This came out in 2004 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
The best bands are always much more than just the sum of their individual parts. Case in point: Texas troubadours The Flatlanders.
Zen cowboy crooner Jimmie Dale Gilmore, gruff roots-rocker Joe Ely and twangy poet laureate Butch Hancock have all made great albums individually. But when you put them together on a stage or in a studio, the magic that results is so palpable it’s practically a fourth member of the band. You can hear it on their debut album, the wryly titled More A Legend Than A Band, which was recorded in 1972 but not widely issued until 1990. You can hear it on their 2002 reunion disc Now Again, a magnificent set of classy, classic-sounding collaborations. And you can still hear the magic on their latest effort Wheels Of Fortune.
It’s there in the way their individual voices blend into rich three-part harmonies. It’s there in the way they selflessly write songs for each other and share the spotlight. It’s there in the relaxed pacing and laid-back production. And it’s definitely there in standout cuts like the soul-flavoured Baby Do You Love Me Still?, the country-folk Eggs Of Your Chickens, the Tex-Mex Wishin’ For You — all by Hancock — along with Ely’s rockabilly I’m Gonna Strangle You Shorty and roots-rockin’ Back To My Old Molehill.
Sure, I could point out that nearly all these tunes are solo compositions, which seems like a step backward from Now Again’s co-written tracks. Or I could complain that Gilmore — whose contributions have all been previously recorded — seems to be coasting a bit (if you’re feeling diplomatic — and not pulling his weight if you’re not). But let’s not quibble. The bottom line is that if you love roots music, you won’t find a surer bet this week than Wheels Of Fortune.
