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]
Production
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]
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
No.
Title
Length
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
^McLeese, Don (5 May 1992). "Joe Ely and his bands live up to the present and past". Austin American-Statesman. p. D6.
^Corcoran, Michael (11 June 1992). "The Lubbock Flash Sparks fly when Joe Ely, his band hit the stage". The Baltimore Sun. p. 1G.
^McLeese, Don (Jan 7, 1993). "Country & Western". Rolling Stone. No. 647. p. 54.
^Howell, Peter (31 Oct 1992). "Joe Ely Love and Danger". Toronto Star. p. G10.
^Catlin, Roger (15 Oct 1992). "Tunesmiths from Texas take to road". Calendar. Hartford Courant. p. 4.
^ abMusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 385.
^Clark, Rick (Nov 28, 1992). "Lone Star Joe Ely Finds Himself in Good Company". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 48. p. 14.
^Joyce, Mike (21 Oct 1992). "Joe Ely, in London & Lubbock". The Washington Post. p. B7.
^Patoski, Joe Nick (Sep 1992). "Roadhouse Warrior". Texas Monthly. Vol. 20, no. 9. p. 50.
^ abcTremblay, Mark (18 Oct 1992). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. C3.
^Pick, Steve (23 Oct 1992). "Joe Ely Is Rockin' in His 'Third Phase'". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 8G.
^Harrison, Tom (26 Nov 1992). "Love and Danger 'most impressive album'". The Province. p. C6.
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