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It’s strange how time manages to work things out. In the early seventies, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely and Butch Hancock probably could’ve gotten themselves arrested, but not more. This album was originally released in 1972, but was considered unworthy of general release. As befits the times, this collection of tunes only saw the light of day on 8-track (!), and only with extremely limited distribution.
Now, here we are in the 21st century. Gilmore, Ely and Hancock all have reputations and legacies that precede them – they are ‘household’ names in certain regional households – and this album is exactly what the title says it is. While tooling around Texas, these three monumental talents were struggling to survive and making remarkable music together.
Adjusting to Jimmie Dale Gilmore’s quavering tenor takes some getting used to, but hearing that voice as it warbles over a musical saw can be downright challenging. Don’t be surprised if some listeners snicker a bit, but any such judgment is prejudicial and uninformed. Gilmore’s voice is fragile, expressing vulnerability and heartfelt emotion, while the musical saw resembles a wobbly theramin, offering a perfect complement to the honesty of each performance. Considering the evidence of his latter day performances, it is odd to think that Joe Ely is relegated to the role of back-up singer, but this was the type of group effort that had talent to spare. The playing/picking is sensationally tasteful throughout, and the songwriting is second to none. Their choice of covers, including Willie Nelson’s “One Day At a Time” and especially the public-domain French Cajun classic “Jole Blon” conveys their versatility and mastery of all genres – both country and western, as the joke goes.
Today, it’s strange to think of all the ‘country’ music made in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s that went underappreciated at that time. Much of it has since been deemed classic – The Byrds “Sweetheart of the Rodeo” and virtually everything by Gram Parsons have fallen into that category, and they are all viewed with reverence from today’s perspective. Now, you can add More a Legend Than a Band to that same category.
Grade: 
 
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