“There’s no doubt that Crowell was an architect of Americana as we know it, and with Close Ties, we’re fortunate to have a look at his blueprints.” NPR Music
“…energizing, engaging and often fascinating.” The Wall Street Journal
Multi-Grammy Award winning troubadour Rodney Crowell’s “It Ain’t Over Yet” was awarded “Best Song of the Year” at the Americana Music Association’s 2017 Honors & Awards last night. The vocal collaboration between Crowell, his ex-wife Rosanne Cash, and John Paul White is featured on his critically acclaimed album Close Ties which was released March 31st of this year via New West Records. Rolling Stone Country premiered the Reid Long-directed video for the song, which also features legendary harmonica player Mickey Raphael and can be seen HERE. TheNashville Scene called the song “a folky shuffle about not quitting even if you feel like you have nothing left to offer. The elegantly crafted song takes the form of a conversation…and it’s one gem among many on Crowell’s album Close Ties.” Rolling Stone stated “The evocative lyrics call to mind the two-tone, punked-out cover image from Cash’s 1985 LP Rhythm and Romance, which preceded Crowell’s mainstream country breakthrough of five consecutive Number One hits from 1988’s Diamonds & Dirt and the subsequent collapse of the couple’s marriage.”
Crowell, who was unable to attend the event, offers “I’m very happy that ‘It Ain’t Over Yet’ was recognized last night and saddened that I wasn’t there to express my gratitude to the Americana Music Association.”
Crowell’s album Close Ties has gained considerable critical acclaim with NPR Music stating “There’s no doubt that Crowell was an architect of Americana as we know it, and with Close Ties, we’re fortunate to have a look at his blueprints.” The Wall Street Journal raved, “[Close Ties] proves energizing, engaging and often fascinating;” and the Associated Press added, “The set ranks among his best.” The Los Angeles Times called it “exceptional,” while No Depression noted, “Whether he’ll accept it or not, [Crowell has] now assumed the mantle of the late Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt, two poets who could zero in on our emotions by telling wry, straight-as-an-arrow stories about the desiccated desolation of the failures or triumphs of relationships, or the battered denizens of small towns searching for truth, comfort, love, or refuge in their own halting ways.”
Fifty years after Crowell first started playing as a teen in Houston garage bands, he has moved into elder-statesman territory, and continues to extend the path carved out by the top-tier songwriters who preceded him. His songs have been recorded by country legends (Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, George Strait), to current country chart toppers (Tim McGraw, Keith Urban) to blues icons (Etta James) to rock and roll legends (Van Morrison, Bob Seger). He is a Grammy award winner, a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, recipient of the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting from the Americana Music Association, and the author of his autobiography, the stunning Chinaberry Sidewalks.
February 1 – Boston, MA @ Wilbur Theatre*
February 2 – New York, NY @ Town Hall*
February 3 – Glenside, PA @ Keswick Theatre*
February 5 – State College, PA @ State Theatre*
February 6 – Alexandria, VA @ State Theatre*
February 7 – Alexandria, VA @ The Birchmere*
February 9 – Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room*
February 10 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall*
February 11 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall*
February 13 – Iowa City, IA @ The Englert Theatre*
February 14 – St Louis, MO @ The Sheldon*
February 15 – Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theater*
April 13 – Dayton, OH @ Victoria Theatre
April 16 – Traverse City, MI @ City Opera House
April 20 – Stoughton, WI @ Stoughton Opera House