The Cold Hard Facts

By Steve Earle

...In 1990 I was at a low point in my life — or anyone else's for that matter.  The one ray of sunshine that filtered into my neighborhood in L.A. was a phone call from Ken Irwin.  He told me that Del McCoury was makin' a phonograph record and he wanted to record one of my songs.  The catch was that they needed another verse.  I proceeded to write what turned out to be the only four lines I would write for the next three and a half years.  I called Ken back and read 'em back over the phone.  If You Need a Fool ended up on The Blue Side of Town.  In my opinion one of the best bluegrass records (or any kind of record) of all time.  Pretty cool, huh?

So here's the new Del McCoury Band record.  The band gets better every time I hear 'em.  (The brothers made a pretty scary record of their own a while back.)  But it's Del who drives this beast with a freight train Martin, fearless song selection and the voice that will carry High Lonesome to another generation.

Long may you run,

Steve Earle