Come on Back

Jimmie Dale Gilmore | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 16, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rounder / Umgd
• ASIN: B000A6T2LW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,161 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #65 in Music > Indie Music > Country > Alt-Country & Americana
  • #74 in Music > Indie Music > Country > Country Folk
  • #85 in Music > Country > Roadhouse Country

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Here's the stuff honky-tonk heroes are made of: wistful heartbreak classics like Harlan Howard's "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down," Johnny Cash's "Train of Love," Hank Snow's "I'm Movin' On," Ernest Tubb's "Walking the Floor over You," and seven others sung by Jimmie Dale Gilmore, the Texas troubadour and member of the Flatlanders who was born with a teardrop in his voice. There are no surprises on Come On Back, just rewards, as Gilmore and producer Joe Ely rely on tried-and-true arrangements that frame the singer's angelic warble with deft touches of baritone guitar twang, tasteful slide lines, and sparks of bright fiddle. But the disc's more than a Biblical reading of country's cryin' side. These tunes were also favorites of Gilmore's late father, a roadhouse guitarist who died from Lou Gehrig's disease. And that makes Jimmie Dale's readings of Hank Williams's "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive" and the gospel closer "Peace in the Valley" all the more poignant. --Ted Drozdowski

Product Description

Jimmie Dale Gilmore’s first album since his critically lauded ‘One Endless Night’ (2000) is a collection of songs introduced to Jimmie by his father as he was growing up in Lubbock, Texas. Most of the songs were written and/or made popular by classic country artists such as Johnny Cash, Ernest Tubb, Hank Snow, and Ray Price. Jimmie makes each song his own with the same soulful, timeless delivery which has made him an American treasure since his early days with The Flatlanders.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a loving tribute to Jimmie Dale's father, September 3, 2005

By 

R. Hutchinson "autonomeus" (a world ruled by fossil fuels and fossil minds) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Come on Back (Audio CD)

This is the latest fantastic album from Jimmie Dale Gilmore, the only kind I've heard, and I've heard them all! COME ON BACK is a "memorial and tribute to my father," says Gilmore -- "it consists of songs that he particularly loved." There are 13 tracks here, and every one is a gem. Joe Ely produced, and the musicianship is incredible, with Chris Searles on drums, Gary Herman on bass, Eamon McLoughlin on fiddle, Robbie Gjersoe on all manner of guitar, Jimmie Dale on acoustic guitar, Joe Ely on various and sundry, and of course Jimmie Dale's unbelievable voice.

Here's a little of what Gilmore says about his father, Brian Gilmore, who recently died of ALS (amyotropic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease): "My dad was not a materialistic man. He was unimpressed by fancy houses, stylish clothing, expensive automobiles, or any of the other trappings of our status-conscious society. The drive to seek power, prestige and wealth was not part of his makeup." And he goes on to describe his father's deep love of music, and his singing and guitar playing.

Several of the songs reflect the attitude Jimmie Dale describes -- "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down," "Saginaw, Michigan," and "Jimmie Brown the Newsboy" in particular contain a perspective sympathetic to working people and disdainful of the haughty wealthy class. The only song on the album that I am personally familiar with is "Gotta Travel On," which I recognize from my childhood, and I have no idea where I heard it or whose version, but it brings back pleasant memories:

"I've layed around and played around this old town too long -- summer's almost gone and winter's coming on. I've layed around and I've played around this old town too long and I feel like I've gotta travel on."

Jimmie Dale says his favorite is the Hank Williams tune "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive," a wry truth if there ever was one, and I can see why -- I think I might agree. The best line is when the protagonist inherits from an uncle "quite a batch," and then "one fateful day a lawyer proves I was never born, but only hatched." Other highlights are "Don't Let the Stars Get In Your Eyes," which the band takes at a breakneck pace, the Hank Snow tune "I'm Movin' On," the Johnny Cash tune "Train of Love," and of course the beautiful closer "Peace in the Valley," in which the lion lies down with the lamb, a vision of peace.

Jimmie Dale Gilmore is one of my favorite artists -- COME ON BACK deepens my love of his music and stands with his finest records!

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic, November 3, 2005

By 

Paul W. Dennis (Winter Springs, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Come on Back (Audio CD)

For a guy who looks like an old hippie (he's 60) Jimmie sure is a fan of traditional country music. This outstanding album is composed of some of his late father's favorite songs. Here's the list of songs and who originally sang them:

Pick Me Up On Your Way Down (Charlie Walker)
Saginaw Michigan (Lefty Frizzell)
Memphis Blues (Jimmie Rodgers)
Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes (Slim Willet / Skeets
McDonald / Ray Price / Perry Como)
Four Walls (Jim Reeves)
I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive (Hank Williams)
Walkin' The Floor Over You (Ernest Tubb)
I'm Moving On (Hank Snow)
Don't Worry About Me (Marty Robbins)
Train Of Love (Johnny Cash)
Jimmie Brown The Newsboy (Flatt & Scruggs)
Gotta Travel On (Billy Grammer)
Peace In The Valley (Red Foley)

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars He Ain't Hank but He Is Jimmie Dale, December 5, 2005

By 

Arch Stanton (Bondurant, WY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Come on Back (Audio CD)

Those reviewers who lament that Jimmie isn't adding any new dimensions to these songs are missing the point. This is back porch music, not made for revelation but for pure enjoyment. While I find Jimmie's records to be a bit uneven, this album is almost pure strength and warmth. Joe Ely's production is occasionally a bit sanitary for my tastes (ex: Flatlanders' "Now Again") but this time he hit the bullseye. Highly recommended!