Search - Billy Joe Shaver :: Honky Tonk Heroes

Honky Tonk Heroes
Billy Joe Shaver
Honky Tonk Heroes
Genres: Country, Folk, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (25) - Disc #1

What started out as a chance for Billy Joe Shaver to revisit some of his classic songs ended up as a real Outlaw hootenanny. Recorded over a period of years at Nelson's Pedernales Studio, this Honky Tonk Heroes (now the th...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Billy Joe Shaver
Title: Honky Tonk Heroes
Members Wishing: 3
Total Copies: 0
Label: Bear Family
Release Date: 7/15/1994
Genres: Country, Folk, Pop
Styles: Americana, Outlaw Country, Singer-Songwriters
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 790051157753

Synopsis

Amazon.com
What started out as a chance for Billy Joe Shaver to revisit some of his classic songs ended up as a real Outlaw hootenanny. Recorded over a period of years at Nelson's Pedernales Studio, this Honky Tonk Heroes (now the third record of Shaver songs with that same title) doesn't include the definitive versions of these 10 compositions--those can be found on Waylon's 1973 landmark Honky Tonk Heroes or on the Shaver compilation Honky Tonk Heroes or on singles by any number of country stars who rode Shaver's songs to the charts. Still, these readings have their own unique charms, mostly in the camaraderie and the exuberance of the iconoclastic quartet, not to mention some gritty guitar from Shaver's son (and album coproducer) Eddy. And it's always a treat to hear Willie sing and his guitar Trigger solo over such bedrock American music. If banding with higher-profile friends sheds light on the unjustly unheralded Billy Joe Shaver and his straightforward songwriting genius, then it is a worthy project indeed. --Marc Greilsamer

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CD Reviews

Poor examples of Billy Joe's recordings
A photographer | Planet Earth | 10/17/2005
(2 out of 5 stars)

"I discovered Billy Joe Shaver back in the 80's and I've loved him ever since. His early recordings are classic and his current recordings maintain a consistently high quality. He is the original "Honky Tonk Hero", a Texas legend and rightly praised as one of the finest folk poets of the 20th Century.



Yeah, he is that good.



That said, these recordings should never have been resurrected. They were made for Capricorn Records in the 80's just before the company went belly up. This CD comprises the two albums Billy Joe recorded for the company plus both sides of a single and one unreleased recording. In the first album, he takes on the persona of the 80's sensitive singer/songwriter (it doesn't fit and it shows). He sounds as if he is dozing off while recording the album. On the second album, his performances are better but the recording is torpedoed by Billy Joe singing songs by other people. How ridiculous that sounds today! The songs from the single, "Lately I've Been Leaning Toward the Blues" and "I Couldn't Be Me Without You", are a notch or two above the two albums. The unreleased recording "Music City USA" is on a par with the songs from the single.



This is an embarassing CD. It would have been better if these recordings were never unearthed. As historical document, perhaps they are worthwhile to the completist. For me, the only interesting thing about the CD, other than the three songs at the end, was the booklet. It has a couple of photographs of Billy Joe with his then 12-year old son Eddie, who played guitar on some of the songs recorded. At 12, Eddie looked like a miniature version of himself as he looked in his 30's--black jacket, long hair and a permanent pout."
A Terrific CD!
jms63 | San Antonio, TX United States | 12/22/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have to disagree with those who found this CD lacking. I think it's a blast to listen to, from first track to last. It has quickly become a standard item in my car's CD changer. Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson are, obviously, two first-rate, gold-plated country stars...Billy Joe Shaver is absolutely fantastic in both singing and songwriting...and I gotta say I dig Kris Kristofferson's froggy voice. If I could, I'd give this CD more than just 5 stars!!!"