Blackie and The Rodeo Kings – Step Away

CB introduced this band to me a couple of weeks ago. I started to listen to them and ran across this album and as soon as I heard this…I liked it.

This song is beautiful… the band was making an album and put a call out to many female singers to do duets. Some of the women they got were Lucinda Williams, Amy Helm (daughter of Levon Helm), Patti Scialfa (wife of Bruce Springsteen), Pam Tillis, Rosanne Cash, and more. One of the “more” is Emmylou Harris. She is the one who is singing in Step Away.

Last Sunday I posted a song named When The Spirit Comes by Colin Linden. Colin is part of this band that includes Tom Wilson and Stephen Fearing. They started the band in 1996 as a tribute to  Canadian folk artist Willie P. Bennett. One of Bennett’s albums was called Blackie and the Rodeo King. They wanted to get one of Bennett’s songs down on an album and this is the one. Colin Linden said, “I wanted a Willie P. Bennett song on the record, and I couldn’t imagine a better honor to bestow on someone we love as much as Willie than to have Emmylou Harris sing on one of his songs. I don’t think there’s ever been a better singer on the planet; I’m so glad she said yes.”

This album is called Kings and Queens and it was released in 2011. I’m also including a song they did with Rosanne Cash that was released as a single off the album called Got It Covered. Linden said, “Rosanne’s a real supporter of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, and I knew she was a fan of Ron Sexsmith. Ron came in with an idea for Got You Covered and we wrote it in a hotel room in Austin, Texas in a matter of a couple of hours. He’s brilliant a pretty easy guy to write with. It’s like riding in a Cadillac, writing with that guy.”

Got You Covered has an older soul feel and Cash sounds fantastic in this one. In my next post with these guys, I’ll get to more of the edgier ones.

Tom Wilson on Willie Bennett: “Willie articulated the sensitivity of a fifty-year-old guy and he represented the rebellious ‘fuck you’ attitude of a sixteen-year-old. Willie managed to be more punk rock than any punk rocker I have ever met and, at the same time, could probably break your heart in two. He was a true poet. His wings were a little dirty. He wasn’t afraid of living life and taking chances. When you’re a young guy and you’re looking for an influence, there’s your man right there.”

Step Away

I’m just a step away
Turn around, see where I’m standin’
I’m a step away
From your heart
I’m just a step away
I might stand here forever
I’m a step away
From your heart

Some people act kind; some people act cruel
Some people act blind when they see the Golden Rule
If you ask me, I’d say you’re a nervous wreck
I’ve got me to share if that’s what it takes to get

Just a step away
Turn around, see where I’m standin’
I’m a step away
From your heart
I’m just a step away
I might stand here forever
I’m a step away
From your heart

Reelin’ from a brand new lost love affair
You weren’t so lucky this time; somebody got scared
Maybe you’re like me and you can’t be nobody’s pet
I’ve got love to share if that’s what it takes to get

Just a step away
Turn around, see where I’m standin’
I’m a step away
From your heart
I’m just a step away
I might stand here forever
I’m a step away
From your heart

I’m just a step away
Turn around, see where I’m standin’
I’m a step away
From your heart
I’m just a step away
I might stand here forever I’m a step away
From your heart

A step away (step away)
A step away
Just a step away

Unknown's avatar

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

19 thoughts on “Blackie and The Rodeo Kings – Step Away”

  1. That’s a great album is it not? Packed full of people I like, apart from the Blackie boys, plenty of Canadian talent there with Holly Cole, and Serena Ryder and writing from Ron Sexsmith. I know a little from Janiva Magness. That’s a couple great selections you made with Rosanne and Emmy Lou. I’ve had the good fortune to see Willie at the local Folk Festival some years back. He was a institution on the circuit.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Yes it is Randy. I just found Bennett…great stuff and Ron Sexsmith I found a few weeks ago… I found him first and then CB mentioned these guys and it’s funny how they all connect together.
      I started to listen to their music….when they said that about Bennett I started to look him up.That is really cool you got to see him.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  2. Max, this sounds awesome. You know when you just know? This is one of these cases.

    I love how Emmylou Harris sounds with the band. She’s such a great artist. I gained even more appreciation when I saw her in Philly in July 2017, where she shared the bill with John Mellencamp and Carlene Carter – so good!

    The other song with Rosanne Cash is right up my alley as well. I really need to check out Blackie & the Rodeo Kings and that album.

    CB has done it again. Great stuff! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. He passes on winners doesn’t he? Christian I had no clue of this album this week…I was listening to their random songs and within a few seconds after playing this one…I knew it was good…I then went on to listen to the complete album.
      Next time I’ll release something else by them…they have great harmonies and seem to have a lot of fun.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  3. Well you know more about these Canadians than I do! Like I said previously, the name was well-known in Toronto but the music itself wasn’t that much. Listening to ‘I’ve got you Covered’ , I like it , very nice especially with Cash’s voice. I heard it once or twice before, but didn’t know who it was. So thanks for letting us all know!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Well CB mentioned them and Hanspostcard mentioned Rex Sexsmith right before to me…and like I told Randy…they all connect together. I didn’t know who was singing on the Step Away song…I just liked it….and then the next one was the Got You Covered and I liked that one as well. I found out who they were and I thought…ok and then read what they did….great stuff.

      Like

      Reply

  5. You got hit hard by these guys. I know how you feel. Interesting choice for a post on them but a good one. I’m always a little leery of these “gathering” albums. Not this one. The gals are all in top form and the songs and music are top notch Max as you proved with the cuts you used. I was just listening to it last week. You are in for some good listening that will run all over the music scale. All I gotta say is, I need one of those jackets.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I thought this would be a cool first post…and I wasn’t going to do it but after hearing the Bennett version…I’m thinking wow this is awesome. I didn’t know who was singing it…so I didn’t base it off of that.
      They picked some cool ladies that fit their music and they fit theirs….they didn’t try to fit a square in a circle…and it worked.
      I had House of Soul and Stoned started but I thought this would be a cool introduction.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a reply to John Holton Cancel reply