The Hard Way
Studio album by
Steve Earle
ReleasedJuly 1, 1990
StudioSound Emporium, Nashville, Tennessee; Ardent Studios, Memphis, Tennessee
Genre
Length55:47
LabelMCA[3]
ProducerSteve Earle, Joe Hardy
Steve Earle chronology
Copperhead Road
(1988) 		The Hard Way
(1990) 		Train a Comin'
(1995)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Austin American-Statesman[5]
Calgary HeraldB+[6]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[7]
Entertainment WeeklyA[2]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[8]
Ottawa Citizen[1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[9]
Select[10]

The Hard Way is the fourth studio album by Steve Earle, released in 1990.[11][12] Earle is backed by the Dukes.[13] The album is dedicated to Emilio Lorenzo Ensenat (1930–90).

The album peaked at No. 100 on the Billboard 200.[14] It peaked at No. 22 on the UK Albums Chart.[15]

Production

The album was produced by Joe Hardy and Earle. It was recorded at Sound Emporium, in Nashville, and at Ardent Recording, in Memphis.[16]

Critical reception

The Los Angeles Times noted the Springsteen influence, writing that the album contains "no fewer than two racing-in-the-streets songs and no fewer than two Death Row laments."[17] Lone Star Music Magazine wrote that "although it’s admittedly over-long at just under an hour and burdened with even more of a hair-metal production aesthetic than Copperhead Road, it’s loaded with genuinely great songs."[18] The Dallas Observer called "Billy Austin" "storytelling at its stark, bleakest best."[19]

Track listing

All songs written by Steve Earle unless otherwise noted.

  1. "The Other Kind" - 5:09
  2. "Promise You Anything" - 2:43 (Earle, Maria McKee, Patrick Sugg)
  3. "Esmeralda's Hollywood" - 6:01 (Earle, Maria McKee)
  4. "Hopeless Romantics" - 2:45
  5. "This Highway's Mine (Roadmaster)" - 3:54
  6. "Billy Austin" - 6:16
  7. "Justice in Ontario" - 4:47
  8. "Have Mercy" - 4:41
  9. "When the People Find Out" - 4:10
  10. "Country Girl" - 4:11
  11. "Regular Guy" - 3:17
  12. "West Nashville Boogie" - 3:09
  13. "Close Your Eyes" - 4:44

Personnel

The Dukes

with:

References

  1. ^ a b Erskine, Evelyn (3 Aug 1990). "Falling from grace: Earle's country-rooted rock tells bad-guys' side". Ottawa Citizen: D6.
  2. ^ a b "Notable music for the week of July 6, 1990". EW.com.
  3. ^ "Steve Earle's MCA Catalogue To Be Remastered, Released on Vinyl". American Songwriter. March 31, 2016.
  4. ^ "The Hard Way - Steve Earle, Steve Earle & the Dukes | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  5. ^ MacCambridge, Michael (28 June 1990). "Loose connection shorts Earle effort". Austin American-Statesman: 19.
  6. ^ "RECENT RELEASES". Calgary Herald: E3. 28 June 1990.
  7. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 195.
  8. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 373.
  9. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 218.
  10. ^ Perry, Neil (July 1990). "The Harder They Come". Select. p. 91.
  11. ^ "Steve Earle | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  12. ^ The Rough Guide to Rock (2nd ed.). Rough Guides Ltd. 1999. p. 310.
  13. ^ Kening, Dan. "STEVE EARLE RETURNS WITH A VENGEANCE". chicagotribune.com.
  14. ^ "Steve Earle". Billboard.
  15. ^ "STEVE EARLE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  16. ^ McGee, David (April 8, 2005). "Steve Earle: Fearless Heart, Outlaw Poet". Hal Leonard Corporation – via Google Books.
  17. ^ "POP MUSIC REVIEW : Steve Earle Burns Rubber at the Roxy". Los Angeles Times. October 30, 1990.
  18. ^ "Mr. Record Man: Steve Earle". May 1, 2013.
  19. ^ Dearmore, Kelly (October 18, 2013). "Steve Earle's Top Seven Songs About Texas". Dallas Observer.



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