Joe Ely – Driven to Drive
On his latest album Driven To Drive, legendary Texas rocker Joe Ely once again demonstrates why he is and has been one of the most adept and charismatic purveyors of American music for decades.
His music has always been an eclectic and distinctly original mix of Tex Mex, country, blues, folk, rockabilly, and flat out rock and roll. Driven To Drive finds Ely digging back into his studio files from Spur Studios over the years (he’s been recording since the 1970s) and curating a collection of songs (some unreleased and some reworked) about or inspired by motorized travel that serve to highlight his prodigious talent as a storyteller and player of roots based music.
Highlights of this record include the hard edged and emotionally raw “Drivin Man,” the smoldering and bluesy “Odds of the Blues” (with guest Bruce Springsteen), the rollicking juke joint jumper “Didn’t We Robbie,” the hilariously introspective tune “Nashville Is A Catfish,” the passionate titular track “Driven To Drive” and the throwback roots burner “Jackhammer Rock.”
Early in his career, because of the music industry’s inability to clearly define or pigeonhole his music ( it was too rock for country and too country for rock, as they say) and because of the intensity and swagger of his live shows, he was often grouped in with the punk rockers of the late 1970s and early 1980s. This was especially the case after he performed as an opening act for the punk band of all punk bands The Clash after they heard him play at a London gig. Categorized with Americana artists now, Driven To Drive with its retrospective qualities, is proof that Ely has maintained both his intensity and originality over the years.
It stands as a testament both to his work and as a sampler for those who may be unfamiliar with it.
Driven To Drive by Joe Ely was self-produced by Ely and is now available on his website: http://www.ely.com
The album chronicles five decades of recordings from Spur Studios. Musicians on the album are Joe Ely on vocals, drums and guitar; Bruce Springsteen on vocals; Jeff Plankenhorn on guitar; Joel Guzman on accordion and mandolin; Mitch Watkins on guitar and synthesizer; Bill Guinn on piano and organ; Eddie Beethoven on vocals; Pat Mnske on bass; and Richard Bowden on fiddle. The latest additions were made last year at The Zone in Dripping Springs, where Pat Manske engineered and mastered the album.
Enjoy our interview here: INTERVIEW: Joe Ely Talks About The Inspiration For His New Album “Love In The Midst Of Mayhem”
