Well folks, I’ve been waiting a while for this CD to come about.  Even though you didn’t know it, you have, too.  I’ve been a fan of this artist for a couple of years.  Caught Laird’s live performances at several Texas music venues in the DFW area, festivals lineups, and festival campfires (his “electric-log” campfires are legendary in our “burn ban” prominent region).  Finally, we are able to get a Jim Bob fix in between these performance events with his debut CD, Weeds.  It’s been worth the wait.  The only problem is that it leaves you waiting on the next one.

This authentic country collection of original music is testimony of how closely rooted Laird’s music is to his soul.  When I asked Laird what triggered his songwriting path, he replied, “I have all the respect in the world for artists like George Strait and Merle Haggard, but I just got bored covering their songs. So I tried to write one of my own. I’m always looking forward to the next one.” Well, Jim Bob, so are the rest of us.

Laird’s accompanying talent on this CD is the stuff of which Texas music legends are made. The way this CD came together is nothing short of mystical.  Laird describes how it all came about: “This project started out like so many seem to do. Grab the guitar, book some time, get the songs recorded, and get out?  ‘Yeah right.’  That really was my plan.  Then this real good guitar player (T-Roy Miller) said, ’You want me to throw some stuff down on that?’ And I said ‘that’d be cool.’  Then this really good bass player (Bodie Powell) said, ‘Want some low end on the recording?’  And I said ‘Alright then.’  Now it’s no longer a recording, it’s an album.  An album that this real good harmonica player (John Deans) said, ‘You want some harp on that, let me know.’  And I said ‘That’d be cool.’  Then I thought, man I got to get some fiddle (Ross Holmes) on that tune, and I know this chick that can sing harmony (China Morrison), then the fiddle player brought his mandolin to the studio.  And what’s the best way to mic a wash tub (Guy Bagwell).  And, well, you get the picture….. I threw down the rule: ‘You play it like you want it.  If you’re satisfied with it, I’ll love it.”  So, obviously, all the stars and planets were properly aligned and Weeds was born.

Although Laird was born in Texas, he’s spent more than 30 years living in Oklahoma. However, the Texas roots are still strong and thriving as evident in the opening track, Amarillo, about Laird’s home town.  His graphic descriptions of that west Texas area are soothing and nostalgic.  Laird uses the analogy of being a seed on the edge of the Palo Duro Canyon and how it blew off into the Red River (Prairie Dog Town Fork) and planted itself in Oklahoma.  Although he won’t go back to stay, he fondly remembers those days.

“I make my splash in the river, but I don’t linger long.
I’m flowing southeast real smooth, like the words of an ol’ Guy Clark song.
Falling down off the Caprock on my way to another land.
And I never thought I’d set my roots in that Oklahoma sand.

Amarillo I’m gonna see you again. Yes I am.
Too many years gone by since I’ve seen you my ol’ friend.
Amarillo I’m gonna see you again.
I’ll come blowing into town like an ol’ west Texas wind.”

Laird also has a deep respect for the safe and gentle way of life in his "Small Town World". That track pays homage to small towns everywhere that nurture and protect us.

“We got a mayor and one man of the law.
The fire department is volunteer.
They share one office down at Town Hall.
Jesse’s Quick Sack is the only place you can get a beer.

It’s everybody’s small town world.
We don’t live fast and loud.
It’s my small town world.
It’s where you go to get away from the crowd.”

"Just Because I Can" got its start at a friend’s Christmas party.  Because the urge to compose came upon Laird and co-author Guy Bagwell well into the party, they prevailed upon China Morrison to be their scribe.  As Laird puts it, “We couldn’t write, but we sure could talk and laugh.”  Those transcribed pages got packed in the guitar case and went home with Laird.  The next week, he took them out and finished up the song in 15 minutes.  Thus the lighthearted saga of a trucker who discovers the delights of a seaside condo and takes a break there every chance he gets.

“I’m headed back to the condo again
I made enough Jack for 4 days of sin.
I’m working to play and playing to win
Just because I can.

I’ll eat amberjack and drink alcohol.
Come a long way from Tinny Hall.
Beats anything you ever saw
From a truck driving man.
I was raised when the times was lean
Lived on cornbread and pinto beans.
Now I live a little beyond my means.
Just because I can.”

Laird pays tribute to three of his personal heroes, father, mother, and son, in "Good Day". Warning, this one is guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye of the most hard-hearted person you can name.  Wife Kathy Laird claims she had to hear it about 50 times before she could keep the water works under control.  Personally, I don’t know how many it will take for me, but even after 50 listens, I still go down that water slide.

“He’s 66 years old; he’s still the apple of Mama’s eye.
Cancer’s got him pretty bad. He knows he’s gonna die.
He’s hurting bad and all that I can do is cry.
His sense of humor never once passed him by.

Let him have a good day.
Let him have a good day, yeah, yeah.
Lord I get down on my knees to pray.
Please forgive me when I go astray.
Most of all, let him have a good day.
Let him have a good day.”

Title track, "Weeds", is Laird’s light hearted look at one of the dominant banes of mankind. He describes many of the places where they can be found (shorter list is where they ARE NOT).  He even has a couple of references to the smoking kind.

“Some are tall and slim; some are short and round.
Some are worth $2000 a pound.
Some are tough enough to live through a nuclear war.

Make a farmer chop. Make a gardener pull.
Make a rancher spray when the pasture gets full.
They’ll grow in a drought; they’ll grow in a flood.
Some got milk and some got blood.
Them weeds; damned ol’ weeds.”

"Western Swing Dream" really grabs the roots of the past and glorifies the King of Western Swing, Bob Wills.  There is no finer musical trail blazer in history that continues to impact the world of Texas music like master Bob.  Laird’s song captures that sentiment.

“Bob picked up his fiddle; Leon came in on the steel.
When they started playing, it all sounded so real.
Bob and all his Playboys were playing Faded Love
Sounded just like angels singing from up above.

He said, ‘Take it away Leon’ and I started to cry.
When he said, ‘All together now’ I thought I would die.
When I get to heaven, I will surely see
Bob and all his Playboys playing just for me.

Woke up from this dream with a song stuck in my head.
Looked like half the state of Texas been dancing in my bed.
Had a peaceful feeling even though I was alone.
Headed off to work whistling the Rose of San Antone.”

Old Trigger is a humorous, but respectful tribute to Willie Nelson.  Laird dreads the idea that Willie’s guitar, Old Trigger might end up on the wall of some Hard Rock Café after he’s gone.  Laird’s solution is he should have Willie’s guitar.

“Old Trigger’s been with you through the thick and thin.
When you’re gone he’ll play a special verse of On the Road Again,
Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain, You’re Always on My Mind,
I Gotta Get Drunk and I sure do dread it, on Yesterday’s Wine.

So please don’t crucify him in some Hard Rock Café.
It would be a sin if he no longer gets to play.
I wanna hold him softly in my hands and play ol’ country songs.
Hey Willie, won’t you let me have Old Trigger when you’re gone?”

If you don’t get a total belly chuckle from "Perfect Job", you just don’t have a sense of humor.  This track takes a look at Laird’s idea of a perfect job, counting hats at the White Elephant Saloon.

“You’re jealous as hell about the benefits of my perfect job.
Live country music every night and ice cold beer.
They didn’t want my resume, so I threw the sumbitch away.
Signed on the bottom line as a volunteer.

When you see me at work, you’ll swear I’ve had one too many.
Just doing a job and I’m getting it down pat.
You can’t deny a cold beer or 2 or 3 for the working man.
I got a job down at the Elephant counting hats.”

This is a must-have CD for your collection.  It will make you laugh, cry, reminisce, tap your toes, hum along, and bow your head in prayer.  Laird’s music has the unique quality of reminding us that we need to be extremely thankful for the blessings in our lives and have ever abiding respect for those we consider our heroes.  You can buy yourself a copy of Weeds by emailing Jim Bob Laird at sorrydog@sbcglobal.net or call either 580-795-4047 or 580-795-4048.