Terry Allen Juarez (CD)

(Paradise Of Bachelors) 15 Tracks - 48-page booklet - 

The legendary Texas artist Terry Allen occupies a unique position between country music and visual art; he has worked with artists as diverse as Guy Clark, David Byrne and Lucinda Williams and his art is at home in museums worldwide.  His celebrated masterpiece - probably the best concept album of all time - is his minimalist, haunting 1975 debut LP, "Juarez". 

The album is the brutal, fragmented story of the chronic American southwest and its border countries. Released in collaboration with the artist and remastered by the original bands, this version of "Juarez" is the ultimate version of the art country classic: the first re-issue on vinyl; the first version with the originally planned artwork (with the lithographs of the first edition) and the first version that puts the album in context with Terry Allen's 50-year art career. 

TERRY ALLEN & THE PANHANDLE MYSTERY BAND

Singer/songwriter/pianist born in Lubbock, Texas in 1943.  His debut album, 'Juarez', was released on the Fate label in 1976.

 

Maybellene [as 'Whatever Happened To Jesus And Maybellene'] (4:36) 1980  

45: Fate 1001 ● USA, 1980 (picture sleeve)
LP: Smokin' The Dummy [Fate 2] ● USA, 1980
CD: Smokin' The Dummy / Bloodlines [Sugar Hill SHCD-1057] ● USA, 1994

Album recorded July-August 1980 at Caldwell Studios, Lubbock, Texas.  All songs are by Allen except this one – probably the most unusual version ever of this Berry classic.  It starts off with a self-composed ditty, 'Whatever happened to Jesus and where did that good ole boy go?' (plus a few more lines), followed by 'Whatever happened to Mary? Whatever happened to her sweet dreams? Did she leave them behind with her childhood or just trade 'em in on a tube of Maybelline? Ahhh, Maybellene why can't you be true...' and so on.  I like that.  Allen really did make his own unique version of the song without copying anyone else!