Audio CD review:
Jerry Jeff Walker - Night After Night

Jerry Jeff Walker - Night After Night

Band: Jerry Jeff Walker Title: Night After Night Rating: Release Date: 1996-03-01 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Contrary to Ordinary - Jerry Jeff Walker, Baker, Billy 2: Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother - Jerry Jeff Walker, Hubbard, Ray Wylie 3: London Homesick Blues - Jerry Jeff Walker, Nunn, Gary P. 4: Mr. Bojangles - Jerry Jeff Walker, Walker, Jerry Jeff 5: Sangria Wine - Jerry Jeff Walker, Walker, Jerry Jeff 6: Got Lucky Last Night - Jerry Jeff Walker, Walker, Jerry Jeff 7: Trashy Women - Jerry Jeff Walker, Wall, Chris [1] 8: The First Showboat - Jerry Jeff Walker, Callery, Bill 9: Stoney - Jerry Jeff Walker, Walker, Jerry Jeff 10: L.A. Freeway - Jerry Jeff Walker, Clark, Guy 11: Jaded Lover - Jerry Jeff Walker, Pyle, Chuck 12: Desperados Waiting for a Train - Jerry Jeff Walker, Clark, Guy 13: Ro-Deo-Deo Cowboy - Jerry Jeff Walker, Gilstrap, Dave 14: Don't It Make You Wanna Dance? - Jerry Jeff Walker, Wier, Rusty 15: Takin' It as It Comes - Jerry Jeff Walker, Rambo, Bobby

This is Jerry Jeff at his best. It's not only the music but the way he relates to his audience that makes a Jerry Jeff show so much fun and personal. Jerry Jeff's always been best live. You laugh, you sing along and you tap your feet. I think that Night after Night is even better than Viva Terlingua (another live album). For one it has more of JJWs classic songs like "Stoney", "Contrary To Ordinary", "Trashy Women", "Jaded Lover", "LA Freeway" and "Mr. Bojangles" among others. It's more like a normal Jerry Jeff club gig. A little grittier, more improvisation and more fun. A must have for any Tried And True Warrior. . Best for Song Selection Although that album was bland overall, the title track was a beautiful, pensive gem. The virtue of this album is that it provides the only CD version of the title track from JJW's Contrary to Ordinary LP (MCA, 1978). Walker is best recognized for his rockin' live numbers, but he's also recorded some fine ballads. My personal favorite of all his songs is just such a number: "Leavin' Texas," from the live album A Man Must Carry On, Vol. 1. That's also the best, in my opinion, of his numerous live albums. It's got an excellent song list. The one on this album is better, though. This is the only JJW collection on CD that includes "Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother," "London Homesick Blues," "Mr. Bojangles" and "L. A. Freeway"--all seminal hits. And there are a number of other very good songs, like "Ro-deo-deo Cowboy" and of course "Sangria Wine. " There really are no bad moments on this album. The problem is that his delivery is a bit tepid--not for Wayne Newton perhaps (I don't actually know anything about Mr. Newton) but for a party guy like JJW? Yes. Still, this may be a decent pickup for someone who wants a good survey of his material. It's a perfectly competent album. But then you have to go out and buy the far more rousing Viva Terlingua or A Man, V. 1. ODE TO THE FLY-BY-NIGHT LOUNGE That is the roots too. Sometimes you just need some old-fashioned rock and rolling, comboy style. If you, like I do, every once in a while need to hear about whiskey bars, fly-by-night hotels, pool playing hustlers, sad-eyed gals, flossies, no-name susies, broken-down cowboys, low down hotels nighttimes smells, guys saying what the hell at the last chance motel you have come to the right address. Listen on. REAL LIVE! There's millions of albums in the world under a title "live" but they usually lack the real live feel and that's why they are mostly disappointments to me. . but this here's an exception! Hats off to Jerry Jeff again, he hasn't try to make this sound too polished and slick by destroying the sound of space. Yes, it first sounds quite a rough, to say, a field recording, but that's what makes it so charming. . . it sounds like you were there at the place listening to a Jerry Jeff gig in some lousy joint drinking beer and having fun with the band. . . It sounds really dynamic and rocks on through the show! I'm sure this album's never got any airplay and maybe never will, but it's a document, honest and true, just like Jerry Jeff and his trio of old mates. . . :-) I recommend this one to everybody who's interested to hear music just the way it's played, without too many studio effects. . . I've played this record to a bunch of friends and everybody, regardless of their musical tastes or if they know J. J. or not, has loved it just for its fantastic natural feeling. Disappointing Night After Night lacks the spark of earlier live releases from Jerry. This is a disappointing live set from the patriarch of the Texas musis scene. I would recommend both Live at Gruene Hall and Viva Luckenbach! over Night After Night. You can see a complete list of all Jerry Jeff Walker discography, or go back to the Jerry Jeff Walker tabs