Honky Tonk Heroes

Honky Tonk Heroes

What started out as a chance for Billy Joe Shaver to revisit some of his classic songs ended up as a real Outlaw hootenanny. Recorded over a period of years at Nelson's Pedernales Studio, this <I>Honky Tonk Heroes</I> (now the third record of Shaver songs with that same title) doesn't include the definitive versions of these 10 compositions--those can be found on Waylon's 1973 landmark <I>Honky Tonk Heroes</I> or on the Shaver compilation <I>Honky Tonk Heroes</I> or on singles by any number of country stars who rode Shaver's songs to the charts. Still, these readings have their own unique charms, mostly in the camaraderie and the exuberance of the iconoclastic quartet, not to mention some gritty guitar from Shaver's son (and album coproducer) Eddy. And it's always a treat to hear Willie sing and his guitar Trigger solo over such bedrock American music. If banding with higher-profile friends sheds light on the unjustly unheralded Billy Joe Shaver and his straightforward songwriting genius, then it is a worthy project indeed. <I>--Marc Greilsamer</I>