Joshua Judges Ruth [Wal Mart Exclusive]

by Lyle Lovett

Overview

While Lyle Lovett and His Large Band wasn't a massive chart hit, it was successful enough to establish an audience for Lovett outside the boundaries of the country market, and 1992's Joshua Judges Ruth found Lovett seemingly free to follow his muse wherever it cared to go. Joshua Judges Ruth only bore the faintest glimmers of Lovett's country leanings (notable exception: "She's Leaving Me Because She Really Wants To"), and more surprisingly it suggested he was also moving away from the broad-shouldered jazz and blues accidents that dominated much of Pontiac and Large Band. Compared to his previous work, Joshua Judges Ruth sounds startlingly spare -- producer and engineer George Massenburg brings a clear and keenly detailed sound to these sessions that allows all the details of the low-key arrangements to be heard, and "She's Already Made Up Her Mind," "Baltimore," and "Family Reserve" seem to have been recorded with this in mind. The songs also reflect a shift toward more serious and introspective themes for Lovett; outside of the gospel-influenced "Church" and the easygoing "She Makes Me Feel Good," his trademark humor is conspicuous in its absence, and loss, loneliness, and heartbreak dominate the lyrics. While the craft of Joshua Judges Ruth ranks with the finest work of Lovett's career, its spare and sober surfaces aren't especially engaging, and it's the sort of album fans are more likely to admire than embrace with pleasure. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	01/28/2014
Label:	Curb
UPC:	0715187900127

Tracks

1. I've Been to Memphis
2. Church
3. She's Already Made Up Her Mind
4. North Dakota
5. You've Been So Good Up to Now
6. All My Love Is Gone
7. Since the Last Time
8. Baltimore
9. Family Reserve
10. She's Leaving Me Because She Really Wants To
11. Flyswatter/Ice Water Blues (Monty Trenckmann's Blues)
12. She Makes Me Feel So Good

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Lyle Lovett   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Rhythm),Guitar (Acoustic)
Plas Johnson   Guest Artist,Sax (Tenor)
Emmylou Harris   Guest Artist,Vocals,Vocal Harmony,Vocals (Background)
Leo Kottke   Guest Artist,Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic)
Rickie Lee Jones   Guest Artist,Vocal Harmony,Vocals (Background)
Matt Rollings   Organ,Piano,Organ (Hammond)
Dan Higgins   Sax (Alto)
Arnold McCuller   Soloist,Tenor (Vocal),Vocal Harmony
Willis Alan Ramsey   Vocal Harmony,Vocals (Background)
Larry Williams   Sax (Tenor)
Kathy Hazzard   Soprano,Vocal Harmony,Soprano (Vocal),Vocals (Background)
Billy Williams   Guitar,Trombone,Guitar (Electric)
Gregory Smith   Sax (Bass)
Edgar Meyer   Bass,Bass (Acoustic)
Kevin Dorsey   Bass,Vocals,Bass (Vocal),Vocal Harmony,Vocals (Background)
John Hagen   Cello
Ray Herndon   Guitar (Rhythm),Guitar (Electric)
Arnold McCutler   Vocals
Sir Harry Bowens   Tenor (Vocal),Vocal Harmony,Vocals (Background)
Sweet Pea Atkinson   Baritone,Vocal Harmony,Baritone (Vocal),Vocals (Background)
Jay Dee Maness   Guitar,Guitar (Steel)
Francine Reed   Vocals,Handclapping,Alto (Vocals),Vocal Harmony
Russ Kunkel   Drums
Greg Smith   Sax (Baritone)
Dean Parks   Slide Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Leland Sklar   Bass
Johnny Lee Schell   Guitar (Electric)

Technical Credits

Willis Alan Ramsey   Composer
Jonas Livingston   Art Direction
Noel Hazel   Engineer
Peter Nash   Photography
Billy Williams   Arranger,Producer,Saxophone Arrangement
Steve Holroyd   Engineer
George Massenburg   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Ivy Skoff   Production Coordination
Alan Yoshida   Mastering
Tim Stedman   Design,Art Direction
Marnie Riley   Engineer
Michael Wilson   Photography
Gil Morales   Engineer
Ron Lewter   Mastering
Lyle Lovett   Composer,Producer
Doug Sax   Mastering
Nathaniel Kunkel   Engineer