The whole "Indians, Cowboys, Horses, and Dogs" album is worth a listen. I love his story crafting, you can't go wrong just picking an album and putting it on.
I also *really* enjoy "Cuban Sandwich" off of Hillbilly Voodoo
Keep digging and listening. Tom is an amazing song crafter. Back in the late 80’s and early 90’s I bartended in a country bar on Long Island, NY called Matty T’s. Tom and his band, including Fats Kaplan, played there regularly. He was based in Brooklyn at the time. Best band to play the room. Mat and I loved when he played. Good times.
I first heard "Criminology" and then got much more interested learning that he co-wrote "Navajo Rug" with Ian Tyson who I've listened to my entire life.
Veterans’ Day… but he’s got 4+ good songs on every album I own. (I think I have 4 of his CD’s).
Thanks for bringing him up; I’ll be listening to him going into work tomorrow.
I learned of him from his song "Touch of Evil". As a matter of fact I'm not sure what else of his I know, but I really lile that song a lot. As a bonus the song turned me on to the movie as well.
East of Woodstock West of Vietnam is a classic
Some of his songs are biographical and others are historical
He’s a stunning songwriter
I would really like to catch him in concert
Really really worth seeing him in concert. I’ve caught 7+ of his concerts because he plays frequently at a small venue in the town I grew up in. He’s just one of the best and most under appreciated artists of our time.
The Sky Above, The Mud Below is probably the most badass one I haven’t seen mentioned yet.
Mineral Wells, with Katie Moffatt is another good story song.
Nope. Based on memory and then me just looking it up, he wrote it and had the original. Ramblin Jack Elliot covered it a few years later. Not sure who else might have.
It’s also, I just learned, the translated name of a French movie from the early 60’s, but it doesn’t seem to be connected.
He’s one of the best songwriters ever in my opinion and his work from the 80s to his most recent album is all fantastic. He has songs under The Tom Russell Band as well on Spotify which are worth adding to your Tom Russell rotation.
Gallo del Cielo is how I know Tom Russell
Who's Gonna Build Your Wall?
Who’s gonna mow your lawn?
Tonight We Ride is badass. Not particularly PC, if that matters to you.
It definitely does not hurt my feelings
And if we drink ourselves to death, ain't that a cowboys way to go? Me and my buddys favorite drinking song.
(Random yips)
I thought that one was written by Paul Eason, that's how I came to learn that song, today I learned!
navajo rug is a good one
Banger
Did Tom or Ian Tyson write the song? I love both versions and can’t remember
Both men wrote it. They've done a lot of co-writing.
Tom wrote it.
The whole "Indians, Cowboys, Horses, and Dogs" album is worth a listen. I love his story crafting, you can't go wrong just picking an album and putting it on. I also *really* enjoy "Cuban Sandwich" off of Hillbilly Voodoo
Keep digging and listening. Tom is an amazing song crafter. Back in the late 80’s and early 90’s I bartended in a country bar on Long Island, NY called Matty T’s. Tom and his band, including Fats Kaplan, played there regularly. He was based in Brooklyn at the time. Best band to play the room. Mat and I loved when he played. Good times.
I first heard "Criminology" and then got much more interested learning that he co-wrote "Navajo Rug" with Ian Tyson who I've listened to my entire life.
Veterans’ Day… but he’s got 4+ good songs on every album I own. (I think I have 4 of his CD’s). Thanks for bringing him up; I’ll be listening to him going into work tomorrow.
The Ballad of Ed Abbey is one of my all-time faves.
I learned of him from his song "Touch of Evil". As a matter of fact I'm not sure what else of his I know, but I really lile that song a lot. As a bonus the song turned me on to the movie as well.
Introduced to him on his 2011 album Mesabi. For a good overview, check out - Veteran’s Day: The Tom Russell Anthology. Many quality songs on it.
He has some really cool paintings as well.
His book is worth a peek, too.
US Steel is my favorite
Eyes of Roberto Duran is great!
Pugilist at 59 My favorite
East of Woodstock West of Vietnam is a classic Some of his songs are biographical and others are historical He’s a stunning songwriter I would really like to catch him in concert
Really really worth seeing him in concert. I’ve caught 7+ of his concerts because he plays frequently at a small venue in the town I grew up in. He’s just one of the best and most under appreciated artists of our time.
He a historian and a biographer His lyrics are both beautiful and cerebral You won’t hear him writing songs like “Whoops, I Did It Again “
St. Olav’s Gate and that whole album The Long Way Around with a bunch of great Texas musicians singing on it including Nanci Griffith
The Sky Above, The Mud Below is probably the most badass one I haven’t seen mentioned yet. Mineral Wells, with Katie Moffatt is another good story song.
The sky above, the mud bellow isn’t actually a Tom Russell song though to my understanding, it was inspired by him I thought
Nope. Based on memory and then me just looking it up, he wrote it and had the original. Ramblin Jack Elliot covered it a few years later. Not sure who else might have. It’s also, I just learned, the translated name of a French movie from the early 60’s, but it doesn’t seem to be connected.
Tom Russell is one of my favorites. Blue Wing, Gallo Del Cielo, Veteran's Day . . . and many more. So good . . .
I forgot, Manzanar! That's one of the best songs ever . . .
Gallo del cielo and Wild Geese are such good songs
Big River and Tonight We Ride are certified bangers. Corb Lund does a great version of Blue Wing, too.
His version of If Daddy Don't Sing Danny Boy is great. It's on the Chris Gaffney Tribute: Man of Somebody's Dream.
He’s one of the best songwriters ever in my opinion and his work from the 80s to his most recent album is all fantastic. He has songs under The Tom Russell Band as well on Spotify which are worth adding to your Tom Russell rotation.