Dale Watson Call Me Insane

Dale Watson Call Me Insane

By Brian Rock

Ringo Starr once said, “Time takes time,” And that phrase has never been truer than it is for Dale Watson. This authentic and prolific ambassador of original Honky Tonk music has released twenty albums in the past ten years and still has managed to fly under most people’s musical radar. Recently, however, his persistence (and talent) have begun to get him noticed. In the past eighteen months he has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Austin City Limits and (oddly enough) The Bachelorette. So if you haven’t already discovered Dale Watson, the release of his new album, Call Me Insane, is the perfect opportunity to acquaint yourself with the hardest working man in Country music.

“A Day At A Time,” kicks off the album with a Johnny Paycheck influenced tribute to the overworked and underpaid. Singing, “Well my bills are getting higher, and my paycheck is getting lighter. But I’ll take it a day at a time,” Dale displays his blue collar cred as a man who has actually had to work hard for what he has. The blistering honky tonk guitar and pedal steel accents change the bluesy tone of the lyrics to a song of hope and triumph. Next, Dale and company break out the barrelhouse piano for the tongue in cheek, “Bug Ya For Love.” “Burden of the Cross” changes tone and tempo to contemplate more serious matters. Beginning, “They pulled up the cross to build a wider road,” Dale sings a heartbreaking tribute to his deceased fiancée. He finishes with the haunting chorus of, “a man needs to see his loss and the symbol that it carries: the burden of the cross.”

With his manly baritone and his well-travelled guitar, Dale serves up satisfying slice of authentic Western Honky Tonk music (or as he calls it, Ameripolitan). He expertly balances heartbreak and humor, sin and salvation, ballers and ballads to keep you engaged and eager to see what turn he takes on the next track. Lyrically, he touches you with songs like, “Call Me Insane,” and “Forever Valentine.” Musically, he rocks you with songs like, “Everybody’s Somebody in Luchenbach,” “Hot Dang,” and “Heaven’s Gonna Have a Honky Tonk.” He manages to do both on his tribute song, “Jonesin’ For Jones.” It would have been easy to eulogize George Jones with a “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” type ballad of death and despair. But instead he honors the Possum with this vibrant, “White Lightning” inspired salute to his late hero. The effect is both touching and rousing.

Call me insane, but I think it’s about time Dale Watson received some recognition of his own.

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