Night Life

Last night on the mighty Twitter feed, Heath Lowrance and I had a brief exchange about some classic country artists we both have an appreciation for.  After that talk, I had to put on Night Life.

I couldn't tell you the first time I heard Ray Price's 1963 album Night Life, but I do know it was in my grandpa's basement in Elgin, IL.

Somewhere along the way, this record became one of my all-time favorites.  It's a perfect album from front to back.  Everything works here, from the song selection (the title track is a Willie song, which he recorded in 1961, but it never sounded as good as Ray's take, if you ask me), Price's singing and presence.  Bring in the amazing sounds of Buddy Emmon's steel guitar, Joe Zinkan's bass lines, the guitars of Art Bishop and Grady Martin, the rhythms of drummer Buddy Harmon, and piano from man with the coolest name of all time, Mr. Pig Robbins, and it's stellar. 

It's a record you can just sit still and listen to. 

Again and again.