Flatlanders More A Legend Than A Band CD

Digitally remastered by Dr. Toby Mountain at Northeastern Digital Recording, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.

Recorded in 1972, this album wasn't properly released until 1990 (it appeared briefly only on 8-track tape). As if the solidly honest folk and country grounding of this music weren't enough, the band also included Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely and Butch Hancock. By the late eighties all of their reputations were such that there was a clearly delineated demand for this music to be made available (the title alludes to the Flatlander's brief existence and long shadow).

Gilmore's "Dallas" and "Tonight I'm Gonna Go Downtown" made their first appearance here, as did Hancock's "You've Never Seen Me Cry." The guitars of the aforementioned participants are joined variously by fiddle, string bass, mandolin and musical saw. This Lubbock, Texas band journeyed to Nashville to record the album, hoping for a more significant response from the music business than the one they eventually received. The easy camaraderie of this music was as far removed from the Nashville country music scene of the early '70s as could be. However, it is those very attributes that have made this a lasting work.

liner notes by Colin Escott.

Recorded at Singleton Studio, Nashville, Tennessee in March 1972. Includes

Reissue producer: Colin Escott.

Personnel: Jimmie Dale Gilmore (vocals, guitar); Joe Ely (guitar, dobro, harmonica); Butch Hancock (guitar); Tony Pearson (mandolin); Steve Wesson (musical saw).

Recording information: Singleton Studio, Nashville, TN.

The Flatlanders: Jimmie Dale Gilmore (vocals, guitar); Joe Ely (vocals, harmonica, dobro, guitar); ; Butch Hancock (guitar, background vocals); Tony Pearson (mandolin); Tommy Hancock (fiddle); Syl Rice (acoustic bass); Steve Wesson (musical saw).

Producer: Royce Clark.

Rolling Stone - 3.5 Stars - Very Good - "...notable both for its compelling version of the `high and lonesome' country style and for the band's creative core..."