Lyle Lovett - Joshua Judges Ruth

While Lyle Lovett and His Large Band wasn't a massive chart hit, it was successful enough to establish an audience for Lovett outside the boundaries of the country market, and 1992's Joshua Judges Ruth found Lovett seemingly free to follow his muse wherever it cared to go. Joshua Judges Ruth only bore the faintest glimmers of Lovett's country leanings (notable exception: "She's Leaving Me Because She Really Wants To"), and more surprisingly it suggested he was also moving away from the broad-shouldered jazz and blues accidents that dominated much of Pontiac and Large Band. Compared to his previous work, Joshua Judges Ruth sounds startlingly spare -- producer and engineer George Massenburg brings a clear and keenly detailed sound to these sessions that allows all the details of the low-key arrangements to be heard, and "She's Already Made Up Her Mind," "Baltimore," and "Family Reserve" seem to have been recorded with this in mind. The songs also reflect a shift toward more serious and introspective themes for Lovett; outside of the gospel-influenced "Church" and the easygoing "She Makes Me Feel Good," his trademark humor is conspicuous in its absence, and loss, loneliness, and heartbreak dominate the lyrics. While the craft of Joshua Judges Ruth ranks with the finest work of Lovett's career, its spare and sober surfaces aren't especially engaging, and it's the sort of album fans are more likely to admire than embrace with pleasure. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alan Yoshida Mastering Arnold McCuller Tenor (Vocal) Arnold McCutler Vocals Billy Williams Trombone, Guitar, Arranger, Producer, Guitar (Electric) Dan Higgins Sax (Alto) Dean Parks Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Rhythm), Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals (Background), Slide Guitar Doug Sax Mastering Edgar Meyer Bass (Acoustic), Bass Emmylou Harris Vocals (Background), Vocals, Vocal Harmony Francine Reed Vocals, Alto (Vocals) George Massenburg Engineer, Producer, Mixing Gil Morales Engineer Greg Smith Sax (Baritone) Ivy Skoff Production Coordination Jay Dee Maness Guitar, Guitar (Steel) John Hagen Cello Johnny Lee Schell Guitar (Electric) Jonas Livingston Art Direction Kathy Hazzard Vocals (Background), Soprano (Vocal) Kevin Dorsey Bass (Vocal), Bass, Vocals, Vocals (Background) Larry Williams Sax (Tenor) Leland Sklar Bass Leo Kottke Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar Lyle Lovett Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Rhythm), Vocals, Producer Marnie Riley Engineer Matt Rollings Piano, Organ, Organ (Hammond) Michael Wilson Photography Nathaniel Kunkel Engineer Noel Hazel Engineer Peter Nash Photography Plas Johnson Sax (Tenor) Ray Herndon Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Rhythm) Rickie Lee Jones Vocal Harmony, Vocals (Background) Ron Lewter Mastering Russ Kunkel Drums Sir Harry Bowens Vocals (Background), Tenor (Vocal) Steve Holroyd Engineer Sweet Pea Atkinson Vocals (Background), Baritone (Vocal) Tim Stedman Design, Art Direction Willis Alan Ramsey Vocals (Background), Vocal Harmony