Three classic albums from Robert Earl Keen were reissued by Koch Records on August 24, 2004. Two of the three albums ‘ No Kinda Dancer and A Bigger Piece of the Sky ‘ will be made available in Super Audio (SADC) format. A third CD, No. 2 Live Dinner, is the biggest selling album of Keen’s career yet had been out of print for a year.
No Kinda Dancer is Keen’s debut album, the one that first brought the wit and wisdom of Robert Earl Keen to the world’s attention. The album features stark arrangements and dark lyrics in a basically acoustic performance. It shows a young singer/songwriter who is on his way to writing some classic songs, including ‘The Front Porch Song,’ co-written by Lyle Lovett. The album also features appearances by Lyle Lovett, Joe Ely and Nanci Griffith. The new Koch SACD reissue of No Kinda Dancer features 14 tracks including three songs not on the original American release and on song (‘The Vacuum Cleaner Has No name’) never before released in any form.
A Bigger Piece of Sky was originally released in 1993 and is considered by many to be one of his best. Recorded in Nashville, the album features contributions from Marty Stuart among other notables. Keen’s songs begin to explore the themes and paint the images that he would become known for. This SACD-remastered album is re-sequenced the way that Keen had originally envisioned for the recording.
The live album No. 2 Live Dinner was released in 1996 on Sugarhill Records and has become the best selling album of Keen’s career. Recorded at the Flores County Store and the Cactus Caf’ Ballroom in 1995. It captures REK and his band at their best, playing before an enthusiastic crowd. The album, which features 17 live tracks, features a guest appearance by Lloyd Maines on pedal steel guitar.
The three reissues follow Keen’s artistically and commercially triumphant 2003 album, Farm Fresh Onions. Performing Songwriter magazine proclaimed it ‘a compelling collection of songs stamped with Keen’s trademark mix of lyricism, breezy humor and intelligence.’ Billboard added: ”Keen has delivered one of the best records of his career.’
According to Keen, ‘These are three of my favorite records. We worked very hard to bring more to the party. Hope you enjoy the music. Thanks to the fans that keep this going.’
About the SADC format:
In addition to exceptional sound quality through the DSD system, the SACD format can accommodate more than four times the information of the current CD format. With this extra capacity, a standard Super Audio CD provides space for two-channel stereo data, as well as an area for up to six-track multi-channel data, storage capacity for text and images, disc variations, copyright protection and much more. The hybrid SACD format featured on No Kinda Dancer and A Bigger Piece Of Sky plays on all CD players.
Robert Earl Keen : No Kinda Dancer Track Listing
1 No Kinda Dancer
2 The Front Porch Song
3 Between Hello & Goodbye
4 Swervin’ In My Lane
5 Christabel
6 Willie
7 Young Lovers Waltz
Robert Earl Keen : A Bigger Piece of Sky Track Listing
1 Amarillo Highway
2 Corpus Christi Bay
3 Whenever Kindness Fails
4 Blow You Away
5 Jesse With The Long Hair
6 Night Right For Love
7 Paint The Town Beige
8 Daddy Had A Buick
9 Crazy Cowboy Dream
10 Here In Arkansas
11 So I Can Take My Rest
12 Blow You Away – reprise
Robert Earl Keen : No 2 Live Dinner Track Listing
1 Intro
2 I’m Going To Town
3 Gringo Honeymoon
4 Merry Christmas From The Family
5 Five Pond Bass
6 Band Intro
7 Rollin’ By
8 Sonora’s Death Row
9 When The Bluebonnets Bloom
10 Think It Over One Time
11 Amarillo Highway
12 The Road Intro
13 The Road Goes On Forever
14 Dreadful Selfish Crime
15 Mariano Intro
16 Mariano
17 I’m Comin Home
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