Search - Rickie Lee Jones :: Flying Cowboys

Goodbye Chuck E, hello Rodeo Girl

hermit the frog | New York, NY United States | 03/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rickie Lee Jones (at this point anyway) is about moving forward. The blues-folk of the eponymous debut grew into the more experimentally written Pirates, followed by a full evolution into the concept album The Magazine. Then, a 5-year silence.This album is a perfect return for her. The songs and production combine all the strengths of her previous albums into a neat little package. She would achieve such greatness again with Traffic from Paradise 4 years later, but this album is the best place to hear an artist operating on all cylinders. It was the right album at the right time, and still sounds fantastic today.I do wish it could be reissued, though (along with each CD that preceded it). As with most pre-90s CDs, the overall volume level is quite low compared to more recent discs. And perhaps add a couple of extra tracks? One can hope..."

RICKIE DOESNT LOSE THE NUMBER!!

brianolson@boogie.co.uk | 11/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"my only contact with the music of RLJ was thru the album MAGAZINE which i found to be disappointing.Well imagine my delight when i heard this collection as it is a gem of a disc.RLJ sounds as though she was having a ball and it shows.Not one dud track.Its an album that you can stick on and leave with confidence and you will want to play over and over again.There are some really lovely tracks here HORSES with its unforgettable guitar line,the gentle reading of GERRY and the PACEMAKERS'DONT LET THE SUN CATCH YOU CRYING'and the superb RODEO GIRL.At times RLJ does indeed sound very NYROESQUE but no way would that ever be a bad thing,believe me listening to this album is a real pleasure."

A Definite "Desert Island" Disc

Darren | Jersey Shore, NJ USA | 01/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although released in 1989, Flying Cowboys remains one of my favorite musical pieces in my entire collection of CDs and definitely one of the most essential in Jone's discography. It's high on my list of must haves if I was to be stranded on the immortal "desert isle".



Jones has always been a talented songwriter and always had a creative knack for telling her musical tales using vivid characters and lush musical arrangements. With some help from producer/songwriter/musician Walter Becker (from Steely Dan), she scores big on this project. The end result here is a mostly upbeat, poetic & jazzy collection of folk/pop with the exception of "Ghost Train". Although "Ghost Train" doesn't seem to fit into the mood of the whole, it is one of my favorites. It works extremely well in illustrating Jone's talent at more bluesier vocals and her overall versatility. From the ethereal "The Horses" to the calypso tinged "Love is Gonna Bring Us Back Alive", the other selections are upbeat, smoothly poetic and mildly romantic. Smooth jazz artist Vonda Shephard (from the Allie McBeal series soundtrack)and jazz great Randy Brecker also perform on a couple of selections.



For those not familiar with Rickie Lee Jones, I highly recommend Flying Cowboys."