Rodney Crowell "Diamonds and Dirt"

Today’s Cool Album of the Day is Rodney Crowell, “Diamonds & Dirt.”

Rodney Crowell is one of America’s great singer/songwriters. He’s written hits for Bob Seger (Shame on the Moon), George Strait/Jimmy Buffett (Stars on the Water), Waylon Jennings/EmmyLou Harris (Ain’t Livin’ Long Like This) and on and on.

He also saves some good ones for himself. “Diamonds & Dirt” is a fine example.Highlights include: ‘I Couldn’t Leave You If I Tried, She’s Crazy For Leavin’, After All This Time’ and a Duet with then wife Rosanne Cash ‘It’s Such a Small World’

Rodney was a member of the great 70s EmmyLou Harris ‘Hot Band.’ But he also had a hot band of his own. His guitarist during this time was a great picker named Steuart Smith. Steuart is now the lead tour guitarist in The Eagles. I believe he’s played with them for about five years now replacing Don Felder.

Others filling out the sound here include Eddie Bayers and Russ Kunkel on drums, Mark O’Connor on fiddle/mandolin and Vince Gill on backround vocals.

Rodney and Vince played together in a high school band called ‘The Notorious Cherry Bombs.’ They reformed a few years ago and released one disc. It included a GREAT single called ‘It’s Hard To Kiss the Lips at Night that Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long.’

Country radio didn’t have the stones to play it. Their loss.

Posted by Larry Carta