Billy Joe Shaver
Shaver: Highway of Life
Justice 2301-2
visit Billy Joe's website
and also on myspace
also available on amazon
This disc is West Texas in auditory adaptation. The vast spaces, starkness of the landscape and the feeling of absolutely emptiness, are all reflected in Billy Jo Shaver's haunting and reflective voice. This is the dominate texture of the disc. It is magnificently highlighted by the music that wells around him, driven in a large part by Eddy Shaver's guitar work. As Billy Jo has captured the desolation of the plains of West Texas, the missing ingredient for those that have been there is the incessant winds. The winds that carry with them the drift and detritus that makes this place what it is. This griminess and aridity are perfectly propitiated by the guitar work of his son. The songs, which are all penned by Billy Jo, are vignettes of life as it has unfurled on his highway of life. Sometimes the beauty is reflected in the shine of the sun, other times the pain comes from a beautiful start and a wrong turn. It is always honestly sung and reflected in the music. It is a haunting reflection that should not be missed.
Songs and Songwriters
1. YESTERDAY TOMORROW WAS TODAY
2. WEST TEXAS WALTZ
3. HIGHWAY OF LIFE
4. TOMORROW'S GOODBYE
5. BLUE BLUE BLUES
6. COMIN' ON STRONG
7. YOU'RE AS YOUNG AS THE WOMAN YOU FEEL
8. GOODBYE YESTERDAY
9. MOONSHINE AND INDIAN BLOOD
10. LOOK FOR ME WHEN YOU SEE ME COMIN'
11. THE FIRST AND LAST TIME
Musicians -
Billy Jo Shaver - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar on THE FIRST AND LAST TIME
Eddy Shaver - Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Baritone Guitar, Dobro, Slide Guitars,(Resonator on YESTERDAY TOMORROW WAS TODAY and HIGHWAY OF LIFE)
Brantley Kearns - Fiddle and Mandolin
Steve Bailey - Upright Bass, Electric Bass, and various other basses
David Crockett - Drums