Customer Reviews

I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal...But I'm Gonna Be A Diamond Someday

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I first heard Billy Joe's songs on Waylong Jennings' landmark 1973 album, Honky Tonk Heroes and was hooked. I first saw him on an Austin City Limits show in about 1980 and couldn't believe what I was seeing. The man's lyrics, along with his own exuberance in performance coupled with son Eddy's electrifying electric guitar work was damn near a spiritual experience.

"I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal" was originally released in 1981 on Columbia, undoubtedly at the urging of Johnny Cash who's publishing house published over half of the songs on the LP. This CD would make a great introduction to Billy Joe's music as it features some of his best work including "Ragged Old Truck" and the title cut, but it also marks Eddy's recording debut.

I wore out the original LP, two cassettes, and now I've loaned the CD to a friend who has yet to return it. I think the next time I order it, I might as well take a dozen. You don't need to start out with that many, but you might end up using it to turn friends on to Shaver's work so you might as well get a couple copies.

Good songs, good singing, good back up. Even the lyrics are great. What a find.