Origins of outlaw country are traced back to the 1970s and the likes of Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Billie Joe Shaver, Lee Clayton and others. Singer-Songwriter James Talley was born in Tulsa, moved to Washington, New Mexico and then Nashville. Critically acclaimed but not widely known, he fused blues, country and social commentary into his songs. Some compared him to a mid-70s Woody Guthrie as he sang about “hard times and breadlines.” Talley built a studio in exchange for studio time, pressed 1,000 copies of his 1974 album and mailed them to country radio stations. Eventually, he landed a contract with Capitol, and this album is a special 40^th anniversary reissue of his second (of four) projects for that label. President Jimmy Carter loved and understood country music, and first lady Rosalynn Carter once declared James Talley to be her favorite singer. Unfortunately, at the time, Talley’s songs were considered rather serious and radical for most country radio stations and therefore didn’t sell well. During the 80s and 90s, Talley released several projects on the German Bear Family Record label.

Populism is on the upswing, and Talley’s songs take new, revived meaning. Songs like “Forty Hours” and “Are They Gonna Make Us Outlaws Again?” will always remain relevant. Troubles and tension are everywhere. Some like “Got No Bread” don’t come across as particularly somber, extreme or revolutionary now. Witten by a working man just “Tryin’ Like The Devil” to be free, Talley’s music is also nostalgic. As Talley says in his liner notes, “Songs tell the stories of our lives … Songs come from deep in our hearts, deep in our thoughts, dreams, hopes, and longings.” Talley’s music, originally issued decades ago, is worth rediscovery. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)