Mescalito is the first studio album by American country rock singer/songwriter Ryan Bingham, released in 2007 through Lost Highway Records and produced by Marc Ford.
Production The album was released after three self-produced albums by Bingham and his band, the Dead Horses. Some of the tracks in Mescalito, such as "South Side of Heaven" (the main single from the album) and "Long Way From Georgia" were taken from the Dead Horses albums (specifically, from Wishbone Saloon). The album encompasses several traditional American and Mexican styles, including bluegrass, country rock, southern rock, blues, americana and mariachi ("Boracho Station").Review at Il popolo del blues (in italian)Review at About the Music
Mescalito was produced by guitarist Marc Ford (of Black Crowes fame) and features several prominent artists of the country and southern rock scene, such as Terry Allen (who makes a cameo appearance in "Ghost of Travelin' Jones"), Joe Ely, and Marc Ford himself, who plays electric guitar in "The Other Side" and "Bread and Water" and slide guitar in "Hard Times".Review at Debaser A different version of "The Other Side" was also included in Marc Ford's album Weary and Wired.
Reception
The album was generally well received by critics,See the BBC review and other reviews quoted therein. who praised Bingham's songwriting as well as the expressiveness of his voice, that was compared to those of Tom WaitsSee the Texas Music Magazine review quoted on Bingham's site and Steve Earle,Review on Rolling Stone although some described Bingham's style as too manieristicReview at Allmusic and monotonous.Review at Musicbox Besides Earle and Allen, Rolling Stones, John Mellencamp, Bruce Springsteen and Joe Strummer have been cited as obvious influences in Bingham's work.
The main single "Southside of Heaven" was well received commercially, and was included in the score of an episode of the E.R. TV series.
Track listing "Southside of Heaven" – 6:19 "The Other Side" – 2:11 "Bread and Water" – 4:08 "Don't Wait For Me" – 4:56 "Boracho Station" – 2:03 "Sunshine" – 4:20 "Ghost of Travelin' Jones" – 4:09 "Hard Times" – 4:38 "Dollar a Day" – 2:11 "Take It Easy Mama" – 3:03 "Long Way From Georgia" – 3:54 "Ever Wonder Why" - 4:59 "Sunrise" - 4:45 "For What It's Worth" - 13:58
Credits Jeb Venable - Bass Bukka Allen - Accordion Joe Allen - Bass Terry Allen - Piano, Vocals ("Ghost of Travelin' Jones") Anthony "Antoine" Arvizu - Tambourine, Producer, Engineer, Mixing Kevin Bartley - Mastering John Bazz - Bass (Upright) Melanie Bellomo - Cover Photo Ryan Bingham - Guitar (Acoustic), Harmonica, Vocals, Vocals (background), Handclapping, Slide Guitar, Shaker, Author, Foot Stomping Stéphane Bossard - Banjo Brent Bowers - Artist Coordination Kim Buie - A&R Jason Carter - Fiddle Boyd Elder - Illustrations David Ferguson - Engineer Marc Ford - Guitar (Acoustic), Bass, Guitar (Electric), Organ (Hammond), Tambourine, Producer, Slide Guitar, Shaker, Mixing, Lap Steel Guitar, Hi Hat, Papoose Jon Gries - Photography Lucas Hoge - Producer Coy Koehler - Photography David Krepinevich - Assistant Engineer Jeff Lightning Lewis - Assistant Engineer Rick Lonow - Percussion, Drums Mike Malone - Piano, Organ (Hammond) Carlton Moody - Producer Doug Moreland - Fiddle Karen Naff - Design Corby Schaub - Mandolin, Guitar (Electric), Vocals (background), Handclapping, Foot Stomping, Kettle Drums Matt Smith - Percussion, Drums Brian Standefer - Cello, Engineer Mike Starr - Fiddle, Slide Guitar
Music videos (Directed/ Produced by Anna Axster) (Directed/ Produced by Anna Axster)
References