Lyle Lovett and His Large Band

• Artist: Lyle Lovett
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1989
• Total Time: 40:55
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album
• Genre: Rock

Review

While from the outset Lyle Lovett sounded like a hard artist to pigeonhole, his sponsors at Curb Records and MCA Records seemed determined to sell him as a country artist, though the blues and retro-jazz leanings of Lovett's second album, Pontiac, suggested that strategy would only be practical for so long. With his third album, 1989's Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, Lovett seemingly sidelined any career aspirations as a mainstream country act he or his handlers may have held. The album kicks off with a lively cover of Clifford Brown's "The Blues Walk," and the next five tunes all bear the smoky, late-night vibe of a low-key jazz joint, with top marks going to the hilariously off-kilter "Here I Am," the witty scenario of potential infidelity "What Do You Do/The Glory of Love," and the marvelously sly "Good Intentions." The second half of the album is steeped in twang, but it was hardly more comforting for country radio programmers; "I Married Her Just Because She Looks Like You" is a "sweet on the outside and sick on the inside" tale of romantic obsession, "Nobody Knows Me" bears a punchline that makes "God Will" sound generous, and Lovett's straight-faced cover of "Stand By Your Man" stubbornly refuses to either announce itself as a joke or suggest another interpretation. Wherever you choose to file it, Lyle Lovett and His Large Band made it clear that Lovett was only getting better with each album; the songs are uniformly well-crafted, Lovett's vocals are full of subtle nuance, and his band is in brilliant form throughout (with special kudos to Lovett's frequent vocal foil, Francine Reed). If you're going to burn your bridges, you could hardly find a better way to do it than this. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
The Blues Walk	Clifford Brown	Lyle Lovett	(2:25)
Here I Am	Lyle Lovett	Lyle Lovett	(4:01)
Cryin' Shame	Lyle Lovett	Lyle Lovett	(2:28)
Good Intentions	Lyle Lovett	Lyle Lovett	(3:13)
I Know You Know	Lyle Lovett	Lyle Lovett	(3:57)
What Do You Do/The Glory of Love (Lyrics)	Lyle Lovett	Lyle Lovett	(3:06)
I Married Her Just Because She Looks Like You	Lyle Lovett	Lyle Lovett	(3:14)
Stand by Your Man (Lyrics)	Tammy Wynette, Billy Sherrill	Lyle Lovett	(2:44)
Which Way Does That Old Pony Run	Lyle Lovett	Lyle Lovett	(4:08)
Nobody Knows Me	Lyle Lovett	Lyle Lovett	(3:06)
If You Were to Wake Up	Lyle Lovett	Lyle Lovett	(4:07)
Once Is Enough	Lyle Lovett	Lyle Lovett	(4:26)

Credits

Glenn Meadows (Mastering), Marty Williams (Mixing Assistant), Deschamps Hood (Guitar (Acoustic)), David Ball (Vocals (Background)), Richard Bennett (6-String Bass), Billy Williams (Guitar), Lyle Lovett (Producer), Deschamps Hood (Vocals (Background)), Matt Rollings (Organ (Hammond)), Ray Herndon (Guitar (Electric)), Chuck Ainlay (Engineer), Jessie Noble (Project Coordinator), Marty Williams (Assistant Engineer), Richard Bennett (Bass), Tony Brown (Producer), Mark O'Connor (Mandola), Leland Sklar (Bass), Andy Laster (Sax (Baritone)), Harry Stinson (Vocals (Background)), Simon Levy (Art Direction), Mac McAnally (Vocals (Background)), Mark O'Connor (Fiddle), Lyle Lovett (Guitar), Peter Nash (Photography), Matt Rollings (Piano), Paul Franklin (Guitar (Steel)), John Hagen (Cello), Chuck Ainlay (Mixing), Francine Reed (Vocals (Background)), Steve Marsh (Sax (Tenor)), Billy Williams (Guitar (Acoustic)), Simon Levy (Design), Deschamps Hood (Guitar), Billy Williams (Producer), Walter Hyatt (Vocals (Background)), Lyle Lovett (Guitar (Acoustic)), Paul Leim (Drums), Steve Marsh (Sax (Alto)), Rodney Crowell (Vocals (Background)), Lyle Lovett (Performer)

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)