Honky Tonk Masquerade


Honky Tonk Masquerade is the second album by country singer-songwriter Joe Ely, released in 1978.

Critical acclaim

The Los Angeles Times wrote that "Ely's pure, unadorned vocals and wry, gently philosophical songs revive the Hank Williams-Lefty Frizzell honky-tonk tradition in country music without showing any traces of nostalgia or self-consciousness."
Honky Tonk Masquerade has been highly regarded by critics around the world. It was included in the 2005 book, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Writer Steve Pond places the album at number 40 on Rolling Stone's list of "50 Essential Albums of the 70s", calling it "the decade's most sure-footed country-rock collaboration". Pond places the album in the same class as such 1970s "country landmarks" as Guy Clark's Old No. 1, Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger, and Terry Allen's Lubbock (On Everything). In addition, New Zealand critic Fred Muller places the album on his list of the top ten "best albums of the rock era".

LP track listing

All songs by Joe Ely; except as indicated.

Side one

  1. "Cornbread Moon" – 3:29
  2. "Because of the Wind" – 4:02
  3. "Boxcars" – 4:03
  4. "Jericho " – 2:54
  5. "Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown" – 2:12

Side two

  1. "Honky Tonk Masquerade" – 3:46
  2. "I'll Be Your Fool" – 2:52
  3. "Fingernails" – 2:13
  4. "West Texas Waltz" – 5:03
  5. "Honky Tonkin'" – 3:27

Personnel

Credits as listed in liner notes.

Musicians

Production

Artwork

Releases

In 2000, a remastered edition of Ely's first two albums were released together on a single disk. Dirty Linen reported that this disk was especially worth seeking out since it was, "the only place on two continents you can get Ely's debut". The reviewer described Ely's first two albums together: "Ely's self-titled effort and HTM are a bit leaner than most of his other honky-tonk rockers, with a bit more piano than electric guitar backing his lonesome warble – dry and forceful as the wind whistling through Waco."
yearformatrecord companycatalog number
1978LPMCA2333
MCA20378
CDMCAMCAD-10220
CassetteMCAMCAC-10220
1995CassetteUniversal Special Products20378
2000CDBeat Goes On BGOCD502