Search - Billy Joe Shaver :: I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal...But I'm Gonna Be A Diamond Someday

Billy Joe Shaver
I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal...But I'm Gonna Be A Diamond Someday
Genres: Country, Folk, Pop

Track Listings (10) - Disc #1
1. Fit To Kill And Going Out In Style
2. Blue Texas Waltz
3. Saturday Night
4. Ragged Old Truck
5. I'm Just And Old Chunk Of Coal (But I'm Gonna Be A Diamond Someday)
6. When The Word Was Thunderbird
7. (We Are) The Cowboys
8. Mexico
9. It Ain't Nothing New Babe
10. The Road

CD Details

All Artists: Billy Joe Shaver
Title: I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal...But I'm Gonna Be A Diamond Someday
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Koch Records
Release Date: 3/17/1998
Genres: Country, Folk, Pop
Styles: Outlaw Country, Singer-Songwriters
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 099923790426, 7099923790429

Synopsis

Amazon.com

Billy Joe Shaver was making "outlaw country" before they had a name for the stuff; knocking out tough-as-nails Texas tunes and singing them in a voice like rough-hewn timber. He's never garnered the fame of pals like Waylon and Willie, but he's certainly earned their respect (Jennings, in fact, recorded a 1973 album full of his songs, Honky-Tonk Heroes). This 1981 outing features some of Shaver's best known, and hardest rocking, tunes--including the title track, "Fit to Kill and Going Out in Style" and the rollicking "Ragged Old Truck"--as well as the debut of his guitar-wielding son, Eddy. Shaver also scores with the ballads "Blue Texas Waltz" and "It Ain't Nothing New Babe." --Michael Ruby

CD Reviews

I've Worn Out Three Of These

J. Kelly | Salem, OR United States | 08/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard Billy Joe's songs on Waylong Jennings' landmark 1973 album, Honky Tonk Heroes and was hooked. I first saw him on an Austin City Limits show in about 1980 and couldn't believe what I was seeing. The man's lyrics, along with his own exuberance in performance coupled with son Eddy's electrifying electric guitar work was damn near a spiritual experience.

"I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal" was originally released in 1981 on Columbia, undoubtedly at the urging of Johnny Cash who's publishing house published over half of the songs on the LP. This CD would make a great introduction to Billy Joe's music as it features some of his best work including "Ragged Old Truck" and the title cut, but it also marks Eddy's recording debut.

I wore out the original LP, two cassettes, and now I've loaned the CD to a friend who has yet to return it. I think the next time I order it, I might as well take a dozen. You don't need to start out with that many, but you might end up using it to turn friends on to Shaver's work so you might as well get a couple copies."