Joe Ely delays CD release
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 – Joe Ely's forthcoming "Live Cactus" has been delayed. The disc was slated for a January 2008 release, but was pushed back until March 11.
The changed allows Ely's independent label, Rack 'Em Records, to meet growing consumer demand, according to Stephen McCord, VP of Sales and Marketing for CBuJ Entertainment. "We had initially planned this as a limited release," said McCord. "We knew it was a great record, but the response has been overwhelming. Simply put, we needed more time to manufacture enough CDs to meet the demand."
,"Live Cactus," recorded with Joel Guzman, incorporates traditional Tex-Mex rhythms, outlaw country, Texas blues and rock. The music was recorded in December 2006 at Austin's Cactus Cafe and features stripped down, acoustic versions of "Up On The Ridge," "Slow You Down," "All Just To Get To You," "Wind's Gonna Blow You Away" and "I'm A Thousand Miles From Home." Texas artist Ryan Bingham joins Ely and Guzman on "White Freightliner Blues."
,"We knew we had captured something truly extraordinary even before we had a chance to listen to the recordings," said Lance N. Webb, who produced "Live Cactus.," "Joe and Joel's performances on this album are truly astounding. While they were on stage, you could just feel both of them dig deeper, and push one another to deliver the very best each of them could give...and that's really saying something when you are talking about two legendary Grammy winners at the top of their trade.,"
Ely started Rack 'Em this year with his first studio album in five years, "Happy Songs From Rattlesnake Gulch." He followed that release with "Silver City," which featured Ely songs written before forming The Flatlanders with Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock in 1972. Ely's book, "Bonfire of Roadmaps," based on excerpts taken from his road journals was released by University of Texas Press in February and is currently in its third printing.
More news for Joe Ely
CD reviews for Joe Ely
Live Cactus
As a country music "outlaw," Joe Ely has always stood out from the pack. On his latest, Ely has decided to forge an alliance with premier accordionist Joel Guzman, and the combination works.
This is not the typical Ely album with a lot of edginess. The live disc is a confluence of two excellent and distinct talents whose music covers a wide spectrum. With more than an hour of material available, there is a lot to choose from with the wispy balladry of "Up On the Ridge" »»» |
Silver City
As wonderful as The Flatlanders are, this all-star trio sometimes obscures the greatness of its individual members, which makes this such a surprisingly welcome revelation. It's an all-acoustic work, with Joe Ely singing, playing guitar and adding a little harmonica and percussion in various places.
Joel Guzman also contributes accordion. These 10 songs remind us once again what a truly commanding singer Ely is. One is tempted to call him the Chuck D. of country music because he sings »»» |
Happy Songs From Rattlesnake Gulch
Don't let this CD's title fool you: you won't find much happiness running through these pained tracks. Joe Ely is oftentimes an inspirational leader when singing his songs, which may be why guys like Bruce Springsteen gravitate to him. Not so with this effort, however; Katrina's horror haunts this recording like a howling banshee. "All I wanna do is get back home," cries a troubled character in "Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes," "instead of »»» |
Editorial: American Idol's Carrie Underwood can sing –
If anyone saw the Super Bowl – what a great great game that was – they would have heard American Idol winner and country superstar Carrie Underwood sing the National Anthem. Underwood did with her voice what Kelly Clarkson did last week with her written words – give it to Scott Borchetta, the head of Big Machine Records,, who tried defending Taylor Swift by knocking American Idol performers. »»»
Concert Review: McBride, Adkins shine sometimes –
As Martina McBride pointed out, the pairing of the country singer with Trace Adkins on their current jaunt was surprising. After all, she's of diva-quality voice, petite, non-controversial unless you call singing songs that empower women controversial. Adkins, on the other hand, has not been afraid to speak his mind with a kick butt attitude.... »»»
Concert Review: Eilen Jewell wears her musical hats well –
Eilen Jewell wears a lot of musical hats. The Idaho native, who now lives in Boston, fronts the Eilen (ee-lin) Jewell Band, a pretty much traditional country band. She's a member the Sacred Shakers, an octet doing gospel country with a country beat. And she has yet another project, Butcher Holler, covering Loretta Lynn songs.... »»»
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