Oklahoma, Texas artists pay tribute to Robert Earl Keen on “Undone”
Robert Earl Keen
A Who’s Who of young Texas/Red Dirt/Americana artists and musicians gathered last winter at the annual MusicFest in Steamboat Springs, Colo., to honor influential songwriter/singer/musician Robert Earl Keen.
The result of that tribute concert is a live two-CD set titled “Undone: A MusicFest Tribute to Robert Earl Keen,” which drops today. The CD, complete with a 20-page booklet with exclusive photos and artist commentary, is being released by Right Ave/Dickson Productions and distributed by Thirty Tigers in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of Keen’s enduring classic party song, “The Road Goes On Forever,” according to a news release.
Over the last two decades, Keen has earned the deep and abiding respect of his fellow musicians. A songwriter’s songwriter, he has proven that he can move effortlessly from a poignant love ballad to a roof-raising sing-along.
“Undone” features several artists with Oklahoma ties, including Cody Canada, Jason Boland and Brandon Jenkins. It also includes several Texans, including Reckless Kelly, Cory Morrow and Bonnie Bishop.
As part of Dickson Productions’ annual “Tribute to a Legend” at the 2008 MusicFest, the Center for Texas Music History at Texas State University helped bring together some of today’s best young Texas, Red Dirt and Americana artists to celebrate Keen’s legacy and influence on their musical careers, according to the release. With a great deal of respect and a healthy dose of humor and energy, the musicians all added their own interpretations of Keen’s material to the mix, from Reckless Kelly’s rocking take on “Think It Over One Time” to Bonnie Bishop’s sweet and soulful “Not a Drop of Rain.”
Robert Earl Keen and his band also took the stage to perform a high-octane set of some of his most popular tunes - “Dreadful Selfish Crime,” “Wild Wind,” “For Love” and ”The Road Goes On Forever” - for the album. He also performed his new song “Goodnight Cleveland,” and “Undone” is its first recording, according to the release.
As part of Dickson Productions’ efforts to honor and support the great traditions of Texas music, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of “Undone” will benefit the Center for Texas Music History. As the only comprehensive, university-based program devoted to the preservation and study of the musical heritage of the Lone Star State, the center is a nonprofit educational organization that offers college courses on Texas music, sponsors research and publishing projects, and organizes exhibits, performances, and other programs to help students, scholars, and the general public better understand how Texas music reflects the rich history and cultural diversity of the Southwest.
The 2009 Musicfest started Monday in Steamboat Springs and runs through Jan. 10. It features many of the performers on “Undone,” including Keen, Jason Boland & the Stragglers, Reckless Kelly and Cross Canadian Ragweed, along with other Red Dirt favorites such as Stoney LaRue, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Jack Ingram.
Here is the track listing for “Undone”:
Disc 1
1. Think It Over One Time, Reckless Kelly
2. No Kinda Dancer, Max Stalling; Dale Clark
3. Lynville Train, Reckless Kelly
4. Wish You Were Here, Brandon Jenkins
5. Paint the Town Beige, Walt Wilkins
6. I’ll Be Here For You, Randy Rogers
7. I Would Change My Life, Roger Creager
8. I’m Coming Home, Kathleen Braun; Cody Braun
9. Christabel, Matt Skinner
10. Carolina, Brandon Rhyder; James Hurtless
11. Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight, Josh Grider
12. I’ll Go On Downtown, Cory Morrow (vocals, guitar); Tanya Cargill (harmony vocals) 13. Travelin Light, Reckless Kelly
14. Front Porch Song, Dub Miller (vocals, guitar); Doug Moreland (fiddle); Matt Skinner (harmony vocals and guitar)
15. Daddy Had A Buick, Doug Moreland (vocals, fiddle); Matt Skinner (guitar, backing vocals)
Disc 2
Song Title, Artist
1. Mariano, Jason Boland
2. Shades of Gray, Cody Canada; Jason Boland
3. Undone, Chris Knight; Cody Canada
4. Not A Drop of Rain, Bonnie Bishop
5. Willie, Muzzie Braun; Micky Braun; Gary Braun
6. Corpus Christie Bay, Darren Kozelsky; Chris Claridy
7. Loves a Word I Never Throw Around, Rich O’Toole
8. Wild Wind, Robert Earl Keen
9. Dreadful Selfish Crime, Robert Earl Keen
10. Goodbye Cleveland, Robert Earl Keen
11. For Love, Robert Earl Keen
12. Road Goes On Forever, Robert Earl Keen (Cody Canada on guitar w/REK)
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