Love and Danger
Studio album by
Joe Ely
Released1992
LabelMCA
ProducerTony Brown, Joe Ely
Joe Ely chronology
Live at Liberty Lunch
(1990)		 Love and Danger
(1992)		 Chippy
(1994)

Love and Danger is an album by the American musician Joe Ely, released in 1992.[1][2] It marked Ely's return to MCA Records.[3] He supported the album with a North American tour.[4]

Production

Recorded in Nashville, the album was produced by Tony Brown and Ely.[5][6] Ely and Brown wanted to place emphasis on the songs and Ely's voice, rather than a band sound.[7] Ely had written between 40 and 50 songs over nine months, some inspired by his Texas road travels.[8] David Grissom played guitar on the album.[9] "Every Night About This Time" is a cover of the Dave Alvin song.[10] "The Road Goes On Forever" and "Whenever Kindness Fails" were written by Robert Earl Keen.[11][12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Calgary HeraldB[10]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[14]
The Indianapolis Star[15]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[6]
Orlando Sentinel[16]
Spin Alternative Record Guide4/10[17]

The Chicago Tribune wrote that the album, "bursting with a crazed and dangerous sexual energy, rocks as hard as anything Ely has ever recorded, yet that rootsy Texas twang is never far away, nor is his startling poetic flair."[18] The Guardian noted that "Whenever Kindness Fails" "meshes perfectly with Ely's gruff but ironic delivery."[19] The Los Angeles Times determined that "Ely is taking the outsider/loner's view of love and life, spinning witty, frequently brilliant metaphors ... and setting them to melodies that seem at once familiar and fresh."[20]

The Calgary Herald opined that Ely's "delivery is too intense, like he's trying to be heard over a roadhouse crowd."[10] Stereo Review concluded that "it's got the dynamic locomotion of rock, the righteous sassiness of the blues, the narrative twang of country, and the hook-filled, melodic sheen of pop."[21] The Indianapolis Star wrote that "Ely's America entails bawdy romances, squelched ambitions and lonesome highways."[15] The Orlando Sentinel stated that "the ultra-crisp, hard-rock drum sound here is downright annoying on otherwise worthy songs."[16]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Sleepless in Love"4:04
2."Pins and Needles"4:16
3."Love Is the Beating of Hearts"4:22
4."Slow You Down"4:27
5."The Road Goes On Forever"4:33
6."Settle for Love"4:25
7."Highways and Heartaches"4:14
8."Whenever Kindness Fails"4:05
9."She Collected"3:42
10."Every Night About This Time"4:11

References

  1. ↑ McLeese, Don (5 May 1992). "Joe Ely and his bands live up to the present and past". Austin American-Statesman. p. D6.
  2. ↑ Corcoran, Michael (11 June 1992). "The Lubbock Flash Sparks fly when Joe Ely, his band hit the stage". The Baltimore Sun. p. 1G.
  3. ↑ McLeese, Don (Jan 7, 1993). "Country & Western". Rolling Stone (647): 54.
  4. ↑ Howell, Peter (31 Oct 1992). "Joe Ely Love and Danger". Toronto Star. p. G10.
  5. ↑ Catlin, Roger (15 Oct 1992). "Tunesmiths from Texas take to road". Calendar. Hartford Courant. p. 4.
  6. 1 2 MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 385.
  7. ↑ Clark, Rick (Nov 28, 1992). "Lone Star Joe Ely Finds Himself in Good Company". Billboard. 104 (48): 14.
  8. ↑ Joyce, Mike (21 Oct 1992). "Joe Ely, in London & Lubbock". The Washington Post. p. B7.
  9. ↑ Patoski, Joe Nick (Sep 1992). "Roadhouse Warrior". Texas Monthly. 20 (9): 50.
  10. 1 2 3 Tremblay, Mark (18 Oct 1992). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. C3.
  11. ↑ Pick, Steve (23 Oct 1992). "Joe Ely Is Rockin' in His 'Third Phase'". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 8G.
  12. ↑ Harrison, Tom (26 Nov 1992). "Love and Danger 'most impressive album'". The Province. p. C6.
  13. ↑ "Love and Danger Review by Brian Mansfield". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  14. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 277.
  15. 1 2 Hawn, John (9 Nov 1992). "Joe Ely offers a new view of country". The Indianapolis Star. p. C5.
  16. 1 2 Gettelman, Parry (25 Dec 1992). "Joe Ely". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 9.
  17. ↑ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. p. 148.
  18. ↑ Heim, Chris (2 Oct 1992). "Guitarist Joe Ely flirts with 'Love and Danger'". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. S.
  19. ↑ Sweeting, Adam (8 Oct 1992). "Rock/Pop". Features. The Guardian.
  20. ↑ Lewis, Randy (8 Oct 1992). "Joe Ely, 'Love and Danger'". OC Live. Los Angeles Times. p. 9.
  21. ↑ Puterbaugh, Parke (Nov 1992). "Joe Ely's American Music, Pure and Simple". Stereo Review. 57 (11): 117.
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