Ray Wylie Hubbard
CRUSADES OF THE RESTLESS KNIGHTS
Philo 1218
visit Ray's website
also available on amazon
This is a beautiful dark hour (actually 44 plus minutes). It is a disc that is filled with matters of Spiritual significance, and Ray Wylie, with his very well seasoned voice adds notes of weariness, despair, and perplexity, that sometimes collide with the humor with which he views all these happenings. His view of spiritual matters is about as extensive as can be imagined. He not only talks to the devil, but to angels and ghosts, has references to dead poets (Rilke), baptisms, crosses and more crosses, and manages to put Preachers and bible salesmen that only sell, but don't hold to the message they are selling. He does this with the humor and irreverence he has become known for. This is the disc that may cause the way he is introduced to finally change from "Ladieees and Gentlemen here is Ray Wylie Hubbard. The Man who wrote the 1970s anthem "(UP AGAINST THE WALL) REDNECK MOTHER." To a reference about CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEVIL. This has to be one of the most biting , pertinent , and humorous songs I have heard in a long time. More it contains questions many of us wonder about and it holds up to the light many of the contradictions we all see in this seemingly topsy-turvy convoluted world. He can poke fun at everything because he never forgets to place himself on the hotseat for his own foibles. Though he has a dark view there are also the rays of hope that show there is light that comes through. He makes us aware of the choices, and that they are the breeding grounds for the life in our minds. We make the choices. I cannot find a weak song on the disk. The writing is sharp and incisive. The musicians he has put together do a fantastic job of carrying the songs to the next level. The church revival tone to THIS RIVER RUNS RED is carried through beautiful and I just have to stop and wonder where I am at times. When it is followed by the bluegrass gospel hymn you take a deep breath and think about the vision of placing the 2 songs back to back, and just marvel at how it successful it is. This is not only Ray Wylie Hubbard's best disc yet, it is one of the best to come across my desk in many a year. It is complete!
Produced by Lloyd Maines and Ray Wylie Hubbard
Songs, times and writers - All songs written by Ray Wylie Hubbard except where indicated
1 CROWS - 4:52
2 THERE ARE SOME DAYS - 5:08
3 THE LOVERS IN YOUR DREAMS - 4:31
4 CONVERSATION WITH THE DEVIL - 5:06
5 RED DRESS - 3:39
6 THE RIVER BED - 3:55
7 THIS RIVER RUNS RED - 5:17
8 AFTER THE HARVEST - 4:03 - Ray Wylie Hubbard, Lisa Mednick
9 AIRPLANE FELL DOWN IN DIXIE - 3:47
10 THE MESSENGER - 4:00
The Players
Ray Wylie Hubbard - vocals, slide and acoustic guitar
Lloyd Maines - acoustic Tacoma Papoose guitar, steel, dobro, acoustic guitar, and background vocals
Stephen Bruton - mandolin, electric and baritone guitar
Paul Pearcy - percussion, drums, cardboard box, tambourine
Glenn Fukunaga - upright bass, electric bass, bass
Lisa Mednick - background vocals, accordion
Eamon McLoughlin - fiddle, violin
Troy Campbell - background vocals
Patty Griffin - background vocals, harmony vocals
Terri Hendrix - vocal, background vocals, 2nd acoustic lead
Terry "Buffalo" Ware - electric guitar, acoustic lead