Stars in the Southern Sky

Stars in the Southern Sky is a three-disc Steve Young package from Omnivore that contains a restored version of Youngs iconic third album, 1975s Honky Tonk Man, recorded for the tiny Mountain Railroad Records. Also included are 34 previously unissued live performances. By 1975 Young was an industry iconoclast. The major labels hed recorded for (A&M, Reprise and RCA) hadnt a clue what to do with him: he helped pioneer country-rock and outlaw-country but considered himself part of neither scene. Honky Tonk Man appeared the same year, as Guy Clarks Old No. 1, Jerry Jeff Walkers Ridin High, Waylon Jennings Dreaming My Dreams (his signature tune was Youngs "Lonesome Onry and Mean"), and Willie Nelsons Red-Headed Stranger. Youngs LP was overlooked despite being the creative equal of those albums. He covers classic songs by Johnny Horton (the title cut), Hank Williams ("Ramblin Man"), Utah Phillips ("Rock Salt & Nails"), Bob Wills ("Brain Cloudy Blues"), Robbie Robertson ("The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down), and the traditional "Sally Goodin." His originals appear on side two, including the classic "White Trash Song," "Alabama Highway," and the tender "Vision of a Child" for son Jubal. Producer Stephen Powers (Mountain Railroads founder/owner) showcased his excellent guitar playing alongside fiddle, bass, pedal steel, harmonica, piano, and occasional backing vocals. Honky Tonk Man reveals Young to be the consummate artist of American roots music. Reissued several times over the last 50 years, it has never sounded so warm and immediate as it does here. The two discs of live material are revelatory. Cut on a two-track Revox, it showcases material from Honky Tonk Man and much more. There are over a dozen of Youngs songs, including inspired versions of "Seven Bridges Road," "Montgomery in the Rain," "Lonesome Onry and Mean," "Alabama Highway," "The White Trash Song," and "Weve Been Together on This Earth Before." Its the covers, however, that underscore Youngs place as a giant of American southern music. His solo guitar playing and wonderfully expressive singing voice seem to emerge from the mysterious annals and mists of Dixie history -- stellar flatpicking and rhythmic syncopation underscore his total commitment to each song. Highlight examples include deeply moving reads of Rodney Crowells "Home Sweet Home Revisited," Townes Van Zandts "No Place to Fall," Arthur Crudups "Thats All Right," J.D. Loudermilks "Tobacco Road," Mickey Newburys "Frisco Mabel Joy," Hank Williams "My Sweet Love Ain’t Around," and traditional "Corina, Corina," to name a few. The set closer is a radical interpetation of Gregg Allmans "Midnight Rider." Its frenetic tempo balances rock, blues, and hillbilly folk. Young uses the lyrics about the mythical protagonist as a personal manifesto. The set contains a booklet with liner essays from journalist and co-producer Ted Olson and producer Powers. There are reprinted comments from Youngs interviews and rare photos. While Stars in the Southern Sky is a fans bounty offering many unexpected treasures, the real revelation is saved for listeners encountering his music for the first time. ~ Thom Jurek