Ames took to robbin’ banks, and had some close calls, nearly at the end of a hang man’s rope. But as the song opens, Tom is “trapped in an alley in Abilene with all but four shells spent”, and with the end near and that’s when he asks God for a little bit of luck and doesn’t get it. But before that he yelps with joy at the memory of a close call.
On one level you can admire the schoolyard punk hubris of Earle titling his record with a Robert Johnson reference, but his blues pastiches are so comparatively pale that it makes him seem completely blinded by his own arrogance. I’m left wondering if anyone in Earle’s camp ever tells him that he has a bad idea
An Imprecatory Psalm socking it to the Native Americans worst enemy and greatest revenge, as sung by one Johnny Cash back in 1965. This version, off an upcoming Johnny cash tribute album, sports a typical Earle rasping vocal but is no worse for it as he delights over “The General he don’t ride well anymore” – B+
I am not talking voice here, Earle sounds like Earle, I am talking tempo, it slows to a crawl, it pours itself like molasses, it lacks all edge, it is like earle is strangling himself. This isn’t a blanket condemnation, the three song with Harris are all magnificent oil and water, sour and sweet, scratch and soothe, especially “Goodbye” – alone it is worth the price of admission.
Whipping Post – The Allman Brothers – In feverish anticipation for the Allman Brothers last stand (I got a ticket for the penultimate night, despite all my efforts), I’ve been jamming this Duane Allman piece of roughshod blues from a 1970 gig – A
