Honky-Tonk Stardust Cowboy

Album Review

Less known than singer/songwriters like James Taylor and John Prine, Jonathan Edwards nevertheless had his 15 minutes of fame when "Sunshine" became a hit in 1971. Honky-Tonk Stardust Cowboy converted the folk-rock of his debut into a country-folk artifact. Catchy and immediately likable, both the title track and "Stop and Start It All Again" should have been prime material for radio fodder, but Atlantic had no idea how to market this early urban cowboy. Edwards' soulful, countrified vocals always sound sincere, as though he pretty much made each lyric his own. Add to this the acoustic guitars, quiet percussion, and an audible bass on songs like "It's a Beautiful Day" and "Give Us a Song," and one has a perfect blend of voice and arrangements. The accompanying band proves themselves quite eclectic on Honky-Tonk Stardust Cowboy. Steel guitar makes an appearance on "Everything," harmonica on "Morning Train," and banjo on "Ballad of Upsy Daisy." This latter tune, in fact, sounds a lot like bluegrass. There's a truly bizarre version of "Paper Doll," an old Mills Brothers tune, recorded live with the help of Stuart Schulman. Taken out of context, one might be hard-pressed to match some of these songs to the album; within the album, however, Edwards' vocals and the band's country leanings achieve an overall unity. "That's What Our Life Is," an ode to the performing life and fleeting fame, proves the right note to end this minor classic on. Honky-Tonk Stardust Cowboy is a refreshing taste of the early-'70s country-folk at its best. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide