From the Cradle to the Grave

Dale Watson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 24, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hyena
• ASIN: B000NIW05C
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #167,006 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Though Dale Watson has long been a torchbearer for classic country, a throwback to the sounds of the 1960s and '70s, never before has he channeled so much inspiration from the late Johnny Cash. Recorded in Cash's cabin (since bought by Watson's actor buddy Johnny Knoxville), the songs really heavily on Cash's signature "boom-chicka-boom" rhythm, and the arrangements occasionally employ the sort of mariachi brass that evokes "Ring of Fire." Themes of life and death permeate the material. The title cut could have been a Cash outtake, while the "Runaway Train" finale pays him explicit tribute. Elsewhere, Watson changes pace by injecting some Waylon Jennings into "You Always Get What You Always Got," and lightening things up with "Hollywood Hillbilly." Watson's baritone and band are in fine form throughout. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How Country Music Should Sound! Thanks Dale., May 2, 2007

By 

C. Jones "Charlie" (West Linn, OR USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: From the Cradle to the Grave (Audio CD)

Let's face it today's "country" radio plays pop/country that sounds like pop songs from the 1980's. The country sound left today's country music a long time ago. Luckily Dale plays country like many of us remember, listen to and long for. Of course you'd never hear Dale on country radio - Why? It's TOO COUNTRY SOUNDING!

But thankfully, Dale can be heard on many Americana stations. This CD does sound a lot like a Johnny Cash album circa 1975. I especially like the tribute to Cash on the last song and the drama of "Justice For All".

This is Dale in fine form...Playing, writing and singing the music he loves....and what many would consider -real- country music.
No one today does it better!

This CD will not disappoint if you are a "hard core" country music fan (ie: Merle, Waylon, & Cash etc.)

Thanks Dale!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real Deal, April 28, 2007

By 

B. Lane "baronl" (New York, New York USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: From the Cradle to the Grave (Audio CD)

Kenny who? Carrie what? Today's country on the radio is a lite beer compared to where the genre came from - Hank, Cash, Waylon, Willie - the legends respected and built the music into something that endures and to be revered, not just product to be sold like toothpaste and toilet paper.

Dale shows a deep respect to country on this release as well as blazing his own trail. This ain't good time, frat party boozing fodder. This is life and death put to music.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cash rhythms, stark lyrics..., May 17, 2007

By 

John Gervickas (Cape Coral, Florida United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: From the Cradle to the Grave (Audio CD)

Being a mental health professional myself, if a concerned third party were to show me some of Dale's lyrics on this CD I would recommend an (immediate)intervention! Much as was the case on "Every song I write is for you", there are some extremely bleak sentiments on this disc. I'm REALLY glad to hear that Dale is on an upswing personally, because he is the best country artist of his generation (and a real nice guy). I got this disc and "The Little Darlin' Sessions" on the same day. I thought I was going to prefer the other disc to this one, but this is actually far more creative and original. The sound quality is much better, and this is Dale at his creative best. I could have done with a bit less of the Cash beat that runs throughout the CD, but (given the circumstances) I understand the reason. This is easily the most instrumentally creative disc Dale has cut, and also the least honky tonk or swing influenced(if you like that style, his last disc "Whiskey or God" was probably his best since his Hightone days). As for this set, "It's not over now" is a terrific ballad, and shows some Elvis influence in the vocals. "Time without you" has some incredibly depressed lyrics ("I curse my healthy heart for keeping the blood runnin' through my veins", "I open my eyes each morning and I regret to greet the day" - ouch!), and is delivered in a decidedly non-tongue in cheek manner. Hang in there, DW! Along with the obvious nod to the Man in Black, there's a lot of Waylon's sound on the disc (particularly on "You always get what you always got", with the Ralph Mooney-esque steel and Waylon beat). "Tomorrow never comes" is bleak and haunting. On the other hand, "Hollywood hillbilly" would have been OK on another Dale CD, but seems out of place here. Every other tune is quite serious, so (as was the case on "Every song I write is for you")I think Dale should have stayed with the theme of the album. Overall, this is an interesting change of pace for Dale, and contains a few songs that will rate among his best. This may be the best true tribute to Johnny Cash that anyone has done to date, capturing the feel of the Man in Black's best work without any actual covers of Cash songs.