Charlie Robison Life Of The Party CD

Occasionally, talent runs in the family. Consider the Robison Brothers, Charlie and Bruce, who released simultaneous albums on Pete Anderson's Lucky Dog label. Both turn the Texas troubadour aesthetic into something distinctive, but each has his own musical voice. While Bruce's muse runs more toward the acoustic and introspective, Charlie is a full-out honky-tonker. Listening to LIFE OF THE PARTY, you can just picture him raising the roof in barrooms across America. His rough-edged voice recalls Joe Ely and John Prine, and his sharp, sometimes humorous lyrics also echo the latter's work. He has something of David Olney's storytelling gift too, as seen on epics like "Loving County" and "Indianola." He's at his most arresting when he's tearing the joint up, though, on such tunes as the Tex-Mex-flavored "Poor Man's Son" and the drinker's anthem "Barlight."

Recorded at Bismeaux Studios and Boar's Nest, Austin, Texas.

Personnel: Charlie Robison (acoustic guitar, drums, percussion, background vocals); Rich Brotherton (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin); David Grissom, Charlie Sexton (electric guitar); Lloyd Maines (steel guitar); Gene Elders (fiddle); Chip Dolan (accordion); Mark Rubin (tuba); Mark Patterson (drums); Kelly Willis, Bruce Robison (background vocals).

Audio Mixer: Billy Sherrill .

Recording information: Bismeaux Studios, Austin, TX; Boar's Nest, Austin, TX.

Editor: Allen Crider.

Personnel: Charlie Robison (vocals, acoustic guitar, drums, percussion); Rich Brotherton (mandolin, electric & acoustic guitars); David Grissom, Charlie Sexton (electric guitar); Robert Snell (steel guitar); Lloyd Maines (steel & papoose guitars); Gene Elders (fiddle); Mark Rubin (tuba); Kenneth Liechti (bagpipes); Chip Dolan (accordian); Riley Osbourn (B-3 organ, Farfisa, piano); John Ludwick (bass); Mark Patterson (drums); Bruce Robison, Kelly Willis (background vocals).