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The
King - Elvis
The Prophets - Billy Joe Shaver & Kris Kristofferson
The Baptist - Waylon Jennings
The Apostles - Willie Nelson, Hank Jr., Bobby Bare, Sam Cooke, Dwight
Yoakam, Johnny Cash
OK, Jackson Lee, you put those names in your liner notes. You had
better deliver.
He does. I received two CDs in the mail recently, so you folks are
getting a double dose. The CDs are "Humboldt County" credited to
Jackson Taylor, and "Gypsies and Drifters" by the Jackson Taylor
Band. These are fun, hard rocking, in your face music. For folks who love
rockabilly, early Dwight Yoakam, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Shaver (the band
with Eddy) style music, this is an incredible find.
The first CD is "Humboldt County", released in 2001. This disc shows
a young artist who is both respectful to the roots and willing to
experiment. Originals like "Lucky Night" and "Humboldt County Grown"
are mixed in with classics by Elvis, Billy Joe Shaver and the Bee Gees
(yes the Bee Gees). The music is a great dose of Fender bending,
whorehouse piano, and the driving bass and drums I call the "Waylon Whomp".
A medley of Dwight Yoakam's, "It Won't Hurt", with the Hag's, "Today I
Started Loving You Again", is a highlight, along with a driving version of
"Ride Me Down Easy" and the old Mickey Gilley tune "The Girls All Get
Prettier at Closing Time". I have to confess that the sixties Bee
Gee song "To Love Somebody" was one of my favorites in my youth. It was
well done by Gram Parsons and the Flying Burrito Brothers, but Jackson and
the boys change it from the wimpy whine of a little boy to the rocking
shout of a man.
"Gypsies & Drifters" (2002) is my favorite of the two. By
this CD, it looks like a true band developed. It leans less on
covers. Only two this time, Jason Boland's "Drinking Song", and a
full-tilt "Black Rose" that shows the boys must have listened closely to
both Billy and Eddy Shaver. The opener, "Guitars, Jim Beam, and
Waylon" conjures up the high points of the Outlaw period.
"You can blame it on Billy Joe, Waylon, and Willie
for
a life lived too fast, lived too free.
You
can blame it on Texas, Mary Jane, and lonely
but
good Lord, don't you blame it on ol' Jackson Lee".
Taylor's originals show a maturing writer. "She's a Real Good Girl" could
likely be a hit by some country hunk (if they had any class), "Mama She's
Pretty" is a strong love song, and "Gypsies and Drifters" pays homage to
the folks like Waylon, Willie, Kris, and Billy Joe, who paved the way.
Taylor is currently based around Austin and is on tour. I'd love to
see this band live. I bet it is fun. They have a web site at
www.jacksontaylorband.com
I have talked to his management by email, and they report that mail orders
are accepted:
Send check or money order to Paul Gaske, 8200 Waimea Street, Frisco TX
75035. They sell for $10.00 plus $4.00 shipping and handling.
Written by James Odom, September, 2002
E-mail
Waco
Odie
Read Odie's bio
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