Texas In His Soul

RODNEY CROWELL h a s such perfect credentials for an Americana musician they almost sound made up. But he really was Johnny Cash’s son-in-law (Crowell was married for 14 years from 1979 to the hugely gifted Roseanne Cash). He’s known Billy Gibbons, who would find massive fame with ZZ Top, from the time they were both growing up in Houston. As a kid in Nashville, he was in the circle of acclaimed songwriters that included Steve Earle, Guy Clark, and Townes Van Zandt. And on the rock side of life, Crowell’s 1982 composition, “Shame on the Moon”, would become one of Bob Seger’s biggest hits.

Crowell’s latest album is simply called (RC1), and its beautifully crafted variety