When I hear about a Texas singer-songwriter, I have to listen. Terry Allen is no exception, and yes, I love the styles he has and the songwriting. I couldn’t pick one from the album, so I thought, let’s go over the album. I listened to this album this week, over and over, and now while I’m writing this. It’s different, and that is a good thing.
Terry Allen was born in 1943 in Lubbock, Texas, the same West Texas town that produced Buddy Holly. While Holly went straight into rock and roll, Allen took a different path. He studied art at Chouinard Art Institute in California during the 1960s and built a career as a respected visual artist before becoming widely known as a songwriter.
He has never really fit in one category. He came out of Texas in the 1970s, making records that mixed country, folk, and storytelling. The thing about Allen that sets him apart is that he is a songwriter who thinks like a novelist. By the mid-90s, he released this album, Human Remains, an album that sounded loose but carried the stories of people and places. He made this album with the help of Lloyd Maines, David Byrne, Joe Ely, Lucinda Williams, and many others.
It feels like a set of sketches from the American West and Southwest. The songs deal with memory, loss, odd characters, and the passing of time. It’s not a polished “Nashville” production. The record sounds live, with guitars, accordion, and rhythm sections that set the mood. The album is full of characters, wisdom, and plenty of commentary.
The first song that really caught my ear was What of Alicia. I like everything about this song and the lyrics of two people during a time frame until they met. The album kicks off with a rolling number called Gone To Texas with the lyric Hey I don’t need no chickenshit business man, tellin’ me what to do, Even if you ain’t got no business, same thing goes for you. I thought, well, this is different, and I like it. Another song that is mixed with humor is Peggy Legg. There’s a one-legged woman, On the dance floor, An that one leg’s so pretty, She don’t need no more. I mean, that is imagination and clever.
Flatland Boogie is an enjoyable song about cruising in a Ford in the southwest. I hope you give the album a try. The songwriting is top-notch, and he has wit to spare. The lyrics fit so well together, and the music makes this album accessible to everyone.
I saw a review by a user, and he said this. I don’t know what kind of music this is. Okay, it’s definitely country, but it’s not normal country; it’s something different. Can’t put my finger on it. It’s not “rock & roll” country, and it’s not Neo-Traditionalist Country. It’s not folksy, and it’s not artsy. I don’t think any traditional genre would claim this stuff. It’s just Terry Allen.
That’s really close to what I think as well, and it’s a huge compliment. Allen has his own thing going on here, and I respect and enjoy it. Terry Allen, as I said, is a well-known visual artist, and you can see some of his work here. Some of his art is in museums.
What Of Alicia
Well he just turned 17
When he left old Abilene
With his bag
And permission from the kin
Yeah but things just weren’t the same
After his Momma signed her name
And let the navy…take him in
Ahhh
What of Alicia
Española
13 years old
Child of Mexico
And he just turned 19 years
When he learned to face his fears
Of growing up
And acting like a man
He just cocked his sailor cap
Stuck his hands down in his lap
Leaned back and stroked them girls in Japan
Ahhh
What of Alicia
Española
15 years old
Girl of Mexico
An he just turned 23
When he finally took his final leave
Anchored in the port of San Diego
Yeah he met this border girl
An he fancied her body’s curl
So he married her
Then carried her to Colorado
Ahhh
What of Alicia
Española
19 years old
An old woman
But out of Mexico
PowerPop... An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture 
New name for me Max. But I like it!
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I thought you might like this guy Randy. I love his lyrics…and the music is catchy.
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Very cool! 😎
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My favorite Terry Allen song is Gimmie A Ride To Heaven.
I read what you wrote twice. Not a single mention of this song, nor of New Delhi Freight Train, recorded long ago by my beloved Little Feat. And yet, what you said is perfect. Here is Terry Allen. Period.
What a great analysis. Terry defies description, and does so from the get go. He is in his own niche, with close connections to Joe Ely and a Lloyd Maines. But Terry stands alone.
You got great taste, my friend.
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Yea…I usually don’t go over ever song…but Gimmie A Ride To Heaven was one of the ones I thought about writing about before I thought I’d go over the album.
He is one of a kind Arthur…no doubt. I love the way he writes.
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New to me. ‘Gone to Texas’ sounds quite good. He seems tailor-made for Austin City Limits
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He is Texas through and through… I love his writing approach…as more of a novelist…and it’s clear in that What Of Alicia…time frames on two people at the same time.
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the little paintings/pictures in the article you linked are quite good and interesting, I like it when musicians branch out too.
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I think the art stuff was his main thing for a while…but he knows some huge people in the music industry. Yet another Texas guy Dave…they grow songwriters down there.
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Nice post, Max and it was nice to learn about Terry Allen. I liked the beat in Gone To Texas, as that had me tapping my feet. What Of Alicia is a great story telling song.
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Thank you Jim I appreciate you giving him a chance. I like good lyrics…and he has them in spades.
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Dont you like it when creative people go their own way and buck the popular route. I have a soundtrack called ‘Chippy’ that Allen did with Ely and a bunch of other good people. Listening to ‘Alicia’ and being transported to Mexico without leaving Canada. ‘An that one legs so pretty, she dont need no more” Come on how cant a guy like that line?
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Those lines blew me away CB… just outstanding. Instead of me really reviewing it…I wanted his lyrics to review themselves. I can safetly say…he is not really like anyone else. Yea he has the Texas songwriting thing going on…but wow. Different.
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I gravitate to this stuff for the “different” reason plus it just sounds good. Puts me in another place plus a smile on my face. John Prine like (Oh Oh there I go making comparisons).
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No labels allowed! lol…no I know what you mean. Yea it just sounds good. That is why I used that user’s review…not like this or that or that…it just is.
The novelist approach works for him well.
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What a readership you have. Open minded and a few even knew of him.
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That surprised me…I’m waiting for Phil if he comes today…
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I’d never heard of him before, kind of got more of a Hispanic sound than his contemporaries.
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One for me to delve further; I do like lyrics that have a twist.
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I think you will like his lyrics a lot.
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Like both songs, instrumentation, lyrics, everything. Will check out the rest of the album. Don’t think I’ve heard of him, but his name is pretty common, so could have heard it without realizing it. On a side note, I was going to mention yesterday how bummed I was to hear about John Hammond dying. It said he died Feb. 28, but I didn’t hear about it until last Thursday. What a loss of a great blues singer and guitarist.
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Yes I heard that as well…just really sad. I believe he was the last person to play with Duane Allman a day before he died. I didn’t find out until later either.
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