Honky Tonk Masquerade is the second album by country singer-songwriter Joe Ely, released in 1978.
Critical acclaim
The Los Angeles Times wrote that "Ely's pure, unadorned vocals and wry, gently philosophical songs revive the Hank Williams-Lefty Frizzell honky-tonk tradition in country music without showing any traces of nostalgia or self-consciousness."
Honky Tonk Masquerade has been highly regarded by critics around the world. It was included in the 2005 book, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.Robert Dimery (ed), 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, Cassell Illustrated, 2005 () Writer Steve Pond places the album at number 40 on Rolling Stone's list of "50 Essential Albums of the 70s", calling it "the decade's most sure-footed country-rock collaboration".Steve Pond, "The Seventies Reconsidered: 50 Essential Albums of the Decade", Rolling Stone Seventies retrospective issue, 1990 (link) Pond places the album in the same class as such 1970s "country landmarks" as Guy Clark's Old No. 1, Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger, and Terry Allen's Lubbock (On Everything). In addition, New Zealand critic Fred Muller places the album on his list of the top ten "best albums of the rock era".Fred Muller, "The Top Ten albums: The albums of the rock era", AudioEnz, New Zealand, January 2001 (link )
LP track listing All songs by Joe Ely; except as indicated.
Side one "Cornbread Moon" – 3:29 "Because of the Wind" – 4:02 "Boxcars" (Butch Hancock) – 4:03 "Jericho (Your Walls Must Come Tumbling Down)" (Butch Hancock) – 2:54 "Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown" (Jimmie Dale Gilmore, John Reed) – 2:12
Side two "Honky Tonk Masquerade" – 3:46 "I'll Be Your Fool" – 2:52 "Fingernails" – 2:13 "West Texas Waltz" (Butch Hancock) – 5:03 "Honky Tonkin'" (Hank Williams) – 3:27
Personnel Credits as listed in liner notes.Reporting of the liner notes for this article were from the MCA CD release, MCAD-10220
Musicians Joe Ely - vocals, acoustic guitar Lloyd Maines - steel guitar Steve Keeton - drums Gregg Wright - bass Ponty Bone - accordion, piano Jesse Taylor"Jesse Taylor, guitarist: born Lubbock, Texas 1950; (three daughters); died Austin, Texas 7 March 2006.", [obituary], The Independent, March 11, 2006 (link ) - acoustic and electric guitar Chip Young - acoustic and electric guitar John Goldthwaite - electric guitar Shane Keister - Moog synthesizer, acoustic piano Farrell Morris - percussion Lea Jane Berinati, Ginger Holloday, Lisa Silver, Jesse Taylor, Lloyd Maines, Gregg Wright - backing vocals Butch Hancock – background vocals on "West Texas Waltz"
Production Produced by Chip Young Recorded/remixed: Youngun' Sounds Studios, Murfreesboro, Tennessee Engineer – Chip Young Mastering Studio: MCA Recording Studios, Universal City, California Mastering Engineer – Larry Boden Digitally re-mastered at Masterfonics using the JVC Digital Audio Mastering System Engineer – Glenn Meadows
Artwork Cover photo – Paul Milosevich
Releases In 2000, a remastered edition of Ely's first two albums (Joe Ely and Honky Tonk Masquerade) were released together on a single disk. Dirty Linen reported that this disk was especially worth seeking out since it was (at least at the time), "the only place on two continents you can get Ely's debut". The reviewer described Ely's first two albums together: "Ely's self-titled effort and HTM are a bit leaner than most of his other honky-tonk rockers, with a bit more piano than electric guitar backing his lonesome warble – dry and forceful as the wind whistling through Waco."
year format record company catalog number 1978 LP MCA 2333 MCA 20378 CD MCA MCAD-10220 Cassette MCA MCAC-10220 1995 Cassette Universal Special Products 20378 2000 CD Beat Goes On (BGO) BGOCD502This is a remastered disk that combines Joe Ely and Honky Tonk Masquerade onto a single disk.
Notes and sources Notes
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