Joe Ely, Musta Notta Gotta Lotta (sleep last night)

[cthehill]

Damn, I just saw Jesse's obituary -- a year older than me. Lordy, he was good. I was visiting Harvard wearing a Live Shots tee shirt, and some Harvard fellow tried to buy it off my back.

[SlowMovingFunSeeker]

That would be none other than Michael Robberson on bass, Smokey Joe Miller on sax, and Ponty Bone on accordion.

[cthehill]

Was that 30 years ago, when we were young? Lawzy, the nights dancing at Coldwater. Jesse flat out eats him up some guitar. Sooo much better than the popcrap of the day. First saw him on the bill with Billy Joe Shaver at some quonset hut in the middle of a cotton club east of Lubbock. Joe (and a lot of tequila) helped us survive our exile in that god-awful hellhole. Anyone remember Lubbock Lights Art Gallery? Good times in a bad situation.

[kathyvickers]

@cthehill we must have been drinking right next to each other!!

[Indio156]

He wrote this song about me, in the early 80's, when he was in NYC with me.

[kj8636]

BTW ~ Jessie and Joe were good friends and played together. Jessie was and Joe is about the coolest thing since dry ice. I saw him many times and he truly is a thrilling act LIVE - if he comes to your area by all means annie up and go!! He is the best kept secret Texas has. REALLY ~

In gratitude for so many awesome performances,

atexasgirlatheart:) Rock on Joe!

[bassmule]

Dunnno, but it might have something to do with Satan paying cash at the end of the gig.

[bassmule]

Americans. Our sins are various and monumental, but we know how to rock the joint.

[elhombredantanner]

@bassmule I often wonder why does satan get all the good music?

[laandrew1]

The greatest live act I've ever seen.

[Wormfarmergeorge]

Three words: Jesse, Guitar, Taylor.

[ernesttubb]

Classic.

[englebertslapptyback]

It is clear as to why the Clash toured with Joe Ely. Real rock. Real emotion. Sincerity.

[godblessolbas]

Pure rockabilly bliss 

[Gatsby999888]

Hot dog, I like it a lot...

[DONNY12332]

Hey you Texas folks, us RUFFNECKS from Alberta 'll drink 't Mr JOE!!!!!

[sallyjoe465]

Geez but you could play, Jesse....wowzzzaaa!

[whitefeet1]

Yeah, Tom Petty was the cure for the 70's prog-rock crap, and these guys were the cure for Tom Petty...

[rpm4565]

Can anyone tell if the drummer is Davis McClarty with a beard? Never saw him that way, so hard to tell. If so, RIP Davis also. Ely has always had talent for assembling a great band....sort of a Texas version of John Mayall as a band leader. So glad I went to school in Lubbock in the 70's. Been Ely fanatic ever since. Thanks for post.

[Indio156]

The drummer was Robert. He passed away in a car accident with two girls. I was friends with is wife, and I went out with Joe Ely.Btw, Joe Ely was never the Texas version of ANYONE. He is just JOE ELY. Ask Bruce Springsteen or anyone else in the music biz. Joe is JOE, and very respected. I will always love him, even if I haven't seen him in 25 years.

[rpm4565]

@Indio156 - You miss the point, which is odd as you claim to be an Ely-phile. Joe is his own man & talent. But he also assembles great bands, as did Mayall. Mayall is older, thus first. Thus I say Joe shares great "band leader" talent with Mayall. He also has the same performing intensity and writing chops as Springsteen, in my view, so I think Joe is a Texas version of Springsteen. Both attack a stage. Joe tells the Texas story, BS is the Jersey version. Both have respect. I prefer Joe.

[dbelew]

Davis McLarty is very much alive.

[rpm4565]

@rpm4565 Sorry. Confused Davis with Don Lindley.  Sorry Mr. McClarty. RIP Mr. Lindley and Long life Mr. McClarty.

[1955Bradpitt]

I saw him...play a frat party in Lubbock texas in 1973 .....he was good then now he kinda sucks....still you got to enjoy his music from that era

[shakeahand1]

Rock 'n Roll

[bill3979]

R.I.P. Jesse "Guitar" Taylor.

[meauxb]

Awesome!! Thanks for posting! I'm a big Ely fan from the 80's and this brings back fond memories!!

[danmcc08]

God Bless Joe Strummer!!! Thank The Clash for this. After seeing Ely in Texas they took him back to England with them and made him a star

[poughkeepsiejohn]

ONE MORE TIME!!!

[meauxb]

Too Cool!! Thanks for posting this! I first saw Joe in the late 70's in Austin and have been a major fan ever since. I figure over the last 30 years I have seen him over 300 times.

[rocknloretta]

I had to know when so I went to his site..Joe rocks!

May 17, 1981 Fly from Washington, D.C.'s Dulles to London's Heathrow

May 19, 1981 London England BBC TV taping of "The Old Grey Whistle Test" Band

[jbage007]

can't sit still!

thanks for the good times Joe!

[Indio156]

He wrote this song when he was with me.

[bodahlstrom]

as always, a pure delight