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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
On this 1986 debut, Steve Earle burst on the scene as a fully formed songwriting master, synthesizing effortlessly the finest parts of country-folk troubadours like Townes Van Zandt and the anthemic, working-class rock of Bruce Springsteen. "Someday," a country-rock masterpiece about a kid stuck pumping gas in a dead-end town, remains the perfect realization of this style, and with the exception of the slight and silly "Little Rock 'N' Roller," most everything else here (especially "Hillbilly Highway" and the heartbreaking ballad "My Old Friend the Blues") comes awfully close. The 2002 reissue, overseen by Earle and original producer Tony Brown, offers fresh remastering, new liner notes by Earle, and a bonus live version of Springsteen's "State Trooper." --David Cantwell
Product Description
Earle's contract with MCA quickly paid dividends as his 1986 debut climbed the pop charts and Guitar Town; Goodbye's All We've Got Left; Someday , and Hillbilly Highway all hit the country charts. A roots-rock triumph, plus a live bonus cut!
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I bought this album on vinyl when it was first released in 1986--the same year that Dwight Yoakam debuted with Guitars, Cadilacs, Etc., Etc. While both artists used different approaches (Earle filtered his music through rock, while Yoakam leaned more toward honky-tonk and the Bakersfield sound), both artists brought an honesty and integrity to country music that had been missing from mainstream country. All tracks were written or co-written by Earle with the exception of the bonus track, a live version of Bruce Springsteen's "State Trooper." [This bonus track was originally released in 1986 on an EP and is also available on the 2-CD anthology Ain't Ever Satisifed.] Earle has put out a string of excellent albums over the years, but his debut is arguably his strongest. He's never fit in with the hat acts of the past two decades--Earle is too much of a rebel for that--but as he sings on the title track: "Hey, pretty baby are you ready for me/yeah, it's your good rockin' daddy down from Tennessee." Country radio may not have been ready, but they sure needed him. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
Now beautifully restored to pristine analog, 'Guitar Town's' sound is warm, capturing bass lines lost in the original digital master released against Earle's wishes. Included is a seething live version of Springsteen's "State Trooper," captured during Earle's exhuberant concert at Chicago's Park West Theatre in August 1986, showcasing a young troubador ready to take on the world. To complete the package, MCA generously included some extra photos from the original Guitar Town session in downtown Nashville for this re-issue, which show just a hint of imminent trouble in Earle's eyes. Most welcome are Earle's illuminating, newly-penned liner notes, which tell of his attendance of a "Born In The USA" concert, (which inspired "Guitar Town,") and shed much-needed light on Guitar Town's genesis. Easily the most groundbreaking Nashville recording since Waylon Jennings' 1970's sessions, Guitar Town was #79 on Rolling Stone's 'Top 100 Albums of the 80's' list and was hailed by rock critics as the savior of country music. Guitar Town is a cornerstone of the mid-1980's "New Traditionalist" movement in Nashville, and continues to exert a massive influence on songwriters 16 years after it's release. Earle may never understand the full impact this recording will continue to have on future generations of songwriters, but the reappearance of this much-loved, maddeningly slow-selling Rosetta Stone of modern-day country music gives a good hint.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This essential Steve Earle album has the gems "Guitar Town," "Hillbilly Highway," "My Old Friend the Blues,"--well, heck, they're pretty much all gems. "Guitar Town" concisely sketches the life of a traveling musician in today's terms. "Hillbilly Highway" is defiantly proud of its country roots. Even the quasi-lullaby, "Little Rock and Roller," has an edge and benefits from Earle's signature gruff, sandpapery voice. All-around excellent stuff.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great initial album
Maybe Earle's best, despite being his first official release. The live version of Bruce's "State Trooper," though not on the original album, is a nice bonus track.
Published 16 days ago by I.J. Reilly
5.0 out of 5 stars
great great album
If u like Steve Earle buy this album. Its one of the best albums I have ever heard. I was actually proud of myself for taking a shot in the date dark and buying this masterpiece.
Published 19 days ago by Pen Name
5.0 out of 5 stars
Guitar Town Steve Earle
This was a replacement for a cd which had been destroyed. I am a huge Steve Earle Fan and Just had to have this cd in my collection. :)
Published 4 months ago by Gerald Ingram,Sr
4.0 out of 5 stars
Country with a little rock: good lyrics and nice sound.
Either heard the title track on the radio or connected to ITunes--I liked the tone of the guitar. Bought the CD and ripped it to AIFF, loseless, and put on my IPod. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Wayne E. Boyd
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's nice to know I had a little taste in the 80's
I had this album on cassette--remember those? amidst all the bubble gum, I had this gem. thanks to the 80's on 8, I've gotten a few rude shocks of the "I actually thought that was... Read more
Published 7 months ago by J. Likeness
4.0 out of 5 stars
first album
this was the first cd from steve earle and it was good for the time when it came out. it has a lot of good songs all of which were singles off the album and some that were not... Read more
Published on March 8, 2008 by Norman Philo
5.0 out of 5 stars
ROCKABILLY MUSIC
This is Steve Earle's first alblum and his best. if you like rock, blues you need this cd.
it's great.
it's great.
Published on January 27, 2008 by yukon ho
5.0 out of 5 stars
At one time, he traded his favorite guitar for drugs
Steve Earl is a force in American Music that is not just Folk, Rock, Country, or Pop.
Hard to get to get air play. Read more
Hard to get to get air play. Read more
Published on July 16, 2007 by Thomas L. Christiansen
5.0 out of 5 stars
If "Hillbilly" is a positive for you instead of a dismissive term, you...
One of the best written albums of the 1980's. Song after song can grip you, if you know small towns. Read more
Published on February 22, 2007 by Carlton M. Vandiver
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five star fabulous!!
Dare I say it, this is THE BEST country album that was recorded in the eighties. So naturally, it was largely ignored by the music row jugheads in Nashville forcing our hero to go... Read more
Published on September 30, 2006 by Brock
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