. Following the progression of Texas Outlaw Country Cosmic Cowboy music forward, one finds it’s now called “Texas Music” if in Texas or “Americana” if one is outside the Lone Star State.
Willie, Waylon, Kris, each a Texan working out of Nashville, had considerable help from Austin, Texas, pickers, including the New York transplanted and self-redefined Jerry Jeff Walker, in launching the movement. “Viva Terlingua!” may or may not have been Walker’s first album, that’s immaterial. But it burst upon the music world like a whirling dervish. The whole album was recorded in the Luckenbach, Texas, famous dance hall. In January 2006, Palo Duro Records brought together a collection of today’s finest singers, songwriters, and musicians in Luckenbach and re-recorded all nine of the songs on “Viva Terlingua!,” then laid down several more tracks. Originally, Palo Duro Records called the new project “Viva Terlingua! Nuevo!” and sent it out into the world in October. It was only a short time later that Walker, dba Groper Music, filed suit against Palo Duro Records. The two groups reached a settlement, but not until all the CDs in retail stores had been sent back to the record company. Palo Duro reworked the cover with the new name, “Luckenbach Compadres!,” and it’s now being reshipped to retailers everywhere.
The CD had begun its climb up the charts before the recall, and Palo Duro believes it will soar again. Why not? It’s filled with a musical combination of exuberance, soul, new and reused arrangements, and incredible musicianship. What’s not to like?
It would be unfair to compare this CD with the original, and yet somehow it begs that comparison in some songs, such as Cory Morrow’s version of “Red Neck Mother” and The Derailers’ “London Homesick Blues,” on which songwriter Nunn tickles the ivories. Still as vivacious and beer-joint rowdy as ever.
Tommy Alverson does an amazing job on “Backsliders Wine;” Ed Burleson shines on “Get It Out!,” which features pedal steel master Herb Steiner; and perhaps my favorite from the original album, “Desperadoes Waiting For The Train,” a Guy Clark song that many people have recorded, but none so well since Walker as Brian Burns. This last number, as many on the CD do, shows off the talents of the Gonzos de Casa, a large group of long-time Austin champion pickers.
Of the new songs on this CD, my favorite has to be Jimmy LaFave’s version of the Townes Van Zandt song, “I’ll Be Here In The Morning.” I’ve never heard LaFave live, but his voice on this has such heart and soul that it’s like I know him already. My least favorite is Walt Wilkins’ recording of “Little Bird.” All the notes are right, Steiner perhaps shines brightest here with his pedal steel guitar, and Wilkins has an incredible voice, but the woe-is-me of Walker’s voice on the original album’s song is missing.
Also new on this CD are John Arthur Martinez’s version of “Viva! Luckenbach!;” “What I Like About Texas,” sung by Morrison-Williams; and “Gonzos Compadres,” a little ditty that closes everything down with professional spoof-ism. There’s also a scratchy, well-listened-to earlier recording of a Lost Gonzos Band song.
Then, there’s Kent Finley’s recitation of “Luckenbach Daylight.” What? Poetry? you exclaim. Remember, this CD was recorded in one of the oldest active dance halls in Texas, where respect and fun run rampant simultaneously. It totally blends in with the atmosphere of the CD.
This is just the first in a planned series of CDs from Palo Duro Records and Luckenbach with the second one being announced soon.
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