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Lyle Lovett, the long tall Texan with the lanky
frame and shock of unruly hair, hit Nashville at the age of
17 with a demo tape hinting at the brilliantly eccentric career
that has materialized in nine albums and a host of most wonderful
songs to be released on the world of music, alongside Lovett's
sideline as a successful Hollywood actor.
Anthology Vol 1. Cowboy
Man, includes 15 tracks,
13 drawn from Lovett's first three albums "Lyle Lovett" (1986),
the certified-gold "Pontiac" (1987) and the certified-gold
and Grammy-winning "And His Large Band" (1989). You can wallow
in the champagne effervescence of soft shuffles, western swing,
jazz, folk and solid blues which can all be soaked up on this
magical musical experience.
The 1st class arrangement and soft shuffle of
the never before released 'The Truck Man' makes an ideal opening
track, before Lovett ropes you in with the exquisitely delivered
title track 'Cowboy Man'. My own personal Lyle Lovett favourite,
'Farther Down The Line' narrates a young rodeo rider's hopes
and dreams as he follows the circuit. The lovely 'This Old
Porch' co-written with fellow Texan Robert Earl Keen, is a
wonderful metaphor of life itself, putting you into listening
mode. A beautiful ballad intimate and highly palatable is
found with 'Walk Through The
Bottomland', where Lovett is
joined by the uniquely distinctive vocals of Emmylou Harris.
All the right components are here for another
winning album. 'If I Had A Boat' paints an absurd canvas with
Lovett sitting astride a pony on board a boat and comparing
himself to Roy Rogers, the Lone Ranger and Tonto. With a western
swing up-beat, Lovett pleads a redneck woman to 'Give Back
My Heart'.
Anthology Vol 1
Cowboy Man serves up an album of strong,
sophisticated songs, illustrating the quality of musicianship
and Lyle's vocals, which are superbly at ease with a widely
eclectic combination of numbers. A slick album that can't
fail to excite.
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