Album Review – Rodney Crowell’s “The Chicago Sessions”
You can almost overlook just how important ol’ Rodney Crowell has been if you’re not careful. Almost. He’s never been one for grandiose self-promotion like some artists. And instead of focusing on singing, or playing, or writing, or producing exclusively, he’s been active in all of these disciplines. You have to put the entire body of work together to understand just how impressive it is. In fact, someday it may even be considered Hall of Fame worthy. And as Crowell proves here, age has done little to impinge on his creativity.
The Chicago Sessions in many ways is a hearkening back to the original Rodney Crowell, indicated by how the cover is similar to the one for his debut album Ain’t Living Long Like This in 1978, whose title track was covered by Gary Stewart and later Waylon Jennings. Instead of deftly crafting out arrangements and taking weeks to record, this album was cut mostly live with producer Jeff Tweedy of Wilco in the Windy City. The sessions take on a decidedly loose attitude and bluesy disposition.
Rodney Crowell was never super country, even when he was stringing together five #1 country singles back in the late 80s. He was also responsible for Roseanne Cash’s decidedly non-country-sounding “country” stuff from that same period as a producer. They both helped seed alt-country, or what we consider Americana today, which is an amalgam of roots music that includes blues. Rodney leans on heavily on the blues here, though not exclusively. The songwriting is still what matters most.
But even in that respect, Crowell keeps it a little bit more free and easy on this album. The more bluesy tracks like “Somebody Loves You,” “Oh Miss Claudia,” and “Ever The Dark” are just as much about sticking a groove as saying something. The style may be blues, but the sentiments are more grateful, including in the bouncy opening track “Lucky,” and the sweet and sentimental “Loving You Is The Only Way To Fly.”
The songwriting arguably reaches its peak at the end of the album, with “Making Lovers Out Of Friends” imparting some useful wisdom of how to not damage friendships, appropriately co-sung by Emmylou Harris who’s been a close friend and collaborator of Rodney Crowell’s for many years. The song is also co-written with Ashley McBryde. This leads to perhaps the album’s greatest contribution, the ascendant “Ready To Move On,” which proves Rodney can match the songwriting acumen of his old buddies Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt when he wants to.
The Chicago Sessions also includes a cover of Van Zant’s “No Place to Fall,” and the song “You’re Supposed to be Feeling Good” that Emmylou Harris originally recorded on her 1976 album Luxury Liner. Rodney’s version feels a bit strange here, almost like it was given the ’70s soft rock treatment. But that’s about the only slight to give this album.
More than any individual song, The Chicago Sessions is just a great listening record—one to put on in the background and/or lose yourself in, with a good vibe, a grateful outlook, and a favorable temperament. Rodney Crowell is an old master at this album making business, and his time in Chicago was fruitful.
8/10
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June 21, 2023 @ 8:48 am
I had a cassette of Crowell’s Ain’t Living Long Like This and later a digital copy of the original. Both sounded tinny and awful. Does anyone know if that is the recording, or did I just have bad versions?
June 21, 2023 @ 8:57 am
Seen him many times. One of the best.
June 21, 2023 @ 9:10 am
Excellent album,one of the best of the year so far
June 21, 2023 @ 9:23 am
This seems like a cool project, interesting with the Tweedy and Wilco involvement. Also just proves even more the coolness of McBryde. This also has me wanting to get a good pair of headphones and get lost in those timeless 70s Era Emmylou records. Love when projects come full service.
June 21, 2023 @ 9:30 am
Tweedy steps ALL OVER this record. It is awful. From the first guitar note all you hear is a Wilco sound. If you are a Wilco fan, you will love this record. I am not. If you are a Rodney fan you will like it. Not love it.
June 21, 2023 @ 1:39 pm
RC fan checking in, love it!!!!
June 21, 2023 @ 4:14 pm
I despise Jeff Tweedy’s music with the passion of a thousand burning suns. But I like this RC record a lot. I guess I don’t hear the Tweedy because I don’t listen to that crap at all. Burns my ears.
June 21, 2023 @ 9:35 am
Until recently I was unaware the Crowell wrote the Bob Seger hit, “Shame on the Moon.”
June 21, 2023 @ 4:10 pm
Years back I was listening to Rodney’s version of “Shame On The Moon” in my car when I picked my older brother up. He said, “Why’s this guy doing a cover of Bob Seger?” I said, “This guy is Rodney Crowell, and he wrote the song.” My brother refused to believe RC wrote it. I got out the CD jacket and showed him the credits. “Must be a mistake,” my brother said.
Fast forward a few years, and I’m hanging out with Rodney. I share the story with him. He laughs and says, “tell your brother I get all the money for the song.” I told my brother the next time I saw him. He laughed, too, and conceded that Rodney did in fact write the song. Lol.
RC is one of the good guys. I wasn’t blown away by the new album like I have been by some of his other releases, but I enjoyed it.
June 21, 2023 @ 9:41 am
Although Waylon had the bigger hit with “Ain’t Living Long Like This,” Emmylou Harris also cut the song on her 1978 ‘Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town” album. Guitarist Albert Lee cut his version of the song on his solo album “Hiding.” Foghat recorded and released a hard rockin’ version of the song on their “In the Mood for Something Rude” album. The song has been recorded and performed by many others… I’d love to have the songwriter royalties just from that one song! 🙂 But I digress… Rodney Crowell is a top notch songwriter who excels at the many roles you’ve listed in your article. I have many of his solo records and enjoy his versions of his own songs and covers. I will certainly be adding “The Chicago Sessions” to my collection of Crowell albums.
June 21, 2023 @ 11:04 am
And may I vote for my all time favorite version of “Ain’t Living Long Like This” – Gary Stewart’s version on the “Your Place Or Mine” album released in 1977. Stewart’s sneering vocal and distortion soaked slide guitar ABSOLUTELY define this song! Talk about taking another man’s song and making it your own.
June 21, 2023 @ 7:08 pm
Hard to argue with that, but I’d say the same for Stewart’s version of RC’s “Rachel”, from the very same album. I don’t know of any other version — not even by RC himself — and over the years I’ve imagined that’s because Stewart’s version is so perfect no one bothered to touch it.
June 22, 2023 @ 4:21 am
Completely agree. To sweeten the deal, Stewart included another Crowell song, “I Had To Get Drunk Last Night,” on the same album, making the number of Crowell covers on one LP three.
June 21, 2023 @ 9:46 am
“Diamonds & Dirt” was my first Rodney Crowell cassette i bought. It was so good I bought the cd for better quality sound. A few years ago I found the vinyl. Not too many artists I have done that with. I kinda got lost after he moved to MCA in the 90’s, but with “Close Ties” I found it again. Looking forward to visiting this album.
June 21, 2023 @ 10:05 am
I also found out “Diamonds & Dirt” isn’t on iTunes any more.
June 21, 2023 @ 9:15 pm
Nor is it on Spotify, although most of its songs are available individually. Wonder what the deal is with that.
June 22, 2023 @ 7:26 pm
It’s on Spotify. I just pulled it up. Weird. Maybe there’s a licensing issue in your territory. Happens often, but is usually rectified quickly.
June 21, 2023 @ 1:23 pm
Give “Fate’s Right Hand” s try.
June 21, 2023 @ 4:16 pm
The Houston Kid, Fates Right Hand, The Outsider and Sex & Gasoline are four stand out albums from Rodney, all recorded after he left the mainstream Behind. Trio Live is good, as well, along with Texas. His other albums were a bit hit and miss for me, but the man is true Americana treasure. I’ve had the pleasure of hanging out with him on more than one occasion. He’s the real del, and his live shows are outstanding.
June 22, 2023 @ 1:57 pm
Unfortunately I haven’t had that same pleasure but I fully agree with your RD albums pick
June 21, 2023 @ 5:09 pm
Diamonds and Dirt and Keys to the Highway have been go-to discs for me forever. Always loved his jangly county-pop — I Know You’re Married, If Looks Could Kill — best.
June 21, 2023 @ 10:22 am
Rodney Crowell Is cut from the same cloth as Townes Van Zandt. And I mean that in the best and the worst ways. In fact, the similarities could be almost eerie.
Let’s just start with the obvious, he’s been around way longer than you realize. He’s written songs that we’ve heard from the top crop of country stars, but never knew who wrote them.
He’s never been super country, but his contributions to country music Have been spectacular.
And just like Townes, people in the know, can’t help, but be amazed, but there’s simply too few people who actually know.
And I think you nailed it, saying that his individual dalliances may not be much individually, but the sheer breadth and depth of his work in different aspects of the industry is so incredible
June 21, 2023 @ 11:17 am
I’d say Rodney parallells Guy Clark a lot more than Townes Van Zandt. Like Clark Rodney has had a long, successful recording career in his own right (Rodney actualy had hit records of his own) and also wrote at least half a dozen songs that became hits for other artists, from Bob Seger to Emmy Lou, to the Oaks to Tim McGraw.
TVZ, for all his mystical appeal and “art songs” never had success as a recording artist and really wrote only two songs that broke through for other artists: “P&L” and “If You Needed Me.”
June 21, 2023 @ 10:51 am
This is a great record. I have been playing it steadily since it was released. Rodney Crowell is a Texas treasure. Read his memoir Chinaberry Sidewalks for an insightful account of growing up in southeast Texas in the 50s. And honestly, has anyone ever written a better song than, “Until I Gain Control Again”?
June 21, 2023 @ 11:51 am
Leaving Lousiana
You beat me to it. Til I gain control again is solid country gold! A lot of people have recorded it, Willie, Waylon, Emmy, Crystal Gayle, Vince Gill, and many others. It always stands up as a song entirely on its own merits. Crowell is a world class writer in my estimation. To the naysayers, the Diamonds and Dirt album was killer, great songs…could go on about that album…After All This Time..
Honestly, I can’t think of too many Crowell songs I don’t like. Some of his later stuff that impressed me includes Fates Right Hand, Earthbound, Sex and Gasoline, just to name a few. Seeing him live was both rewarding and frustrating, he’s gonna play what he feels like, and don’t expect to hear all the hits.
Jeff Tweedy…eh…never really understood the hoopla. I remember listening to Uncle Tupelo and although it was a nod to early country like The Carter Family, it just sounded like hipster stoners to my ears. And Wilco was a rock and roll alternative band, very little country after the first couple records.
At Crowells age he can do whatever moves him though. Good on him for coming up with new material.
June 21, 2023 @ 10:55 am
“Ready to Move On” was written by a 14-year-old girl, not anyone with songwriting chops. I got nothing else to add.
June 21, 2023 @ 11:33 am
I loved when Rodney was a guest singer on the Hackberry Ramblers recording of Frankie and Johnny on the Ramblers’ “Deep Water” CD. Great tune, and a great rendition of it!
June 21, 2023 @ 10:20 pm
When Crowell came out with “Diamonds and Dirt” in 1988, he had been around, making records in Nashville for 10 years but had neve had a hit record of his own. The first single off that album “It’s Such a Small World,” a duet with Rosanne Cash, went to #1, probably more on her strength than his, because she was a legit core country radio artist in the ’80s. Then two more singles were issued from the album–“I Couldn’t Leave You If I Tried” and “She’s Crazy for Leaving,”–and they also went to #1.
Another cut on the album was “Above and Beyond,” a song written by Harlan Howard (the lone song that Rodney did not write or co-write), which had been a #3 hit for Buck Owens in the ’60s. I heard Crowell tell the story that “Above and Beyond” was going to be the next single, and he told that to Harlan Howard. But then Columbia Records decided to release the Crowell original “After All This Time” instead. Rodney said that Howard was pissed, in part because no-one was releasing more than 4 singles from an album then and that was expected to be the last one.
Releasing “After All This Time” turned out to be the right move. That song, with its jarrng confessional lyric, “There were ways, I should have thrilled you/ There were days, I could have killed you,” somehow resonated with listeners. It not only went to #1 on country radio, but it took Crowell to a higher level. He performed it on TV, including in an appearance on the “Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson. “After All This Time” was nominated for CMA and ACM awards and it won Crowell the Grammy for Country Song of the Year.
After that song had its run, Columbia went and released “Above and Beyond” as a fifth single off the “Diamonds and Dirt” album, and damned if that too, didn’t go to #1. Crowell got to celebrate that with Harlan Howard.
What I found interesting about that story that Crowel told was that Harlan Howard, who was then in his 60s and had probably had 60 #1 hits was still so competitive that he got angry when “Above and Beyond” got shelved as a single–temporarily, it turned out–from Crowel’s album. I’d have figure that Harlan had had so many hits that he would not have been paying attention to Crowell covering one of his old songs.
June 22, 2023 @ 9:27 pm
The end of your review nails it, this record just feels good. IMO it has everything to do with Spencer Tweedy’s drum sound. He’s on a bunch of great feeling records from the past few years (Plains, Joan Shelley, James Elkington, especially).
June 22, 2023 @ 10:49 pm
May be Hall of Fame worthy?? Rodney Crowell should have been in the Country Hall 25 years ago, long before the “great” Chris Lamb (ahem, pardon me) Garth Brooks. NO ONE currently in the Hall has done what Rodney Crowell has done as a songwriter, producer and singer
June 24, 2023 @ 9:10 pm
“NO ONE currently in the Hall has done what Rodney Crowell has done as a songwriter, producer and singer”
Rodney may have an edge as a producer but on balance, I’d say Willie Nelson’s cumulative accomplishments as songwriter, producer and singer certainly exceed Rodney’s. Nonetheless, I’d LOVE to see The Houston Kid in the CMHOF, and think he’s Hall worthy for his songwriting alone.
June 25, 2023 @ 6:17 am
Only thing wrong with this album is the price of the vinyl. $30.00!
June 25, 2023 @ 4:16 pm
This post put me on a Crowell bender, which I have enjoyed. What a great, great writer.
He has great taste in muses, too.
June 25, 2023 @ 6:06 pm
Loved that first RC album and yes, the cover shot on this one must be an intentional echo of that one. Aint’ Living Long Like This is a perfect song (except for the too-long outro), but for my money Leaving Louisiana In the Broad Daylight (co-written with Donivan Cowart) matches it.
July 18, 2023 @ 9:15 am
Crowell delivers… like John Prine, he knows his way around life’s observations and emotions!