Dale Watson






























































Dale Watson
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"Dale Watson isn't one to uphold the music industry's status quo. He's moving forward on his own terms and true to his own convictions. Even with frequent proclamations declaring him one of country music's last authentic voices (like that in Crazy Again--a recent documentary on Watson's life--when a fan declares, "son, you play country like country was when country was country"), Watson is done with the "C" word and what it's come to represent in modern times. So much so that he's created his own genre, simply called Ameripolitan. In a recent posting on his website (www.dalewatson.com), Dale explains it like this: "I've been trying to come up with a name the best describes this music that me and folks similar do. When folks ask, I hesitate, down right embarrassed really, to say country. I didn't used to be that way, but with the change in country, the term doesn't mean the same as it used to. If you say traditional, or old, or western swing most folks think 'retro' and dismiss it without hearing it. I wanted a name that didn't say country anything and didn't give anyone a preconceived idea. I came up with Ameripolitan. I even put it in Wikipedia defined as: Original music with 'prominent' roots influence." And so it goes with Dale Watson, the kind of unparalleled iconoclast that's far too rare in music today. To that end, Dale Watson is heading into 2007 with a full head of steam. His latest album, From The Cradle To The Grave, hits stores on April 24th through a new deal with the critically-acclaimed and musically diverse independent record label, HYENA Records. The story behind the recording is as mythic as any in Watson's already deep and fascinating discography. Having taken six months off in January 2006 to relocate his family to Baltimore, Watson was preparing his return to music when old friend Johnny Knoxville offered up his cabin in the Tennessee mountains for the band to reconvene and rehearse. However, this wasn't just any mountain home. The cabin Johnny Knoxville was offering just so happened to be previously owned by the one and only Johnny Cash. Watson, of course, jumped at the opportunity. It was also suggested by Knoxville that Dale record a new album while on his visit. The idea was at first dismissed due to the logistics of getting recording equipment up to the cabin. That problem would be quickly solved though when Charlie Boswell, head of the digital media and entertainment unit at Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD), offered to send a complete recording facility. The next hurdle would be songs. Dale hadn't been writing and therefore wasn't prepared with an album's worth of new material. "I got up there and basically wrote ten songs in three days," remembers Watson. "At first I was adamant about not writing anything even remotely reminiscent to Johnny Cash as I figured I'd be instantly dismissed for trying to cop his vibe, but his presence was so strong up there that I decided why fight it, let the chips fall where they may and go with the feeling." From The Cradle To The Grave is alive indeed with the spirit of Johnny Cash. While he’s always been a hero to Dale Watson, Cash's influence was but a subtle element in his previous songwriting. Here, however, Cash is present from the opening shuffle of "Justice For All" to the closing fade on "Runaway Train," in which he’s directly acknowledged. Lyrically, as well, Watson's empathy for everyday people and their struggles is squarely in line with the Cash tradition. On the aforementioned "Justice For All," which will be the album's first single, Watson confronts the ageless moral conflict between revenge and forgiveness. He sings: "An eye for an eye would leave the whole world blind, forgiveness is the way, but I can't forgive his crime, and if I had the chance in truth I'd have to say, I'd gun that bastard down with a smile on my face." "I wrote 'Justice For All' after hearing the story of a guy who kidnapped and murdered a little girl," explains Watson. "I have daughters, so I could put myself in the shoes of the girl's father and feel his need for justice and revenge." It's not the only time death rears its head on From The Cradle To The Grave. On the title track, Watson reflects on his cousin's suicide, a subject he also struggled with directly in his own life and which was well documented in the Crazy Again documentary. Ultimately though, Dale finds light in the darkness and insight in the pain. On "Yellow Mama," Watson writes from the perspective of a man sentenced to death in the infamous Alabama electric chair named after its bright yellow paint job. Despite the weight of those three songs, perhaps the album's most haunting track is "Tomorrow Never Comes." Beginning with the open-ended lyric, "The world could end tomorrow, the world could end today, time is only borrowed, a debt we'll have to pay," Watson is oblique and wary, while his band matches the song's intensity with juxtaposed minor chord flourishes of pedal steel, fiddle and acoustic guitar. No Dale Watson album would be complete without songs of lovers scorned, redeemed and scorned again. From The Cradle To The Grave has its share of these gems. "It's Not Over Now" grapples with coming of age and past regrets, while "You Always Get What You Always Got" could be the same protagonist from the former song only this time sending hard-earned wisdom to those following in his footsteps: "You’re burning the candle at both ends son, when you gonna learn that the fire is hot, if you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got." "Time Without You" might be the best example to define the newly acknowledged Ameripolitan sound. It’s pure Dale Watson. With a husky, but sweeping melody, classic Johnny Cash rolling train rhythm and a evocative combination of pedal steel and fiddle, Watson bares his soul in matters of the heart both timely and timeless. Like the majority of songs on the album, it clocks in at just under three minutes. A small point, but one that calls attention to the economy in Watson’s writing; not a note is wasted or a phrase overdone. He cuts straight to the chase, directly and succinctly. As has always been Dale Watson's style, he'll take to the road in 2007 spreading the good word about his new album, From The Cradle To The Grave, across the United States and Europe. Having been touched by the spirit of Johnny Cash in the legend's old cabin in the Tennessee mountains, Watson's delivered an album of richly inspired songs that document the Ameripolitan sound. But whatever genre it's called, there's no denying that Dale Watson is an American music original and his musical vision is only just beginning to be heard around the world.
Date Venue City State Note
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01/13/2011 - Dale Watson Is Countrier Than Thou - Read More
09/17/2010 - Dale Watson definitely has soul - Read More
01/22/2010 - Still a honky-tonk man - Read More
01/15/2010 - Dale Watson at Knuckleheads - Read More
More News
No Blogs Available
04/01/2007 - Dale Watson Q&A - Read More
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Average Rating : 0              Total Reviews: 35


Dale Watson  11/14/2005            
Philip Bodenstaff
Being a great fan of uncompromised country, one just has to be a fan of Dale Watson. As soon I heard one of his CD's I just had to see him preform. As I live in Holland it was bit tricky but I have managed to see him 4 times in Holland at Saloon Newland at Klaaswaal and de Manege In Amsterdam and once in Spain in The Nasville Country Club in Terrassa. I now have 5 of his cd's and a copy of each one of them in my car. The best CD in my opinion is Every song I write is for you, with my special favorite I See Your Face In Every FAce I guess Dale is about the best country wwriter/singers of this moment. Even Willy Nelson is a fan of Dale! See his site at www.dalewatson.com Enjoy! Philip Bodenstaff, Holland
Dale Watson  08/06/2005            
Becky
An incredibly talented singer-songwriter who also sings classic country such as Merle Haggard, Ray Price and others even better than the originals. Then he continues to write one great song after another! As all his fans in Texas and around the world have discovered, Dale’s CDs are a must-have in any real country music fan’s collection. Once you've heard the king of honky tonk's amazing voice and songs, you not only wonder how much less talented musicians have become so famous, but why anyone would listen to the junk on the radio when you can buy Dale's CDs and the CDs of the many other talented singer-songwriters who are far superior than most of what we hear out of Nashville.
Dale Watson  06/14/2005            
dale watson
dale watson
Dale Watson  03/23/2005            
BB
Dale's music is addictive! You must see him in person if you have the chance, he's simply the best.
Dale Watson  02/23/2005            
austin milbardge
love u and your music and your motorcycle..."keeping it country" should be your middle name.....if gene retires call me!!!!!
Dale Watson  02/07/2005            
Fan
I LOVE this guy...and Dreamland is the best CD I own.
Dale Watson  12/24/2004            
Bordello Bob Tumlinson
What can you say about a guy that does Elvis better than Elvis did Elvis. That is right this man can sing the blues numbers and keep you smiling and singing these songs for hours. He is easy to listen to with a smooth voice and smooth style. I have seen him live more than five times and have been glad I spent the time and money every time.
Dale Watson  12/16/2004            
Thomas
The best every, if you like REAL country, check it out !
Dale Watson  12/01/2004            
James
Dale is the REAL deal. His music makes most of the artist on lonestarmusic.com look like clowns. He can play any guitar player in Texas under the table, and although he doesn't get invited to the coveted "singer/songwriter" sing songs, he writes, and keeps writing better, timeless songs than anyone around. Dale is not defined by "Texas Music." He doesn't need this review, but here ya go Dale.
Dale Watson  08/26/2004            
Thomas Irby
Best country album that was released by in 2004 ! If you don't like this, you don't like country ! This ain't Nashville, this is REAL COUNTRY !
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