I Love Everybody

Lyle Lovett

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 27, 1994)
• Original Release Date: September 27, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B000002ONW
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #59,985 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

"I Love Everybody," is a return to Lovett's early Texas-cowboy-poet style. In fact, it's a return to those earlier songs. While all 18 tracks on the album are previously unreleased, most of them date from the 1980s when he was writing far more high-quality material than anyone was interested in recording. This is sure to please his longtime fans, who believe Lovett has never written a better song than the early efforts "If I Had a Boat" and "God Will." Lovett has raided his attic trunk and has found a surprising number of lost treasures.

One of those gems, "Skinny Legs," kicks things off with a confession of jealousy. If he only had skinny legs, a new Toyota and a cute rear end, the singer laments, he'd have a girlfriend like that boy over there. Lovett's dry, deadpan drawl falls on the bouncy, catchy melody with enchanting ease, and he refuses to use a single word more than he needs.

The lightly swinging arrangements are as simple as the songs; Lovett and his acoustic guitar are backed by John Leftwich on stand-up bass and either Kenny Aronoff or Russ Kunkel on drums. Cellist John Hagen is added to five cuts, fiddler Mark O'Connor to six, the Tower of Power Horns to one, a gospel quartet to three, and a choir featuring Rickie Lee Jones and Julia Roberts to two others. At least half a dozen songs are slight one-liners which didn't deserve revival, and they dilute the album's impact. Nonetheless this is a welcome reward for all those who believe the funny Lyle Lovett is the best Lyle Lovett. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars His best work, November 27, 2005

By	Kenneth W. Crites "coffee crazed" (Shelburne, VT USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Strip away the big band, vivacious backing vocals and sometimes amusing lyrics and Lyle Lovett is still one heck of a songwriter and singer. This CD proves it -- and is probably his finest work. Simple, mellow, yet profound, its perfect Saturday morning listening music. Enjoy with your favorite coffee and pajamas.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My First Lovett - I love it, October 20, 2004

By	Billy J - See all my reviews

I'm by no means a country music fan - I was shocked to find out that this was classified as country. Accoustically, this is a dynamic recording which adds to the dynamic musicianship going on in most of the songs.
I'm really writing this to add some praise for the song Sonja - which I find to be a fantastic example of his lyrics - alot of fun and alot more depth to it than it seems at first.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Maybe this one's more for diehard fans, April 29, 2001

By	A. Butterfield (UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

You probably already have to be a fan to appreciate this. If you're new to Lyle Lovett, start somewhere else.

Then come back to this. It's a little weird in places. Some of the songs are just plain surreal, like Fat Babies, and Penguins. Others are witty, if odd, like Hello Grandma, and Creeps Like Me. Songs range from the sketch like, to the complete. They Don't Like Me, I've Got the Blues and Good-bye to Carolina are three that stand out.

What this is like, is a collection of short stories by a novellist who's normally a bit more serious and wants to have a bit of fun. So if you bear that in mind when you buy it, you'll not be disappointed.

The bonus is the simplicity and clarity of the recording; Lyle uses a minimum of instruments to create a very spare and focussed sound.