Texoma

Jimmy Lafave

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 13, 2001)
• Original Release Date: March 13, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bohemia Beat
• ASIN: B000059SV4
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #127,907 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Like others in that amorphous genre called roots rock, Jimmy LaFave, Texas-born and Oklahoma-raised (hence the album's title), is a critics' darling whose past efforts earned acclaim placing him in the tradition of his heroes Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan. That's risky, since others who've endured similar plaudits often fell short of the hype. As does LaFave. Gravelly voice and all, he's awash in pretense from the first note. His Guthrie tribute is earnest to the point of overkill (Dylan's "Song for Woody" covered the same ground more eloquently). His own "Poor Man's Dream" spews inane rural homilies, as do "Red Dirt Song" and the hackneyed "Rock and Roll Music to the World." Reviving the silly, dated hippie anthem "San Francisco," a 1967 hit for folk-rocker Scott McKenzie, might seem clever, but the result is quirky for quirky's sake. A fine line exists between artful and mannered earthiness. LaFave not only works the wrong side of that line, he demonstrates a total mastery of every rootsy cliché known to man and nothing more. --Rich Kienzle

Eric Fidler, Associated Press
LaFave's red dirt rock just gets better with age and "Texoma" captures this musical treasure at his best.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Your Man Kienzle Has His Head Somewhere Smelly, April 15, 2001

By	Mike J Alberts (St. Charles, IL United States) - See all my reviews

Last night I saw one of the greatest concerts of my life. It was Jimmy LaFave and Tom Russell at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn, IL. I am a few months away from 50 and have probably seen well over a thousand performances in my life, and this was absolutely one of the best. I can assure you that the few hundred lucky souls in that audience would say that Mr. Kienzle is a very sorry excuse for a critic. Jimmy performed much of the Texoma recording which features songs written by himself and several others. Although I have only had the CD for one day, three songs stand out as Jimmy LaFave favorites for me. "On A Bus To St. Cloud" is about a lost love and a face in the crowd. It is a beautiful rendition of the song written by Gretchen Peters. "Emotionally Yours" was written by Bob Dylan in 1985 when many of us were ignoring Bob. Thanks Jimmy for making me aware of this song. The final song that really stands out is "Woody Guthrie" written by LaFave. It begins with, "Well you're out there again...Three sheets to the wind...Ramblin' and driftin'...And just living your life away. The images are powerful and a fitting tribute to Woody. Jimmy helps promote the Woody Guthrie festival in Oklahoma every year. LaFave mentioned that he and his bass player decided to drive two lane roads to Chicago from Texas. He stopped at the Field of Dreams and at Alpine Valley to spend time at Stevie Ray Vaughn's last stand. The songs reflect his life on the road and his admiration of musicians who influence him. If you enjoy a voice with soul and passion, and an individual who puts everything he has into his music, you will enjoy this recording.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FROM BALLAD TO BOUNCE, March 14, 2001

By	Russ Hall (Marble Falls, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Open a bottle of wine, or slip some long neck beers into a bucket of ice to chill, and put in this CD by LaFave, 'cause I do believe ol' Road Warrior Jimmy is getting mellow in his years. There're some fine tunes here for watching sunsets or sitting by a fire. But don't you worry, you Bubbas and Bubbettes, there're some foot-tappin' rockin' and high-steppin' songs too.

Through the years, LaFave's music has epitomized emotion, integrity, and intensity...and he doesn't dissapoint here. Backed by support musicians like Larry Wilson, who can make that guitar wail through the tender songs, and David Webb on the keyboards, doing a whole lot of the kind of shakin' that would make Jerry Lee Lewis proud, LaFave's singular voice shows the maturity of all those thousands of gigs from Oklahoma to Amsterdam.

In addition to nine new songs of his own, LaFave offers up a selection ranging from Gretchen Peters' "On a Bus to St. Cloud" to the toe-tapping "Elvis Loved His Mama," by Bob Childers and John Cooper. And, as always with LaFave, you may have heard the songs of the others before, but you never heard 'em like this.

I first heard this CD driving a truck out into a night highway from Austin into the rain and the dark, and that's a good setting too. Some songs were tender, others were goose bumps, and others still caught me tapping one boot and having to back off on the gas with the other, Oh, boy! You keep singin', Jimmy, and I'll keep drivin' all night long.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moon May Be A Harsh Mistress, but On Texoma It's Sweet, January 10, 2002

By	Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is an album that I cannot shelve. I keep getting drawn back to it again & again. They say that for an actor, the best role is one that allows for a wide range of emotions; and on "Texoma," Jimmy LaFave's sweet tenor certainly moves from rowdy to tender with ease. The throbbing guitar line that opens "Bad Bad Girl" is addictive. John Phillips' beautiful ode to hippy days, "San Francisco," comes off exquisitely with David Webb's rolling piano like waves on the ocean. LaFave is in tremendous voice on the gorgeous ballad where he sings, "There never is a moment you are not on my mind." "There's a new highway song playing in your soul," is a great lyric from the cheerful midtempo # "This Glorious Day." Electric guitar propels "Poor Man's Dream" through this country march. Gretchen Peters has become one of my favorite singers this past year. (I recommend both of her CDs, particularly her self-titled one.) So it was a real treat to hear Jimmy do her "On A Bus to St. Cloud" that Trisha Yearwood also recorded. The ballad is sweet and LaFave's tenor is so expressive. "Rock & Roll Music to the World" is kind of rock fluff for me, but enjoyable, which is followed by the midtempo rocker "Red Dirt Song." The sentimental homage to country legend "Woody Guthrie" is growing on me, even if old Woody is "three sheets to the wind." (This song started a family discussion of where that pharse originated which we have yet to answer.) One of my favorite tracks is "Tears" that is a soulful ballad which is like seeing the light after a strong storm. LaFave doesn't dwell on it, but sings, "You'll see what faith can do." "Love Can Find It's Own Way" is joyful country pop. The barrelhouse piano sounds more like Jerry Lee Lewis to me that the "King" on "Elvis Loved His Mama." What a great song selection of Dylan's "Emotionally Yours." Stinging electric guitar makes "Patient Man" another favorite of mine. "On the Road To Rock & Roll" offers some of Webb's nice boogie piano. Jimmy Webb has been a great favorite of mine for a long time, rightfully known as a master songwriter, but equally beautiful as a singer. LaFave's reading of "The Moon's A Harsh Mistress" stands up well to either Jimmy Webb's or those by Joe Cocker, Linda Ronstadt, Joan Baez and Judy Collins. "Texoma" is a great CD because it offers so many different kinds of songs from slow to fast and inbetween, well balanced with tasteful cover choices. This is one not to miss!