How do you squeeze a little more profit out of an old album? You release an “Expanded Edition” adding a couple of songs that weren’t good enough to make the original album or failing that, stick a couple of demos on there. You may not attract any new punters but the die hard fans will buy the album again for those little extra titbits.
Whoever was behind the reissue of Dwight Yoakam’s debut album, Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. is clearly new to the whole “Expanded Edition” thing. Instead of fleecing a little extra cash from the punters this set actually offers real value for money. The original album consisted of just ten songs, this release increases that to more than three times that number.
So what do you get for your hard earned cash? Well the first disc kicks of with ten demos from 1981. Half of the songs made it to the released album and another four would appear on subsequent releases but the versions here are more raw and rough around the edges. This is Dwight finding his sound with the aid of some master session musicians and he’s clearly having a ball. Many of the songs sound better here than in their finished versions, although the raucous atmosphere of the sessions doesn’t suit “I Sang Dixie”.
The only demo never to have made it to an album (at least so far) is “Please Daddy” a typical country tearjerker about a man whose wife’s left him and his daughters attempt to console him. It feels a little out of place among the usual Dwight fare – drinking, breaking hearts, and death.
Tracks 11 to 20 form the original album, sounding better than ever. The album hasn’t really dated much, with Dwight’s sound a timeless blend of Bakersfield honky-tonk and rock ‘n’ roll. The demo version of “Bury Me” is improved upon with the inclusion of Pete Anderson’s guitar and Maria McKee dueting with Yoakam. Listening to that track reminded me how much I miss Lone Justice.
Article comments
1 - Connie Phillips
Congrats! This article has been forwarded to the Advance.net websites and Boston.com.
2 - Rick
Excellent review, Ian! That "old hillbilly stuff" sounds better than ever, especially in light of the dreck that is passing for "new country" these days!