I found this on Youtube last night... This is the classic Joe Ely Band: Jesse "Guitar" Taylor, Lloyd Maines on steel, Ponty Bone on accordion. This is the band I idolized in college, when we'd drive all over Texas to see them. They could blow the walls off of clubs. I kept expecting them to make it huge, especially after Musta Notta Gotta Lotta came out, but I guess they never fit the niches of the music industry. I'd see Joe Ely records filed under Country in one store and Rock in another. It's a shame because they made some awesome music... the Live Shots album is really good, but doesn't adequately capture the live experience. Yes, even with a steel guitar and accordion, this band rocked. If I had a free pass to go back in time for two hours, I think I'd pass on all those girls I should have and just go to a concert to watch and listen to these guys, who, in my mind will always be the Best Texas Band Ever. So, enjoy... <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/f7DB5rclU1M&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/f7DB5rclU1M&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Here's two more from the same time period. In the first, which is from England, you see Taylor wailing and Lloyd sliding over to piano. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VxvhkR3yoCk&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VxvhkR3yoCk&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/M30z7xsiGHc&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/M30z7xsiGHc&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
This is just sad... 2 hours and only 12 people have looked at a thread about a true Texas treasure. Did I mention that one of the guys in the band is the father of a Dixie Chick?
I don't know, I had never heard Joe Ely and now that I have been introduced I just don't feel like my life has been changed. but thanks for the link and the subsequent admonishment for not clicking this thread two hours ago.
Joe Ely could have had a giant career (he was comparable to Bruce Springsteen, in my opinion), had he kept his best band together during the early '80's and not messed around with his music. Ely wandered off into different styles and it hurt him. Having said that, I'm a huge fan. I used to drive all over the place to see him, just as you did. You just missed out on this: live @ the Texas Union Ballroom ! * Tix Now On Sale! JOE ELY BAND (Reunion!) Featuring: Bobby Keys (from the Rolling Stones)* David Grissom* Davis Mclarty & Jimmy Pettit W/SPECIAL GUEST * MICHAELL FRACASSO Category: Cactus Cafe Date: Saturday, September 19, 2009 Time: 9:00 PM Location: Cactus Cafe We were all set to go when a family (read kids) issue popped up. I heard they were great! This was the band that was blowing the doors off of clubs.
If you get a chance to see Ely, especially with the "reunion" group, do it. Ely's band was/is always better live than on an LP, not that some of LPs aren't excellent. And when I compared him to Bruce, it's because I saw Springsteen a couple of times in small clubs, before he became famous. Ely's early '80's concerts had a similar energy, and a simlar band backing him up, as far as quality goes.
Yes, there were legit comparisons to the E Street Band and Joe got tons of great reviews in the 80's. Incidentally, a group of us were planning on going to see Tom Petty in Austin at Erwin in I guess 1981 or 1982. When I heard Joe Ely was opening, I made us pick up some scalped tickets on the fifth row just a bit off center. Great concert from both groups. And Deck, you're right, they were always better live, though I guess we'll have a gentleman's disagreement about which version of the band was the better one.
As I stated in another thread, my father jammed with Joe Ely quite a bit and barely missed out on becoming his drummer. I've been to a few of his concerts and met him on a couple occasions in my childhood. Great music.
Bruce actually sings backup on "All Just to Get to You" from Letter to Laredo. <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.lala.com/external/flash/SingleSongWidget.swf" id="lalaSongEmbed" width="220" height="70"><param name="movie" value="http://www.lala.com/external/flash/SingleSongWidget.swf"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowNetworking" value="all"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="flashvars" value="songLalaId=432627043551424446&host=www.lala.com&partnerId=membersong"/><embed id="lalaSongEmbed" name="lalaSongEmbed" src="http://www.lala.com/external/flash/SingleSongWidget.swf" width="220" height="70" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" wmode="transparent" allowNetworking="all" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="songLalaId=432627043551424446&host=www.lala.com&partnerId=membersong"></embed></object><div style="font-size: 9px; margin-top: 2px;"><a href="http://www.lala.com/song/432627043551424446" title="All Just To Get To You - Joe Ely" target="_blank">All Just To Get To You - Joe E...</a></div>
Joe Ely will play at the Dosey Doe north of Houston on October 15th. Price includes dinner and show. www.doseydoescoffeeshop.com/
