Robert Earl Keen - The Live Album, Sugar Hill Records SH 1024

This album's version of "The Front Porch Song," which he co-wrote with Lyle Lovett is quite different in the sense that Keen provides a spoken commentary that reveals that he and Lovett used to hang out on a front porch while attending college. It's one of several stories that expand on the album's songs and help to describe, if not explain, Keen himself and the characters he inhabits or depicts. They are a bunch of ne'er do wells interested in staying up late, drinking, taking drugs, driving fast, and listening to music, all in one place in Texas or another. Occasionally, their habits prove off-putting to the opposite sex; "Copenhagen," an outright comic song, is about the brand of chewing tobacco, not the city in Denmark, and how its use can stave off marriage-minded females. Sometimes, despite themselves, Keen's wayward men find themselves in relationships that they regret losing ("I Would Change My Life") or feel compelled to sabotage ("I'll Go on Downtown"). Since they are either lamenting the results of their lifestyles or suffering the temptation to resume their bad behavior, they usually aren't very happy, but they tend to be too drunk to notice. This may be the life of the modern Texas cowboy, or just a fantasy projection, but Keen renders it with humor and pathos, often at the same time.

Grading scale: NM > EX > VG+ > VG > Good > Poor)

Vinyl: NM. Looks like it just came from a retail store and it was opened for the first time. The finish is shiny, with no visible defects. Labels are superb, clean and bright without marks. Spindle shows no sign of wear. And no warps.

Cover: NM. SPINE: Clear, readable text | SEAMS: Top & Bottom intact without splits | CREASES: None or minor only | RING WEAR : None | DEFACING: None | (Actual images so you can check the condition)

Will combine for shipping if you buy mixed singles and albums. If you buy multiple items wait for invoice with correct shipping cost.

Records are packed well with extra protection and LPs taken out of sleeves. Double-LP usually works as 1LP but no extra protection.

Tracks:

A1 I Wanna Know 2:46A2 The Front Porch Song 6:29A3 Goin' Down In Style 3:39A4 If I Were King 2:51A5 Copenhagen 2:08B1 I Would Change My Life 2:43B2 Stewball 2:38B3 I'll Go On Downtown 3:52B4 The Bluegrass Widow 6:10B5 Who'll Be Looking Out For Me 2:12