Joe Ely's "Silver City"

Texas troubadour Joe Ely recently announced an adventurous project on his new label Rack'Em Records. Joe's latest disc "Silver City" subtitled "Pearls from the Vault Vol. 1" is one of twenty planned releases! "Happy Tales from Rattlesnake Gulch" subtitled "Pearls from the Vault Vol. 20" was ironically the first disc of the series released. Joe plans on filling in the gap with an additional 18 discs over the next few years putting prolific youngsters like Ryan Adams and Sufan Stevens to shame!

I'm a huge fan of Joe Ely and highly recommend his 1977 self-titled disc to the uninitiated. Of the two recently released discs I recommend "Silver City" and have to give "Happy Tales" a pass unless you are a Joe Ely completist (yes I am and yes I bought it). On "Silver City" Joe has issued newly recorded versions of songs written between 1968 and 1972. Some songs have appeared before ("Silver City" on Ely's 1987 release "Lord of the Highway" and "Indian Cowboy" was covered by Townes Van Zandt on "Road Songs"). "Wounded Knee", with drastically altered lyrics reappeared as "Row of Dominoes" and "Drivin''Cross Russia" evolved into "Me and Billy the Kid". Joe's storied past includes running away to join the circus, picking up Townes Van Zandt who was hitchhiking across the Texas desert and touring with and turning the Clash on to Texas music. I'm betting Joe has enough material for enough songs and stories to fill the next 18 discs.