On July 1, 1990, “MCA” label released “The Hard Way”, the fourth Steve Earle studio album. It was recorded in 1990, at “Sound Emporium” in Nashville, “Ardent Studios” in Memphis, Tennessee, and was produced by Joe Hardy and Steve Earle.

Personnel:

• Steve Earle – lead vocal, acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, Mandoblaster, 6-string bass, guitar synthesizer, percussion programme, harmonies

The Dukes

• Bucky Baxter – Mullins pedal steel guitar
• Ken Moore – organ, synthesizer, string arrangements
• Dwayne “Zip” Gibson – vocals, electric guitars
• Kelly Looney – vocals, bass
• Craig Wright – drums

• John Jarvis – piano
• Lester Snell – organ, chorus director
• Patrick Earle – percussion
• Stacey Earle Mims – harmony
• The Christ Missionary Baptist Church Choir – chorus
• Amy Dotson, Billy Baker, Billy Steele, Chip Phillips, Chuck Allen, Craig Wright, Denis Colby, Doug Baker, Ian Earle, Justin Townes Earle, Katryna Haddrick, Kelly Looney, Ken Moore, Patrick Earle, Peter Keppler, Robyn Gibson, Scot Bonner, Stacey Earle Mims, Tommy McRae, Zip Gibson – backing vocals
• Patricia Snell, Susan Jerome, William C. Brown III – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Steve Earle, except where noted.

1. The Other Kind
2. Promise You Anything – Steve Earle, Maria McKee, Patrick Sugg
3. Esmeralda’s Hollywood – Steve Earle, Maria McKee
4. Hopeless Romantics
5. This Highway’s Mine (Roadmaster)
6. Billy Austin
7. Justice in Ontario
8. Have Mercy
9. When the People Find Out
10. Country Girl
11. Regular Guy
12. West Nashville Boogie
13. Close Your Eyes