Brooklyn Cowboys – The Other Man In Black

A curious collision of ’70s rocker Walter Egan, country songbird Joy Lynn White, slinky steel wizard Buddy Cage and other assorted veteran sessioneers, these ersatz urban cowpokes made their debut in early 2000 with the uneven retro country-rocker Doin’ Time On Planet Earth. Two years later, White has flown the coop, talented Knoxville singer Brian Waldschlager has become a fully vested member, and the band still sounds like it was put together from a spinning dart board.

The Other Man In Black is a 23-minute, six-song EP that includes two studio cuts (the title track and a surprisingly fine “hidden” hillbilly gospel hoedown) plus four live selections. The live segments are spirited and noisy, sadly recalling both the sound and the driverless feel of the post-Gram Burrito Brothers’ 1972 album Last Of The Red Hot Burritos.

No matter. Penned by Egan and drummer Fredro Perry, “The Other Man In Black (The Ballad Of Dale Earnhardt)” is clearly the disc’s raison d’etre. A shamelessly obvious cash-in of the sort Hank Jr. is famous for, the track is a raucous, caterwauling “salute” to the late NASCAR icon that’s chock-full of repeated declarations of pinheaded devotion. This shiny little hubcap is probably a hot item at Darlington and Daytona, but on the home box, it’s a flaming wreck by the first turn.