Love and Danger (Joe Ely album)

Love and Danger is an album by the American musician Joe Ely, released in 1992.[1][2] It marked Ely's return to MCA Records.[3] He supported the album with a North American tour.[4]

Love and Danger
Studio album by
Released1992
LabelMCA
ProducerTony Brown, Joe Ely
Joe Ely chronology
Live at Liberty Lunch
(1990)
Love and Danger
(1992)
Chippy
(1994)

Production

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Recorded in Nashville, the album was produced by Tony Brown and Ely.[5][6] Ely and Brown wanted to place emphasis on the songs and Ely's voice, rather than a band sound.[7] Ely had written between 40 and 50 songs over nine months, some inspired by his Texas road travels.[8] David Grissom played guitar on the album.[9] "Every Night About This Time" is a cover of the Dave Alvin song.[10] "The Road Goes On Forever" and "Whenever Kindness Fails" were written by Robert Earl Keen.[11][12]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [13]
Calgary HeraldB[10]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [14]
The Indianapolis Star    [15]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide     [6]
Orlando Sentinel     [16]
Spin Alternative Record Guide4/10[17]

The Chicago Tribune wrote that the album, "bursting with a crazed and dangerous sexual energy, rocks as hard as anything Ely has ever recorded, yet that rootsy Texas twang is never far away, nor is his startling poetic flair."[18] The Guardian noted that "Whenever Kindness Fails" "meshes perfectly with Ely's gruff but ironic delivery."[19] The Los Angeles Times determined that "Ely is taking the outsider/loner's view of love and life, spinning witty, frequently brilliant metaphors ... and setting them to melodies that seem at once familiar and fresh."[20]

The Calgary Herald opined that Ely's "delivery is too intense, like he's trying to be heard over a roadhouse crowd."[10] Stereo Review concluded that "it's got the dynamic locomotion of rock, the righteous sassiness of the blues, the narrative twang of country, and the hook-filled, melodic sheen of pop."[21] The Indianapolis Star wrote that "Ely's America entails bawdy romances, squelched ambitions and lonesome highways."[15] The Orlando Sentinel stated that "the ultra-crisp, hard-rock drum sound here is downright annoying on otherwise worthy songs."[16]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Sleepless in Love"4:04
2."Pins and Needles"4:16
3."Love Is the Beating of Hearts"4:22
4."Slow You Down"4:27
5."The Road Goes On Forever"4:33
6."Settle for Love"4:25
7."Highways and Heartaches"4:14
8."Whenever Kindness Fails"4:05
9."She Collected"3:42
10."Every Night About This Time"4:11

References

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  1. ^ McLeese, Don (5 May 1992). "Joe Ely and his bands live up to the present and past". Austin American-Statesman. p. D6.
  2. ^ Corcoran, Michael (11 June 1992). "The Lubbock Flash Sparks fly when Joe Ely, his band hit the stage". The Baltimore Sun. p. 1G.
  3. ^ McLeese, Don (Jan 7, 1993). "Country & Western". Rolling Stone. No. 647. p. 54.
  4. ^ Howell, Peter (31 Oct 1992). "Joe Ely Love and Danger". Toronto Star. p. G10.
  5. ^ Catlin, Roger (15 Oct 1992). "Tunesmiths from Texas take to road". Calendar. Hartford Courant. p. 4.
  6. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 385.
  7. ^ Clark, Rick (Nov 28, 1992). "Lone Star Joe Ely Finds Himself in Good Company". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 48. p. 14.
  8. ^ Joyce, Mike (21 Oct 1992). "Joe Ely, in London & Lubbock". The Washington Post. p. B7.
  9. ^ Patoski, Joe Nick (Sep 1992). "Roadhouse Warrior". Texas Monthly. Vol. 20, no. 9. p. 50.
  10. ^ a b c Tremblay, Mark (18 Oct 1992). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. C3.
  11. ^ Pick, Steve (23 Oct 1992). "Joe Ely Is Rockin' in His 'Third Phase'". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 8G.
  12. ^ Harrison, Tom (26 Nov 1992). "Love and Danger 'most impressive album'". The Province. p. C6.
  13. ^ "Love and Danger Review by Brian Mansfield". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  14. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 277.
  15. ^ a b Hawn, John (9 Nov 1992). "Joe Ely offers a new view of country". The Indianapolis Star. p. C5.
  16. ^ a b Gettelman, Parry (25 Dec 1992). "Joe Ely". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 9.
  17. ^ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. p. 148.
  18. ^ Heim, Chris (2 Oct 1992). "Guitarist Joe Ely flirts with 'Love and Danger'". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. S.
  19. ^ Sweeting, Adam (8 Oct 1992). "Rock/Pop". Features. The Guardian.
  20. ^ Lewis, Randy (8 Oct 1992). "Joe Ely, 'Love and Danger'". OC Live. Los Angeles Times. p. 9.
  21. ^ Puterbaugh, Parke (Nov 1992). "Joe Ely's American Music, Pure and Simple". Stereo Review. Vol. 57, no. 11. p. 117.