On December 15, 2025, Joe Ely died aged 78. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, considered as one of the main creators of the progressive country scene in the 1970s and 1980s. He was founding member of the band The Flatlanders, performed and recorded with Bruce Springsteen, Uncle Tupelo, Los Super Seven, The Chieftains, James McMurtry, The Clash, Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt and Guy Clark. As leader, Ely released 22 albums.
Tag Archives: Joe Ely
Robert Earl Keen: No Kinda Dancer
On October 1, 1984, “Workshop Records” label released “No Kinda Dancer”, the debut Robert Earl Keen studio album. It was recorded in 1984, and was produced by Robert Earl Keen.
Personnel:
- Robert Earl Keen – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
- Mike Landschoot – acoustic and electric guitar
- Dan Huckabee – resonator guitart, executive producer
- Joe Ely – steel guitar
- Paul Sweeney – mandolin
- Robert Pool – bass
- Fred Gumaer – drums
- Bill Schas – trombone
- Dan Augustine – tuba
- John Hagan – cello
- Denice Franke, Elliott Rogers, Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith – harmony vocals
- Larry Seyer – engineer
- David Glasser – mastering
- Roger Seibel – lacquer cut
- James Janknegt, Lori Kopp – design
- Pat Johnson – back cover illustration
- Jeff Copp – photography
- J. D. Hutchinson – liner notes
Track listing:
All tracks by Robert Earl Keen, except where noted.
- No Kinda Dancer
- The Front Porch Song – Robert Earl Keen, Lyle Lovett
- Between Hello & Goodbye
- Swervin’ In My Lane – descant written by Nanci Griffith
- Christabel
- Willie
- Young Lovers Waltz
- Death Of Tail Fitzsimmons
- Rolling By
- The Armadillo Jackal
- Song For Kathy
Uncle Tupelo: Anodyne
On October 5, 1993, “Sire” label released “Anodyne”, the fourth and final Uncle Tupelo studio album. It was recorded May – June 1993 at “Cedar Creek Studio” in Austin, Texas, and was produced by Brian Paulson.
Personnel:
- Jay Farrar – vocals and guitar, mandolin
- Max Johnston – fiddle and lap steel guitar, banjo, dobro
- John Stirratt – guitar, bass guitar
- Jeff Tweedy – vocals, bass guitar, guitar
- Ken Coomer – drums
- Joe Ely – vocals
- Brian Henneman – vocals
- Lloyd Maines – pedal steel guitar
- Doug Sahm – vocals, guitar
- Brian Paulson – engineer, mixing
- Scott Hull – mastering
- Dave C. Birke – art direction, design
- Dan Corrigan – photography
Track listing:
- Slate – Jay Farrar
- Acuff-Rose – Jedd Tweedy
- The Long Cut – Jeff Tweedy
- Give Back the Key to My Heart – Doug Sahm
- Chickamauga – Jay Farrar
- New Madrid – Jeff Tweedy
- Anodyne – Jay Farrar
- We’ve Been Had – Jeff Tweedy
- Fifteen Keys – Jay Farrar
- High Water – Jay Farrar
- No Sense in Lovin’ – Jeff Tweedy
- Steal the Crumbs – Jay Farrar
James McMurtry: Childish Things
On September 6, 2005, “Compadre Records” label released “Childish Things”, the eight James McMurtry album. It was recorded in 2005, at “Flashpoint Recording” in Austin, and was produced by James McMurtry.
Personnel:
- James McMurtry – lead vocal, acoustic and electric guitars, baritone guitar, mandolin, harmonica, piano, organ
- Tim Holt, David Grissom – guitars
- Ronnie Johnson – bass guitar, backing vocals
- Chris Maresh – bass guitar
- Daren Hess – drums, tambourine
- Bukka Allen – piano, organ
- Curtis McMurtry – saxophone
- Jon Blondell – trombone
- Warren Hood – violin
- Joe Ely – co -lead vocal
- Randy Garibay, Jr. – backing vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by James McMurtry, except where noted.
- See the Elephant
- Childish Things
- We Can’t Make It Here
- Slew Foot – Howard Hausey, James C. Webb
- Bad Enough
- Restless
- Memorial Day
- Six Year Drought
- Old Part of Town -Peter Case
- Charlemagne’s Home Town
- Pocatello
- Holiday
Bobby Keys
On December 2, 2014, Robert Henry “Bobby” Keys died aged 70. Being saxophonist he has recorded and performed with many famous musicians and bands, among them: The Rolling Stones, Joe Cocker, George Harrison, John Lennon, Keith Richards, Ringo Starr, Ronnie Wood, B.B. King, Barbra Streisand, Carly Simon, Chuck Berry, Delaney, Bonnie, Donovan, Dr. John, Eric Clapton, Faces, Harry Nilsson, Warren Zevon, Humble Pie, Joe Ely, John Hiatt, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Keith Moon, Leo Sayer, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Paul McCartney, Marvin Gaye, Sheryl Crow, Yoko Ono, Jim Carroll and Graham Nash.
The Clash: Combat Rock
On May 14, 1982, “CBS” label released “Combat Rock”, the fifth Clash studio album. It was recorded in 1980 and September 1981, at “Ear Studios” in London; November 1981–January 1982 at “Electric Lady Studios” in New York City and April 1982 in “Warnford” in Hampshire, and was produced by Glyn Johns, Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Topper Headon. The album was certified double Platinum in US by the “RIIA”. It was the last band’s album with the classic lineup whit Topper Headon and Mick Jones.
Personnel:
- Joe Strummer– lead and backing vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano
- Mick Jones – lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards, sound effects
- Paul Simonon – lead and backing vocals, bass guitar
- Topper Headon – drums, piano, bass guitar
- Tymon Dogg– piano
- Tommy Mandel (as Poly Mandell) – keyboards
- Gary Barnacle– saxophone
- Allen Ginsberg – vocals
- Kosmo Vinyl- vocals
- Futura 2000 – vocals
- Ellen Foley– backing vocals
- Joe Ely– backing vocals
- Glyn Johns– chief engineer, mixing
- Joe Blaney; Jerry Green; Eddie Garcia – engineer assistant
- Pennie Smith– photography
Track listing:
- Know Your Rights
- Car Jamming
- Should I Stay or Should I Go
- Rock the Casbah
- Red Angel Dragnet
- Straight to Hell
- Overpowered by Funk
- Atom Tan
- Sean Flynn
- Ghetto Defendant
- Inoculated City
- Death Is a Star
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