first album
this was the first cd from steve earle and it was good for the time when it came out. it has a lot of good songs all of which were singles off the album and some that were not singles. if you like rockin country with a twist of mellow this is the album for you.

ROCKABILLY MUSIC
This is Steve Earle's first alblum and his best. if you like rock, blues you need this cd.
it's great.

At one time, he traded his favorite guitar for drugs
Steve Earl is a force in American Music that is not just Folk, Rock, Country, or Pop.
Hard to get to get air play. Like Mary Gauthier, Lucinda Williams, and Anne McCue; a radio programmer's nightmare. This is good though because these artists stand pat and do not bend with the dollar.

2ND TRY....
Buy it, you will not regret it and have a brand new hero. So to speak. Anyway, I was at a NYE Party in 1988 and a radio station gave this to host who gave it to me. Could not have been more lucky. Now I have most all SE had out. I was only 23 yrs old at time, newly married and in military (NOTHING CHANGED) and we both still buy anything SE has out. He has been thru alot, also. Listen to this mans voice and what he is putting out to there....just on the initial albumn and you will be hooked. my husband bought me new SE albumns (CD's) for my birthdays. Right on. Check out "THE REVOLUTION STARTS NOW" also. Also read up on Steve Earle, anyone who can appreciate music, folk, alt country, bluegrass, etc need to check this "original" out and see for yourself.
I bought my husband SE, RSN, for Christmas year before last and he was very thankful. Can't say enough to justice to SE. Listen for yourself and be happy.

If "Hillbilly" is a positive for you instead of a dismissive term, you should like it.
One of the best written albums of the 1980's. Song after song can grip you, if you know small towns. Earle seemed to be trying too hard in his early years and then went Hollywood after this album hit. This one defines him, not "Copperhead Road." He just wrote very well and accurately on this one. Good strong riffs, well produced, and soulful. All the elements I need for a 5 star rating. This album is comparable to Lucinda Williams's "Car Wheels..." in that it has a unifying theme, is dead-on to the theme, and has great performances. If "Hillbilly" is a positive for you instead of a dismissive term, you should like it. "Nothin ever happens around my home town and I aint the kind to just hang around..."