Honky Tonk Masquerade
Joe Ely's second album is a classic of late-1970s progressive country--but this description hardly does justice to what he did with the music. The Texas-born Ely expanded its expression both lyrically (with the help of fellow ex-FlatlandersJimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, whose songs he covered regularly) and musically, tossing in Tex-Mex accordion and rock guitar lines that competed with the steel guitar parts. That Ely's title song and Hancock's "Jericho," two of the record's more accessible tracks, didn't become radio smashes is criminal, but it's never too late to pick up on them yourself--that is, so long as the CD remains in print.--Rickey Wright