Brooklyn Cowboys – Doin’ Time On Planet Earth

The Brooklyn Cowboys’ debut is a sleek, satisfying set of country rock squarely connecting the traditions of Gram Parsons, Commander Cody, Bakersfield twang and a few others. Led by Walter Egan, a Parsons crony who had a pop hit in 1978 with “Magnet And Steel”, the Cowboys also include steel guitarist Buddy Cage (New Riders Of The Purple Sage) and drummer Fedrough Perry. Most of the songwriting is split between Egan and Perry. Terrific country singer Joy Lynn White is in the band, too, but inexplicably is used only as a background singer; if Joy Lynn is in my band, she gets the microphone.

That carping aside, the Brooklyn Cowboys work up some entertaining energy on stompers such as “Wishful Drinking” and prove equally adept at ballads such as “Hearts On Fire” which Egan originally co-wrote (with Tom Guidera) for Parsons and Emmylou Harris.

And there’s one significant historical note for Parsons fans: The disc includes “Carolina Calypso”, a song for which Parsons wrote the lyrics shortly before his death. Parsons had Emmylou Harris deliver the lyrics to Egan, who added music shortly after Parsons died. The song was not recorded until now. And if the result doesn’t quite live up to the semi-legendary tone of its creation — what could? — it’s still an engaging tune, and a damn good thing to finally have available.