Honky Tonk Masquerade
01/01/1978 | Cbuj Ent
Lyrics from Honky Tonk Masquerade
All Music Guide Review
As strong as Joe Ely's self-titled solo debut was, his second album, 1978's Honky Tonk Masquerade, actually managed to top it, and the album remains one of the great creative triumphs of the Texas singer/songwriter community, as well as a high-water mark in Ely's career. Displaying a very Texan sense of eclecticism, Honky Tonk Masquerade's ten tunes run the gamut from beer-stained weepers (the title cut) and late-night declarations of loneliness ("Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown") to barrelhouse rock & roll ("Fingernails") and honky tonk dance numbers ("West Texas Waltz" and "Cornbread Moon"), and Ely's simple but expressive delivery makes the most of every song he sings. Ely's band deserves a special nod as well, especially steel guitarist Lloyd Maines and Ponty Bone on accordion, who can seemingly conjure up an orchestra or a horn section at will. And as strong as Ely's songs are, he has the good sense to also accept contributions from fellow ex-Flatlanders Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore, whose more introspective lyrical approach makes for a satisfying contrast to Ely's more down to earth style. Smart without sounding pretentious, and musically ambitious without losing focus or drive, Honky Tonk Masquerade is a superb album that captures Ely and his band at their best. ~ Mark Deming, All Music Guide
Honky Tonk Masquerade Track Listing
Credits of Honky Tonk Masquerade
- Lloyd Maines
- Guitar (Steel), Vocals, Vocals (Background), Lap Steel Guitar
- Glenn Meadows
- Digital Remastering
- Farrell Morris
- Percussion
- Lisa Silver Reynolds
- Vocals
- Lisa Silver
- Vocals (Background)
- Jesse Taylor
- Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals, Vocals (Background), Guitar (Electric), Guitar
- Larry Boden
- Engineer, Mastering
- Paul Milosevich
- Cover Photo
- Ponty Bone
- Piano, Accordion, Keyboards
- Gregg Wright
- Bass, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
- Lea Jane Berinati
- Vocals, Vocals (Background)
- Chip Young
- Guitar (Acoustic), Remixing, Engineer, Producer, Guitar (Electric), Guitar
- Shane Keister
- Synthesizer, Piano, Moog Synthesizer, Moog Lead, Keyboards
- Ginger Holladay
- Vocals
- Steve Keeton
- Drums
- Butch Hancock
- Vocals, Vocals (Background)
- Joe Ely
- Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Vocals, Main Performer




















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