Gary Stewart - I'm a Texan & Battleground (2013)

Troubled singer-songwriter, Nashville recording country act Gary Stewart (1945-2003) had what it takes to pour out ones’ heart and soul. Share his pained emotions with the listener, and knew it was real and not some lyrics a couple of songwriters have worked up between nine and five. Despite the fact his music did not reap the acclaimed it deserved during his time on Hightone the unique and on looking back, timeless qualities continued till the end. One piece pretty much summed up part of his make up when it described him as a ‘Dark Angel’, of which few can deny. During the 1980s he slipped down the ladder till Stewart contacted his old producer Roy Dea and his recording career was reignited on Hightone with the resulting album Brand New). Putting some (I say some since not only did his son commit suicide but his wife left him too) of his hardship behind him, Stewart got to record a tidy set of records on Hightone. A label well suited for an act steeped in creative flair and a vibrato voice to die for and songs /music that married southern rock, Jerry Lee Lewis, Billy Joe Shaver with his raw boned, honky tonk beer-stained sawdust floor music.

On looking through the songs, credits and musicians on Battleground I did not imagine just how much the music was going to blow me away. For straight as an arrow it struck a bulls eye; as the slide of Warren Hayes and Dino Zimmerman plus the country lead of Dale Sellers, Reggie Young coupled with bass from Larry Paxton and Harold Bradley plus drums of Jerry Kroon help Stewart make one of his best ever albums! With the title-cut “Battleground”, “Ol Hank’s Lovesick Blues” and a cranked-up, ably entitled “Let’s Go Junkin” fine samples of what his music is all about.

The other record in the collection I’m A Texan is loaded in interesting material; ranging from Bill Emerson, Jody Emerson’s story-ballad “I’m A Texan” (the songwriting team is responsible for three songs on the record; a honky tonk piano plied “Draggin’ Leather” being one), Mickey Newbury’s “Hand Me Another” and his own, lazy r&b slanted “It’s True” to go with a rattling “Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor”. Plus he does a brave version of Dan Penn and Chips Momon’s “Dark End Of The Street”. Steeped in guitars, keyboard (Fred Bogert), percussion and harmony vocal of Tracy Nelson Stewart does the 1970s all-time classic proud. Others on the record of note include Sonny Tackell’s “Make It A Double” and a great version of “One Night” (a song he could have easily overly performed, and made too dramatic but such is his ring craft he does a perfect job!). And, yes, he includes a song from Alan O’Bryant (Nashville Bluegrass Band) “Those Memories” on retracing his Kentucky roots it begs the question, what would Stewart have sounded like if had made a bluegrass-country album? Because this song is a killer. No kidding.

Check him out. But without a word of warning for his music can become addictive (Nashville is certainly a lesser place without Stewart and people like him). Oh, despite liner note master Alan Robinson's observation this set is near as good as the other in the series Out Of Hand / Brand New which he heaps and rightly so with praise.