Gene Watson’s Peers within the country music industry believe in the sheer talent of this unassuming man from east Texas, so much so that Gene is regarded by many of them as ‘the singer’s singer’ – and rightly so!
All of Gene Watson’s Peers who were contacted during 2007 were most gracious with their time and words. It is here, within this special part of The Gene Watson Fan Site, that you have an opportunity to read a quote from Tom Russell, which he submitted to this site on Tuesday 4 September 2007.
Sean Brady would like to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to Tom Russell who has made a special contribution to a unique part of this online ‘celebration of a Lone Star Hero’.
Tom Russell
This quote was submitted on Tuesday 4 September 2007.
‘I consider Gene Watson to be sort of the Pavarotti of honky tonk singers.
He is in the same league as George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013).
‘Between This Time & The Next Time‘ (MCA Records, 1982) is one of my favourite albums’
Thank you, Tom Russell, for your support of Gene Watson.
About Tom Russell…
Tom Russell is a native of Los Angeles where he was born Thomas G. Russell in 1950, but now he makes his home on the border of El Paso-Juarez.
Tom Russell graduated from the University of California with a Master’s Degree in Criminology and he taught school in Nigeria during the Bi-Afran War, after which he relocated to Vancouver in Canada.
Tom Russell has also lived in Spain and Norway and played music at a circus in Puerto Rico.
Tom Russell began his music career in the bars of Vancouver’s skid row in the early 1970s.
Tom Russell later relocated to Texas where he formed a band with singer-pianist, Patricia Hardin. Tom Russell and Patricia Hardin recorded two album projects together, ‘Ring of Bone’ (Demo Records, 1976) and ‘Wax Museum’ (Demo Records, 1978), but split in 1979.
Patricia Hardin & Tom Russell’s albums, ‘Ring of Bone’ (Demo Records, 1976) and ‘Wax Museum’ (Demo Records, 1978), were released, in September 1994, by Dark Angel Records, as a special ‘2-for-1’ CD set, ‘The Early Years: 1975 – 1979’, and included the following tracks:
‘Mojave’
‘Alkali’
‘Zane Grey’
‘Beneath Canyon Walls’
‘The 27th Parable’
‘Mrs. Zeelsdorf’s Garden’
‘Old Lady Blues’
‘Coffins On The Brazos’
‘Denver Wind’
‘Ring of Bone’
‘House of Wax’
‘Stampede’
‘Tarantula’
‘Wildhorse Annie’
‘Wind On The Buffalo Grass’
‘The End of The Trail’
‘Who Is Franz Rummel?’
‘Joshua Tree’
‘The Phantom of Balance’
‘The Hindenburg’
In the 1980s, Tom Russell recorded four albums, which were credited to The Tom Russell Band, and featured guitarist Andrew Hardin and accordion maestro, Fats Kaplin; these albums blended elements of folk, country and rock music.
In 1984, Tom Russell saw the release of ‘Heart On A Sleeve’ (Edsel Records, 1984), which included the following tracks:
‘One & One’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Heart On A Sleeve’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Blinded By The Light of Love’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘A Touch of Grey’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Wild Hearts’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘St. Olav’s Gate’ (written by Tom Russell) / this track was also recorded by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021), who included it on ‘Last of The True Believers’ (Philo Records, 1986)
‘Gallo del Cielo’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Mandarin Oranges’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Cropduster’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Canadian Whisky’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Chinese Silver’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘A Bowl of Red’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘The Dance’ (written by Carl Brouse and Tom Russell)
It was in the mid-1970s when Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) and Tom Russell became friends during The Kerrville Festivals in Texas. It was the first time that Tom Russell had an opportunity to hear Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) perform, but it took them ten years to collaborate as writers.
In 1986, Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) recorded Tom Russell’s ‘St. Olav’s Gate’ and included the track on ‘Last of The True Believers’ (Philo Records, 1986); Tom Russell recorded the original version of ‘St. Olav’s Gate’ and included it on ‘Beyond St. Olav’s Gate’ (Round Tower Records, 1994).
It was also in 1986, at The Kerrville Folk Festival, that a panel of judges for the ‘New Folk Songwriters Contest’ consisted of Tom Russell, Pat Alger and Katy Moffatt. Following their meeting at the festival, Katy Moffatt and Tom Russell began writing together.
Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) recorded Tom Russell’s ‘Outbound Plane’ (co-written with Nanci Caroline Griffith) and included the track on ‘Little Love Affairs’ (MCA Records, 1988); the track garnered Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) some modest country music chart success.
In 1988, The Tom Russell Band saw the release of ‘Road To Bayamon’ (Philo Records, 1988); the album, which featured the pedal steel guitar, fiddle and accordion of Fats Kaplin, included the following tracks:
‘Home Before Dark’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘U.S. Steel’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Downtown Train’ (written by Tom Waits)
‘Love Makes A Fool of The Wise’ (written by Carl Brouse and Tom Russell)
‘The Definition of A Fool’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘As The Crow Flies’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘The Road To Bayamon’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Alkali’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Wise Blood’ (written by Carl Brouse and Tom Russell)
‘Joshua Tree’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Mezcal’ (written by Tom Russell and Sean Tillmann)
‘William Faulkner In Hollywood’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Fire’ (written by Bruce Springsteen)
In 1989, with Andrew Hardin in charge of production, Katy Moffatt recorded the largely acoustic ‘Walking On The Moon’ (Red Moon Records, 1989) for the Swiss-based Red Moon Records; the album was subsequently released in the United States by Philo Records / Rounder Records, also in 1989.
Katy Moffatt‘s ‘Walking On The Moon’ (Red Moon Records, 1989 / Philo Records/Rounder Records, 1989) included three Tom Russell songs which were co-written with Katy Moffatt; ‘Walking On The Moon’, ‘If Anything Comes To Mind’ and ‘I’ll Take The Blame’.
Janie Fricke recorded Tom Russell’s ‘Walking On The Moon’ (co-written with Katy Moffatt) and included the track on ‘Labor of Love’ (Columbia Records, 1989).
The Sanders recorded Tom Russell’s ‘Walking On The Moon’ (co-written with Katy Moffatt) and included the track on ‘Into Every Life’ (Airborne Records, 1989).
The Desert Rose Band (Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen & John Jorgenson) recorded Tom Russell’s ‘Missing You’ (co-written with Chris Hillman and Richard Sellars) and included the track on ‘Pages of Life’ (MCA Records / Curb Records, 1990); the track was subsequently included on The Desert Rose Band’s ‘Traditional’ (Curb Records, 1993) and Chris Hillman‘s ‘The Other Side’ (Sovereign Artists Records, 2005).
In 1990, Tom Russell Band saw the release of ‘Poor Man’s Dream’ (Philo Records, 1990), which included the following tracks:
‘Blue Wing’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘The Heart of The Working Man’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Veteran’s Day’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Walkin’ On The Moon’ (written by Katy Moffatt and Tom Russell)
‘Outbound Plane’, which was written by Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021) and Tom Russell / this track was also recorded by Nanci Caroline Griffith, who included it on ‘Little Love Affairs’ (MCA Records, 1988); the track garnered Nanci Caroline Griffith some modest country music chart success / this track was also recorded by Suzy Bogguss, who included it on ‘Aces’ (Liberty Records, 1991); Suzy Bogguss’ version of the track reached No.9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1991
‘Bergenfield’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Spanish Burgundy’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Gallo Del Cielo’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘La Frontera’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Navajo Rug’, which was written by Tom Russell and Ian Dawson Tyson (Monday 25 September 1933 – Thursday 29 December 2022)
‘Under The Gun’ (written by Tom Russell and Dan Zanes)
‘The White Trash Song’ (written by Steve Young)
Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003) recorded Tom Russell’s ‘Veteran’s Day’ and included the track on ‘Boom Chicka Boom’ (Mercury Records, 1990).
Suzy Bogguss recorded Tom Russell’s ‘Outbound Plane’, which was co-written with Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021), and included the track on ‘Aces’ (Liberty Records, 1991); the track reached No.9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart in 1991.
In 1991, Tom Russell Band saw the release of ‘Hurricane Season’ (Philo Records, 1991), which included the following tracks:
‘Black Pearl’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Lord of The Trains’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Beyond The Blues’ (written by Peter Case, Bob Neuwirth and Tom Russell)
‘Jack Johnson’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Chocolate Cigarettes’ (written by Tom Russell and Sylvia Tyson)
‘Winnipeg’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘The Evangeline Hotel’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘A Dollar’s Worth of Gasoline’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Hurricane Season’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Haley’s Comet’ (written by Dave Alvin and Tom Russell)
It was also in 1991 when Tom Russell Band saw the release of ‘Cowboy Real’ (Philo Records, 1991), which included the following tracks:
‘El Llano Estacado’ (traditional)
‘A Bad Half Hour’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘The Basque’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Claude Dallas’, which was written by Tom Russell and Ian Dawson Tyson (Monday 25 September 1933 – Thursday 29 December 2022)
‘Navajo Rug’, which was written by Tom Russell and Ian Dawson Tyson (Monday 25 September 1933 – Thursday 29 December 2022) / this track featured vocals from Tom Russell and Ian Dawson Tyson
‘Indian Cowboy’ (written by Joe Ely)
‘Gallo Del Cielo’ (written by Tom Russell) / this track featured vocals from Tom Russell and Ian Dawson Tyson (Monday 25 September 1933 – Thursday 29 December 2022)
‘Rayburn Crane’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Sonora’s Death Row’ (written by Kevin Blackie Farrell)
‘Zane Grey’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Roanie’ (written by Tom Russell)
In December 1992, Tom Russell saw the release of ‘Box of Visions’ (Philo Records, 1992), which featured backing vocals from Rosie Flores and Katy Moffatt, and included the following tracks:
‘The Angel of Lyon’, which was written by Tom Russell and Steve Young (Sunday 12 July 1942 – Thursday 17 March 2016) / this track was also recorded by Steve Young, who included it on ‘Switchblades of Love’ (United States: Watermelon Records, 1994 / England: Round Tower Records, 1994)
‘Annette’ (written by David Buskin and Tom Russell)
‘Heart of Hearts’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Purgatory Road’ (written by Tom Pacheco and Tom Russell)
‘Manzanar’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Waterloo’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Coney Island Moon’ (written by Andrew Hardin and Tom Russell)
‘Hong Kong Boy’ (written by Tom Russell and Greg Trooper)
‘Wedding Dress Mary (A Place To Hang Your Heart)’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Blood Oranges’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘The Extra Mile’ (written by Katy Moffatt and Tom Russell)
‘Box of Visions’ (written by Tom Russell)
In 1993, Barrence Whitfield with Tom Russell saw the release of ‘Hillbilly Voodoo’ (Stony Plain Records, 1993), which included the following tracks:
‘Long Black Train’ (written by Larry Green)
‘The Cuban Sandwich’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Jack Johnson’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘I Just Want To See You So Bad’ (written by Lucinda Williams)
‘You Can’t Get That Stuff No More’, which was written by Louis Thomas Jordan (8 July 1908 – 4 February 1975) and Samuel Allen Theard (10 October 1904 – 7 December 1982)
‘Blind Willie McTell’ (written by Bob Dylan)
‘Ice Water’ (written by Peter Case and Lightnin’ Hopkins)
‘The Definition of A Fool’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Chocolate Cigarettes’ (written by Tom Russell and Sylvia Tyson)
‘What Is The Colour of The Soul of A Man?’, which was written by James Corbitt Morris (known professionally as Jimmy Driftwood or Jimmie Driftwood) (20 June 1907 – Sunday 12 July 1998)
‘Mississippi, You’re On My Mind’, which was written by Jesse Winchester (Wednesday 17 May 1944 – Friday 11 April 2014)
‘Cleaning Windows’ (written by Van Morrison)
In 1993, Barrence Whitfield, with Tom Russell, saw the release of ‘Cowboy Mambo’ (East Side Digital, 1993), which included the following tracks:
‘The Cowboy Mambo’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘A Little Wind’ (written by Peter Case and Tom Russell)
‘Daniel & The Sacred Harp’ (written by Robbie Robertson)
‘Black Rose’, which was written by Billy Joe Shaver (Wednesday 16 August 1939 – Wednesday 28 October 2020)
‘Desert Blues’, which was written by Jimmie Rodgers (8 September 1897 – Friday 26 May 1933)
‘Devil’s Right Hand’ (written by Steve Earle)
‘Home Before Dark’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight’ (written by Richard Thompson)
‘Insufficient Sweetie’ (written by Tom Russell and Barrence Whitfield)
‘Red, Red, Run’, which was written by Jerome ‘Jerry’ Leiber (Tuesday 25 April 1933 – Monday 22 August 2011) and Mike Stoller
‘Brass Buttons’, which was written by Gram Parsons (Tuesday 5 November 1946 – Wednesday 19 September 1973)
‘Freedom Highway’ (written by Roebuck ‘Pops’ Staples)
In 1994, Tom Russell was credited, along with Dave Alvin, with establishing the Americana radio format with the release of ‘Tulare Dust: A Songwriters’ Tribute To Merle Haggard’ (Hightone Records, 1994), their co-produced tribute album, which honoured country music legend, Merle Haggard (Tuesday 6 April 1937 – Wednesday 6 April 2016).
The liner notes to ‘Tulare Dust: A Songwriters’ Tribute To Merle Haggard’ (Hightone Records, 1994) stated the following:
‘Haggard may be the last of a breed of great country songwriters that began with Jimmie Rodgers (8 September 1897 – Friday 26 May 1933), and continued through Hank Williams (Monday 17 September 1923 – Thursday 1 January 1953) and Lefty Frizzell (Saturday 31 March 1928 – Saturday 19 July 1975)’
‘Tulare Dust: A Songwriters’ Tribute To Merle Haggard’ (Hightone Records, 1994) included the following tracks and performers:
‘Tulare Dust / They’re Tearing The Labor Camps Down’ (written by Merle Haggard) / this track was performed by Tom Russell
‘Big City’ (written by Merle Haggard and Dean Holloway) / this track was performed by Iris DeMent
‘A Working Man Can’t Get Nowhere Today’ (written by Merle Haggard) / this track was performed by Peter Case
‘Holding Things Together’ (written by Merle Haggard and Bob Totten) / this track was performed by Dwight Yoakam
‘Daddy Frank (The Guitar Man)’ (written by Merle Haggard) / this track was performed by Robert Earl Keen Jr.
‘White Line Fever’ (written by Merle Haggard) / this track was performed by Joe Ely
‘My Own Kind of Hat’, which was written by Merle Haggard and Red Lane (Thursday 2 February 1939 – Wednesday 1 July 2015) / this track was performed by Rosie Flores
‘Shopping For Dresses’ (written by Merle Haggard) / this track was performed by Steve Young (Sunday 12 July 1942 – Thursday 17 March 2016)
‘Silver Wings’ (written by Merle Haggard) / this track was performed by Marshall Crenshaw
‘Irma Jackson’ (written by Merle Haggard) / this track was performed by Barrence Whitfield
‘You Don’t Have Very Far To Go’, which was written by Merle Haggard and Red Simpson (Tuesday 6 March 1934 – Friday 8 January 2016) / this track was performed by Lucinda Williams
‘Ramblin’ Fever’ (written by Merle Haggard) / this track was performed by Billy Joe Shaver (Wednesday 16 August 1939 – Wednesday 28 October 2020)
‘I Can’t Be Myself’ (written by Merle Haggard) / this track was performed by Katy Moffatt
‘I Can’t Hold Myself In Line’ (written by Merle Haggard) / this track was performed by John Doe
‘Kern River’ (written by Merle Haggard) / this track was performed by Dave Alvin
Lucy Kaplansky recorded Tom Russell’s ‘The Heart’ (co-written with Greg Trooper) and included the track on ‘The Tide’ (Red House Records, 1994).
Steve Young (Sunday 12 July 1942 – Thursday 17 March 2016) recorded Tom Russell’s ‘The Angel of Lyon’ (co-written with Steve Young) and included the track on ‘Switchblades of Love‘ (United States: Watermelon Records, 1994 / England: Round Tower Records, 1994); the original version of this track was recorded by Tom Russell, who included it on ‘Box of Visions’ (Philo Records, 1992).
In October 1995, Tom Russell saw the release of ‘The Rose of The San Joaquin’ (Hightone Records, 1995), which included the following tracks:
‘Volver, Volver’ (introduction)
‘The Rose of The San Joaquin’, which was written by Tom Russell and Ian Dawson Tyson (Monday 25 September 1933 – Thursday 29 December 2022)
‘Hand Carved Heart’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Heartaches Are Stealin’ (Come Sundown)’, which was written by Tom Russell and Ian Dawson Tyson (Monday 25 September 1933 – Thursday 29 December 2022)
‘What Do You Want?’ (written by Peter Case and Tom Russell)
‘Somebody’s Husband, Somebody’s Son’ (written by Tom Russell) / this track featured guest vocals from Dave Alvin and Peter Case
‘Out In California’ (written by Dave Alvin and Tom Russell)
‘The Sky Above, The Mud Below’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘The Gardens’, which was written by Chris Gaffney (Tuesday 3 October 1950 – Thursday 17 April 2008)
‘Strawberry Moon’ (written by Pat Alger and Tom Russell)
‘Between The Cracks’ (written by Dave Alvin and Tom Russell)
‘Tramps & Hawkers’ (written by Jim Ringer) (traditional)
‘Volver, Volver’ (written by Fernando Z. Maldonado)
Special Consensus – Greg Cahill (banjo, harmony vocals), Diana Philips (bass, lead vocals, backing vocals), Colby Maddox (mandolin, bass vocal) and Bobby Burns (guitar, lead vocals, harmony vocals), with special guest Aubrey Haynie (fiddle) – recorded Tom Russell’s ‘Outbound Plane’, which was co-written with Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021), and included the track on ‘Strong Enough To Bend’ (Pinecastle Records, 1996).
Tom Russell’s most significant album of the 1990s was ‘The Man From God Knows Where’ (Hightone Records, 1999). Released in 1999, the album drew on the music of Norway and Ireland, as well as American folk and country music, and was recorded in Norway, with featured vocalists Iris DeMent, Dolores Keane and Dave von Ronk.
Tom Russell’s ‘The Man From God Knows Where’ (Hightone Records, 1999) included the following tracks:
‘The Man From God Knows Where’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Wayfarin’ Stranger (P.D.)’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Patrick Russell’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Mary Clare Malloy’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘The Outcaste’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Ambrose Larsen’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘The Dreamin’ (written by Katy Moffatt and Tom Russell)
‘The Old Northern Shore’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Anna Olsen’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Rider On An Orphan Train’ (written by David Massengill)
‘Acres of Corn’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Sitting Bull In Venice’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘The Old Rugged Cross’ (written by Rev. George Bennard)
‘Anna Olsen’s Letter Home’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Eg Er Framand (I Am A Stranger)’ (this is a Norwegian folk song)
‘When Irish Girls Grow Up’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Casey Jones’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Chickasaw County Jail’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Throwin’ Horseshoes At The Moon’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Love Abides’ (written by Tom Russell)
Katy Moffatt recorded Tom Russell’s ‘Big Fool’ (co-written with Katy Moffatt and R. Tillman) and included the track on ‘Loose Diamond’ (Hightone Records, 1999).
On Tuesday 17 April 2001, Tom Russell saw the release of ‘Borderland’ (Hightone Records, 2001), which included the following tracks:
‘Touch of Evil’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Down The Rio Grande’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘When Sinatra Played Juarez’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Where The Dream Begins’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Hills of Old Juarez’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘The Sante Fe At Midnight’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘The Next Thing Smokin’ (written by Katy Moffatt and Tom Russell)
‘California Snow’ (written by Dave Alvin and Tom Russell)
‘Let It Go’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘What Work Is’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘The Road It Gives, The Road It Takes Away’ (written by Andrew Hardin and Tom Russell)
Katy Moffatt recorded Tom Russell’s ‘Hallie Lonigan’ and included the track on ‘Cowboy Girl’ (Shanachie Records, 2001).
On Tuesday 22 April 2003, Tom Russell saw the release of ‘Modern Art’ (Hightone Records, 2003), which included the following tracks:
‘The Kid From Spavinaw’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘The Ballad of Sally Rose’ (written by Emmylou Harris and Paul Kennerley)
‘The Boy Who Cried Wolf’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Muhammad Ali’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘American Hotel’ (written by Carl Brouse)
‘Racehorse Haynes’ (written by Andrew Hardin and Tom Russell)
‘The Dutchman’ (written by Mixmaster Michael Smith)
‘Modern Art’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Isaac Lewis’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Bus Station’ (written by Dave Alvin)
‘Crucifix In A Death Hand / Carmelita’, which was written by Charles Bukowski, Tom Russell and Warren Zevon (Friday 24 January 1947 – Sunday 7 September 2003)
‘Tijuana Bible’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Gulf Coast Highway’ (written by Danny Flowers and James Hooker)
On Tuesday 24 February 2004, Tom Russell saw the release of ‘Indians, Cowboys, Horses, Dogs’ (Hightone Records, 2004), which included the following tracks:
‘Tonight We Ride’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Seven Curses’ (written by Bob Dylan)
‘El Paso’, which was written by Marty Robbins (Saturday 26 September 1925 – Wednesday 8 December 1982)
‘All This Way For The Short Ride’ (written by Tom Russell and Paul Zarzyski)
‘Bucking Horse Moon’ (written by Tom Russell and Paul Zarzyski)
‘Lily, Rosemary & The Jack of Hearts’ (written by Bob Dylan)
‘No Telling’ (written by Linda Thompson)
‘Bacon Rind, Chief Seattle, The Ballad of Ira Hayes’ (written by Peter La Farge)
‘Old Blue’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘East Texas Red’, which was written by Woody Guthrie (Sunday 14 July 1912 – Tuesday 3 October 1967)
‘The Ballad of Edward Abbey’ (written by Peter La Farge)
‘Little Blue Horse’ (written by Tom Russell)
On Tuesday 1 March 2005, Tom Russell saw the release of ‘Hotwalker’ (Hightone Records, 2005), which included the following tracks:
‘Pilgrim Land’ / this track featured Virginia Brown and Reverend Baybie Hoover
‘Old America’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Hotwalker’
‘Border Lights’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Beat Folk’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Van Ronk’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Bakersfield’
‘Grapevine’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Woodrow’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Benediction: Edward Abbey’
‘Honky Jazz’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Swap Meet Jesus’
‘Bukowski No.1’
‘Harry Partch, Jack Kerouac, Lenny Bruce’
‘Bukowski No.2’ / ‘On the Hustle’
‘Bukowski No.3’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Requiem’
‘Coda: Little Jack Horton’
‘America the Beautiful’ (written by Katherine Lee Bates and Samuel A. Ward)
In 2005, Tom Russell saw the release of ‘Raw Vision: The Tom Russell Band 1984-1994: Vintage Americana’ (Philo Records, 2005), which was a compilation album.
Katy Moffatt recorded Tom Russell’s ‘This Heart Stops For Railway Crosses’ (co-written with Katy Moffatt) and included the track on ‘Up Close & Personal’ (Fuel Records, 2005), which was recorded ‘live’ in 2002 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Katy Moffatt recorded Tom Russell’s ‘Ameilia’s Railroad Flat’ and included the track on ‘Up Close & Personal’ (Fuel Records, 2005), which was recorded ‘live’ in 2002 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Katy Moffatt recorded Tom Russell’s ‘Walkin’ On The Moon’ (co-written with Katy Moffatt) and included the track on ‘Up Close & Personal’ (Fuel Records, 2005), which was recorded ‘live’ in 2002 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Katy Moffatt recorded Tom Russell’s ‘Dance Me Outside’ (co-written with Katy Moffatt) and included the track on ‘Up Close & Personal’ (Fuel Records, 2005), which was recorded ‘live’ in 2002 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Katy Moffatt recorded Tom Russell’s ‘Sojourner Truth (Ain’t I A Woman)’ (co-written with Katy Moffatt) and included the track on ‘Up Close & Personal’ (Fuel Records, 2005), which was recorded ‘live’ in 2002 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Katy Moffatt recorded Tom Russell’s ‘I Know The Difference Now’ (co-written with Hugh Moffatt) and included the track on ‘Up Close & Personal’ (Fuel Records, 2005), which was recorded ‘live’ in 2002 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
On Tuesday 21 March 2006, Tom Russell saw the release of ‘Love & Fear’ (Hightone Records, 2006), which included the following tracks:
‘The Pugilist At 59’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Beautiful Trouble’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Stealing Electricity’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘The Sound of One Heart Breaking’ (written by Tom Russell and Sylvia Tyson)
‘Ash Wednesday’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘K.C. Violin’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Four Chambered Heart’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Stolen Children’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘It Goes Away’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘All The Fine Young Ladies’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Old Heart’ (written by Tom Russell)
Katy Moffatt recorded Tom Russell’s ‘Junkyard Heart’ (co-written with Katy Moffatt) and included the track on ‘Playin’ Fool: Live In Holland’ (Continental Song City Records, 2008).
Katy Moffatt recorded Tom Russell’s ‘Wings of A Blackbird’ (co-written with Katy Moffatt) and included the track on ‘Playin’ Fool: Live In Holland’ (Continental Song City Records, 2008).
Katy Moffatt recorded Tom Russell’s ‘A Little Love Is A Dangerous Thing’ (co-written with Katy Moffatt) and included the track on ‘Playin’ Fool: Live In Holland’ (Continental Song City Records, 2008).
Katy Moffatt recorded Tom Russell’s ‘Billy Collins’ (co-written with Katy Moffatt) and included the track on ‘Playin’ Fool: Live In Holland’ (Continental Song City Records, 2008); this track featured guest vocals from Hugh Moffatt.
Katy Moffatt recorded Tom Russell’s ‘Walking On The Moon’ (co-written with Katy Moffatt) and included the track on ‘Playin’ Fool: Live In Holland’ (Continental Song City Records, 2008); this track featured guest vocals from Andrew Hardin and Tom Russell.
On Sunday 1 February 2009, Gretchen Peters saw the release of ‘One To The Heart, One To The Head’ (Frontera Records / Scarlet Letter Records, 2009), an album project she recorded with Tom Russell, which included the following tracks:
‘North Platte’ (instrumental written by Barry Walsh)
‘Prairie In The Sky’ (written by Mary McCaslin)
‘Billy 4’ (written by Bob Dylan)
‘Blue Mountains of Mexico’, which was written by Ian Dawson Tyson (Monday 25 September 1933 – Thursday 29 December 2022)
‘These Cowboys Born Out of Their Time’ (written by Tom Dundee)
‘Guadalupe’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Sweet & Shiny Eyes’ (written by Nan O’Byrne)
‘Wolves’ (written by Stephanie Davis)
‘Snowin’ on Raton’, which was written by Townes Van Zandt (Tuesday 7 March 1944 – Wednesday 1 January 1997)
‘Old Paint’ (traditional)
‘My Last Go Round’ (written by Rosalie Sorrels)
‘If I Had A Gun’ (written by Rebecca Folsom, Celeste Krenz, Elizabeth Barnez and Diana Jones)
‘Prairie Melancholy’ (written by Jennifer Warnes and Nancy Bacal)
On Tuesday 15 September 2009, Tom Russell saw the release of ‘Blood & Candle Smoke’ (Shout Factory, 2009), which featured backing and duet vocals from Gretchen Peters, and included the following tracks:
‘East of Woodstock, West of Viet Nam’
‘Santa Ana Wind’
‘Nina Simone’
‘Criminology’
‘Crosses of San Carlos’
‘Finding You’
‘Mississippi River Runnin’ Backwards’
‘The Most Dangerous Woman In America’
‘Don’t Look Down’
‘Guadalupe’
‘American Rivers’
‘Darkness Visible’
On Tuesday 6 September 2011, Tom Russell saw the release of ‘Mesabi’ (Shout Factory, 2011), which included the following tracks:
‘Mesabi’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘When The Legends Die’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Farewell Never Never Land’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘The Lonesome Death of Ukulele Ike’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Sterling Hayden’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Furious Love (For Liz)’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘A Land Called ‘Way Out There’ ‘ (written by Tom Russell) / this track featured Hutterite Choir
‘Roll The Credits, Johnny’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Heart Within A Heart’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘And God Created Border Towns’ (written by Augie Meyers and Tom Russell)
‘Goodnight, Juarez’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Jai Alai’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘Love Abides’ (written by Tom Russell)
‘A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall’ (written by Bob Dylan) / this track featured Calexico and Lucinda Williams
‘The Road To Nowhere’ (written by Tom Russell)
On Monday 1 July 2013, Tom Russell & The Norwegian Wind Ensemble saw the release of ‘Aztec Jazz’ (Frontera Records, 2013), which included the following tracks:
‘Love Abides’
‘Nina Simone’
‘East of Woodstock, West of Vietnam’
‘Goodnight Juarez’
‘Criminology’
‘Guadalupe’
‘Stealing Electricity’
‘Finding You’
‘Mississippi River Running Backwards’
‘St. Olav’s Gate’
‘Jai Alai’
Darin & Brooke Aldridge recorded Tom Russell’s ‘Outbound Plane’, which was co-written with Nanci Caroline Griffith (Monday 6 July 1953 – Friday 13 August 2021), and included the track on ‘Flying’ (Organic Records, 2013).
On Monday 13 April 2015, Tom Russell saw the release of ‘The Rose of Roscrae’ (Frontera Records, 2015), a 2-disc CD set; it was the final album in a trilogy that began, in 1999, with ‘The Man From God Knows Where’ (Hightone Records, 1999), which explored Tom Russell’s family’s origins in Norway, Ireland and the American West.
Tom Russell followed ‘The Man From God Knows Where’ (Hightone Records, 1999) with ‘Hotwalker’ (Hightone Records, 2005), which looked deeply at post-World War II American culture and mythologised sometimes marginal figures from the worlds of art, film, literature and more.
Tom Russell’s ‘The Rose of Roscrae’ (Frontera Records, 2015) is a 2-disc CD set; it is a sprawling folk opera, or Western musical, complete with libretto. Over two discs and 52 selections (many narrated, most sung), Tom Russell delivers an epic collection, which moves from Ireland and Texas, The Plains, California and Mexico to Canada, prisons in the deep South, carnival shows, and all the way back.
Tom Russell’s ‘The Rose of Roscrae’ (Frontera Records, 2015) included the following tracks:
Disc 1
‘Overture’
‘This Is tThe Last Frontier’
‘Guilty / Johnny Behind-The-Deuce’
‘Sam Hall’
‘The Rose of Roscrae’
‘Hair Trigger Heart’
‘He’ll Be Dead Before He Hits the Ground’
‘You Gotta Have A Dance / St James Hospital’
‘Ain’t No More Cane On The Brazos’
‘The Last Running’
‘Home On The Range / America’
‘Just A Closer Walk (With Augie Blood)’
‘Cowboy Voices Beyond The Campfire’
‘He Wasn’t A Bad Kid, When He Was Sober’
‘The Sidekick’s Last Testament’
‘Johnny’s Campfire Soliloquy No.1’
‘The Unfortunate Rake / The Streets of Laredo’
‘The Hands of Damien’
‘This Is The Last Frontier / Campfire Soliloquy No.2’
‘Carrickfergus / The Water Is Wide’
‘The Fairground Pugilist’
‘Campfire Soliloquy No.3’
‘Campfire Ghosts / Cowboy Voices’
‘Crazy Horse / Custer’s Luck’
‘Johnny Behind-The-Deuce No.2 Molokai’
‘She Talks To God’
‘Rock of Ages / Gunpowder Sunset Overture’
Disc 2 is from Rose’s perspective, with tracks performed by Maura O’Connell
‘The Water Is Wide / Overture’
‘I Talk To God’
‘The Bear’
‘The Railroad Boy’
‘Resurrection Mountain’
‘When The Wolves No Longer Sing’
‘Just A Closer Walk With Thee / The Gospel of John, Chapter 4’
‘Jesus Met The Woman At The Well’
‘Damien (A Crust of Bread, A Slice of Fish, A Cup of Water)’
‘Guadalupe / Valentine De La Sierra’
‘Poor Mother Mexico’
‘Gallo Del Cielo’
‘Soliloquy No.1 / Swiss Yodel Choir’
‘En Canadien Errant’
‘He’ll Be Dead Before He Hits The Ground No.2’
‘Doin’ Hard Time In Texas’
‘When I Was A Cowboy aka Western Cowboy’
‘West Texas Montage’
‘Old Rattlebag Blues (Soliloquy No.2)’
‘Midnight Wine’
‘Whiskey In His Blood’
‘Tularosa’
‘Irish Medley / The Stable’
‘Isn’t it Grand?’
‘The Rose of Roscrae’
Special guests on Tom Russell’s ‘The Rose of Roscrae’ (Frontera Records, 2015) included Maura O’Connell, Joe Ely, Dave Olney, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Gretchen Peters, Eliza Gilkyson, Jimmy LaFave, Augie Meyers, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Ian Dawson Tyson (Monday 25 September 1933 – Thursday 29 December 2022), along with dozens more.
Further, along with his own songs, Tom Russell licensed others, plus field recordings with the voices of Johnny Cash (Friday 26 February 1932 – Friday 12 September 2003), Lead Belly (20 January 1888 – Tuesday 6 December 1949), John Trudell, Walter ‘Walt’ Whitman (31 May 1819 – 26 March 1892), Tex Ritter (Thursday 12 January 1905 – Wednesday 2 January 1974), and more, adding depth and weight.
• Visit Tom Russell’s official site at tomrussell.com