Justin Townes Earle
All In: Unreleased & Rarities (The New West Years)
New West Records
For the first time in five years, a new offering from New West Records allows fans of Justin Townes Earle to hold and hear “new” music in the aptly named ALL IN: Unreleased & Rarities (The New West Years). As a fan of Justin Townes Earle and countless similar artists who have had posthumous releases of their art, I am always a bit apprehensive about what to expect. There is a fine line between wanting to have everything available and also hoping that what ends up on the album is what the artist would have wanted.
In this case, any anxieties can be dissuaded. This collection of 19 tracks is exactly what is needed as we pass by four years on this planet without the physical presence of Justin Townes Earle. Undertaken with the utmost care and respect for the man and the music, producer Adam Bednarik, photographer Joshua Black Wilkins, and Vice President of A&R for New West Records, Kim Buie, have curated music and images that remind us of the true artist Justin Townes Earle was. It’s an intimate look at raw audio with just Justin and a guitar, two songs in both demo and album versions, and a few covers where you experience the songs as he heard them.
The Deluxe Vinyl version also includes a photo book of spectacular images by Joshua Black Wilkins, many never before seen, and quotes from all three previously mentioned contributors, as well as Justin’s wife, Jenn Marie Earle. The quote from her that most struck me was, “When he woke up, he’d put some water on his face, run a hand through his hair, and get dressed in jeans and a button-down, topped with the roughest wool shawl he could find, maybe a watch cap if it were cold. He looked always as if he were about to walk out the door to work.” That memory of who Justin was permeates the entire album, whether the songs were in rough draft form or in their completed versions.
The tracklist alone will speak volumes over anything I can say, but I will mention a few things that Adam Bednarik, Joshua Black Wilkins, and I discussed via phone as we wove through this material. Side A of the vinyl includes all unreleased demos from The Saint of Lost Causes, including “Cold Comfort,” “Already Gone,” “I Know You,” “Troubled Eyes,” “Lonely Mornings,” and a song I would give almost anything to have a completed studio version of: “All or Nothing.” Adam says that most of these were Justin playing into his cell phone during the planning stages of The Saint of Lost Causes, and although these songs didn’t make the final album, a strong case could have been made for any one of them.
Side B begins with the demo of “If I Was The Devil” from Kids In The Street, followed by a couple of performances from the Steve Earle show on SiriusXM, including “Champagne Corolla” and “So Different Blues.” When I asked Adam how they chose these two selections, he stated that, like him, most people may not have heard them, and because they showcase Justin absolutely in his element, these were performances that Adam thought fans would love to experience — and he was not wrong. These performances are followed by two unreleased bonus tracks from The Saint Of Lost Causes, with the Fleetwood Mac hit “Dreams” and the 1951 Jackie Brenston tune “Rocket 88,” as well as a demo of “The Saint Of Lost Causes,” which, as you listen, makes it easy to hear the genius behind the final studio version.
Side C consists of four tracks: two songs, “Appalachian Nightmare” and “Over Alameda,” beautifully curated with the demo appearing before the album version. In both cases, as with the entire project, they offer brief peeks behind the curtain. Justin’s mastery of not only writing the songs but also presenting the final versions as he imagined them adds an extra level of respect and fascination with his body of work.
Side D features three more covers: Bruce Springsteen’s “Glory Days” from Dead Man’s Town: A Tribute to Born In The U.S.A., a beautiful version of “Far From Me” from the album Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine, and a subdued and purposeful version of Paul Simon’s “Graceland,” which was a bonus track from Kids In The Street and was available in a limited release 7” and digital. Juxtaposed with Simon’s quicker pace, upbeat instrumentation, and melody, Justin seems to deeply feel his way through the performance of this song. “Losing love is like a window in your heart” has always been one of my favorite lyrics, and Justin’s timber and implied longing adds a little extra weight to already powerful lyrics.
I believe anyone looking to delve a bit deeper into the music and life of Justin Townes Earle will find this collection of songs to be a great companion piece to his studio albums. It offers you the opportunity to further appreciate the work he put into creating his music, making an impact through his lyrics, and highlighting why his art is held in such high regard. Alongside a plethora of artists who moved on long before their time, this music allows fans to again feel that excitement of new music from the heart and soul of Justin Townes Earle.
The album is available everywhere via streaming, download, and physical copies, with New West Records offering a Deluxe version with the photo book, a standard double vinyl, and CD.
