Customer Reviews

Old Five & Dimers Like Me

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This CD was produced with Kris Kristofferson in the early 70's. It has some of the wistful folk music overtones of that era. This is not a CD for the Garth Brooks fans out there...Billy Joe's music is deeper, with a sharp edge to it. It lacks the fire of the much more recent "Tramp on your Street" but if you like REAL C & W - like it's still heard in the little honkey-tonks and bars and down at the Eagle's Lodge on Saturday night, buy this one!

I bought this CD as a whim after I heard Willy Nelson say Billy Joe Shavers describes it best when he said,"movement is the closest thing to being free." Being the lover of a well tuned phrase it perked a curiousity to hear more of him.From the minute I first played it I new I would love it all....there really are no words adequate to describe how pleasing and easy to listen to his style is.You can sing along from the get go and makes an excellent companion on long car trips.

okay folks, round up all your toby keith, vince gill, and garth brooks cds, take 'em down to the goodwill and leave them there. then get yourself some real country genius. billy joe shaver is about as good a place as any to start your new, more rewarding life.

Most of these songs were done by Waylon Jennings on Honky Tonk Heros, so having heard Jennings sing these, I have to say that some of the songs on this album are slightly over produced for Shaver's voice. Still you can't find any better lyrics... "Jesus Christ, what a man".

Excuse my word-play, but Billy Joe Shaver inspires it. I enjoyed Waylon Jennings renditions, and was a Kris Kristofferson fan already, but the song that hooked me forever was "I Been to Georgia on a Fast Train" as he does it on this album. His wit and charm are powerful. "Serious Souls" is a delight. Fans of the late Stephen Bruton will enjoy his guitar throughout the album, but "Bottom Dollar" showcases his playing and Billy Joe's Texan roots charm. I'm enjoying his new work, but for newcomers-give this a listen and you'll be pleased.

This is a fine album (CD?) of real country music recorded by a man who really came from the Texas countryside; no need for Mr. Shaver to fake the whisky-tinged accent. Great songs sung with feeling that human beings can relate to and enjoy. Let's put it this way; he doesn't need a cowboy hat - the music speaks for itself. This recording is not slick sounding or over produced. Some guy by the name of Kris Kristofferson produced this record around 1973.

My first introduction to Billy Joe Shaver came with the purchase of "Tramp on Your Street" back in 1994. That's a great album itself, and a total contrast to the much simpler sound found on "Old Five and Dimers Like Me".

If you already like Billy Joe Shaver then you're certainly going to enjoy this recording. If you are not familiar with Mr. Shaver's music, but like Jerry Jeff Walker, Guy Clark, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, Willy Nelson, or Rusty Weir, etc. then you're going to really like Billy Joe Shaver's music. You've likely already heard many of his songs, but did not realize he was writer of those songs.

I bought this after getting Waylon Jenning's Honky Tonk Heroes and learning that Billy Joe Shaver wrote all but one of the songs from that album. I love Waylon's versions but these are for sure the best these songs were ever recorded. I don't mean good, I mean shockingly good. This is an unbelievably great album. A masterpiece. Unfortunately, Billy Joe's later albums (at least the ones I've been able to get my hands on) all have great writing but suffer from bad production with the exception of I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal which is very good. Kris Kristofferson should be very proud of himself for the production job he did on this. The ensemble and arrangement on Played the Game Too Long is perfect. There really is no point though in naming individual tracks. They're all fantastic. Were this the only thing he ever recorded Billy Joe Shaver would still belong in the ranks of country music's all time greatest.

ALL Shaver's CDs are must-haves--if you like one, you'll love them all--but this one is basic.

Thanks for the quick service. This was a part of a Father's Day gift for my Son He loved it! Thanks again!