Customer Reviews

Ridin High

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First you need to get Viva Terlingua, and be able - drunk, sober, or anywhere in between - to drawl "You're from down South, and when you open your mouth, you always seem to put your foot there" (London Homesick Blues - Home with the Armadillo) and give the component words to the MOTHER acronymn in Up Against the Wall.

Once you have passed Jerry Jeff 101, you need to proceed to "Ridin High." I cannot to this day hear or speak the proverb "the Pot can't call the Kettle black" without fighting the sometimes almost insurmountable urge to sing it.

And, in a song that rivals the pH of that song about vain folk who fly off to Nova Scotia in their Lear Jet to see a total eclipse of the sun, fire an acerbic shot at a soon-to-be-former lover:
"Well, don't get up, I can find my own way to the door.
Well I can see you are an angel,
Whose wings just won't unfold
Tune up your harp
Polish your old halo
Yeah, the only kind of man that you ever wanted
Was the one that you knew you'd never hold very long
Sitting there cryin' like I'm the first one to go."

In the ballad Night Rider's Lament, JJ responds to folks who accuse: "you must have gone crazy out there:" "they ain't never seen the Northern Lights, They never seen the hawk on the wing" He ain't crazy! He's an endearing and enduring music icon!

And of course, there's the piece de resistance, the Quixotic anthem to futility and performing necessary biological functions in the face of meteorological hindrances whence, much to our chagrin, it blows on all our friends.

If you own only one Jerry Jeff album, this should be it. I have been listening to it for over 25 years and have never, ever gotten tired of it. The songs are like old friends and take me back to my college days. It is one of those rare albums where you like every single song and love most of them. "Jaded Lover" is my favorite Jerry Jeff song. Listen to "Pissin' in the Wind" and you will always feel better.

This record has a live feel to it, and it is full of great songs that don't seem to get old. According to legend, Jerry Jeff went down to Austin in the very early seventies to check out the scene at the Armadillo World Headquarters and fell in love with the Austin music scene and the Hill Country. He joined and became the the central figure in the now legendary music that came out of Austin in the early and mid seventies. He also put out a couple of fine records before joining the Austin scene:
"Drifting Way of Life" and "Bein' Free". Highly recommended if you like Jerry Jeff and don't already have them. BTW: Michael Murphey's "Geronimo's Cadillac" and "Cosmic Cowboy Souvenir" are finally available on CD as an Australian import here on Amazon.

I put Jerry Jeff along with Waylon and Merle in the pantheon of country greats and this is one of his best. Whenever someone tells me country music is for cowboys, I buy them this CD and they hear all about screwed-up relationships ("Jaded Lover"), healthy relationships ("Like a Coat from the Cold") and even a song that makes fun of country music itself ("Public Domain").

Nightrider's Lament was played at my dad's funeral. The album is wonderful for that song alone, add "Jaded Lover" and it's even better!

Jerry Jeff Walker does not disappoint. This CD continues to showcase the musical and songwriting talents of one of the founders of the progressive country scene. There is a little bit of everything on this CD, but it all fits together in a tight, pleasurable package. Outstanding tracks are Gus Clark's "Like A Coat From the Cold" along with " I Love You" and the upbeat "Pot Can't Call the Kettle Black". This is a rockin' CD. One of JJW's best.

I think it's one of Jerry Jeff's best. I especially like Night Rider's Lament. I would recommend this one to all Jerry Jeff fans.

Excellent CD with catchy songs by an array of wonderful songwriters, including Jesse Winchester, Guy Clark, Willie Nelson, and of course Jerry Jeff himself. From the sentimental "I Love You" to the ludicrous "Pissin' in the Wind", you'll be singing and tapping your feet through the whole damn thing

uptempo, quiet, funny, attitude, thoughtful. Excellent to listen to alone. Cowboys songs for all cultures and moods.

If you've got this far, my friend.--You need to check out John Prine, Bonnie Rait, Charlie Daniels and the next possible Sun Set!--Oh yes, Don't forget to take along some help from yer friends!