Great Gonzos

About

Consider Jerry Jeff Walker a landlocked Jimmy Buffett: each singer/songwriter came from a country/folk background and created a mythos in which his let-it-all-hang out persona became a genre-transcending signature. In the case of Austin institution Jerry Jeff, that laissez-faire aesthetic dovetailed perfectly with his outlaw country leanings and engagingly loose-limbed approach to music-making, and <i>Great Gonzos</i> captures that spirit better than any other Walker anthology. It's not a best-of but a collection of the most representative tracks from Jerry Jeff's long, fruitful run on MCA Records. While a live version of Walker's signature tune "Mr. Bojangles" (among others) reminds us of the man's songwriting acumen, <i>Gonzos</i> also makes it clear that Walker could steal a song away from just about anybody. His covers of Guy Clark's "L.A. Freeway," Billy Joe Shaver's "Old Five and Dimers Like Me," and Willie Nelson's "Pick up the Tempo" give the authors' versions serious competition. (And if you thought the Walker/Buffett link was unsound, guess who wrote "Railroad Lady" with Jerry Jeff?)

via Apple Music

The Clerk says

Start your shelf to read the full take →