Steve Earle - The Mountain

Steve Earle has had a great second act to his career after spending some time in jail in the early 90’s for his intake of illicit substances. Never really a country artist even though he lived in Nashville and made records there he is closer to a roots rocker like John Mellencamp or John Hiatt in my opinion. A great songwriter with an independent, defiant “outlaw” streak who follows his own muse and in 1999 it lead him to record The Mountain with the Del McCoury Band backing him up.

Made before the current bluegrass and Americana “revival” sparked by the soundtrack to O’ Brother, Where Art Thou? this record is a jewel filled some of the best songs Steve ever wrote. As indicated in the liner notes this record was filled with ambition and a shot at immortality because he wanted to write at least one song that would played by at least one band at every bluegrass festival long after he has shuffled off this mortal coil.

Apparently he ended up parting ways with Del McCoury after this album because Steve used to much “blue” language and had an attitude to boot! It doesn’t matter because the music is great on this album as you will hear for yourself on these two up tempo numbers Texas Eagle and Leroy’s Dustbowl Blues which are probably my two favorite tracks from this record.

Buy it here.