Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Steve Earle & The Dukes, New West Records 2021.
Steve Earle & The Dukes have largely eschewed electrified country rock and returned to an authentic acoustic sound on their latest album, J.T., which celebrates the life of Steve’s son Justin Townes Earle who passed away on 4 January 2021 of a drug overdose.
It’s extremely unusual for a musical father to pay tribute to a lost musical son, it’s usually the other way round, and although the album is sombre at times it’s also a celebration of Justin’s life and work.
There are eleven tracks on the album, ten of them covers of Justin Townes Earle songs, ranging from the opening track, I Don’t Care, which appeared on Justin’s first EP released in 2007 through to a selection from his debut full length album, The Good Life, and on to later compositions including The Saint Of Lost Causes, which was the title track of Justin’s eighth, and final, album.
The closing track, Last Words, was written by Steve for his son.
All the advances and royalties from the album will go into a trust for Etta James Earle, the three-year-old daughter of Justin and Jenn Earle.
Steve Earle’s treatment of his son’s songs is more traditional than Justin’s often rockabilly feel but it’s surprising how similar father and son sound, although Steve’s voice has that time worn weariness that comes with age and a hard life.
Listening to this album is like listening in on an intimate conversation and I feel privileged to have experienced it.
It’s also nice to listen to an American country music album that isn’t just a rock’n’roll album in disguise.
With the exception of the rockabilly Champagne Corolla it’s difficult to find an electric instrument on the disc.
Steve Earle’s backing band, The Dukes, have had many personnel changes over the years.
They’ve always been a tight outfit but they’re particularly tight on this record.
Amongst a great series of tracks I love Steve’s version of The Saint Of Lost Causes which is one of my favourite Justin Townes Earle songs.
Steve’s gravelly, worn, vocal is tinged with a menacing undercurrent that captures the mood of the original while adding a weariness as well.
The final track, The Last Words, is the starkest and most gut wrenching on the album.
It is Steve at his barest and most vulnerable as he sings about the last words he ever spoke with Justin. Steve almost whispers the song. They parted with the words I love you… I love you too.
