Jerry Jeff

2022 studio album by Steve Earle & the Dukes

Jerry Jeff

Studio album by

Steve Earle & the Dukes

Released

May 27, 2022 (2022-05-27)

Studio

Electric Lady Studios (New York, NY)

Length

36:56

Label

New West

Producer

Steve Earle

Steve Earle & the Dukes chronology

J.T.
(2021)

Jerry Jeff
(2022)

Jerry Jeff is a studio album by American rock band Steve Earle & The Dukes. It was released on May 27, 2022, via New West Records. Recording sessions took place at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. Production was handled by Steve Earle himself. The album covers ten songs written by American country and folk singer-songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker, who died from throat cancer on October 23, 2020, at a hospital in Austin, Texas at the age of 78, paying tribute to the late musician.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	81/100^[1]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[2]
American Songwriter	^[3]
Classic Rock	^[4]
Mojo	^[5]
Record Collector	^[6]
Spectrum Culture	79/100%^[7]
Uncut	^[8]

Jerry Jeff was met with universal acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 81, based on four reviews.^[1]

Lee Zimmerman of American Songwriter found that the album "serves the purpose well by turning the spotlight on an artist that deserves greater attention within the Americana arena. Earle's effort to share his songs will hopefully contribute to that added appreciation".^[3] Sylvie Simmons of Mojo praised the album, saying "it just sounds so good. Warm and natural. And Earle's voice has rarely sounded better".^[5] Nick Hasted of Uncut wrote: "'Mr Bojangles', sung with cornpone syrup by Dylan, here earthily returns to the drunk-tank cell where Walker met its subject, a broken-down, alcoholic tap-dancer his song invests with heel-clicking magic. The tune defiantly climbs, strings waltz and Earle stores sentiment 'til the end".^[8] In his mixed review for Classic Rock, Stuart Bailie stated: "he delves into lesser-known parts, like "Wheel", a 1973 song about tragic, rural cycles, and he sings "Old Road", as a sparse holler, akin to the original. Other songs celebrate the 'gonzo country' aims of Jerry Jeff, but "Mr Bojangles" and his worn-out shoes is still best in show".^[4]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jerry Jeff Walker

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Gettin' By"	3:57
2.	"Gypsy Songman"	2:36
3.	"Little Bird"	2:59
4.	"I Makes Money (Money Don't Make Me)"	2:42
5.	"Mr. Bojangles"	5:15
6.	"Hill Country Rain"	4:23
7.	"Charlie Dunn"	3:29
8.	"My Old Man"	4:58
9.	"Wheel"	4:28
10.	"Old Road"	2:09
Total length:		36:56

Personnel

Steve Earle & The Dukes

Steve Earle – guitar, mandolin, octave mandolin, harmonica, vocals, producer
Chris Masterson – guitar, mandolin, vocals
Eleanor Whitmore – fiddle, strings, mandolin, vocals
Ricky Ray Jackson – pedal steel guitar, dobro, vocals
Jeff Hill – acoustic and electric bass, cello, vocals
Brad Pemberton – drums, percussion, vocals

Additional musicians

Tony Leone – drums, vocals
Ray Kennedy – recording, mixing, mastering
Lauren Marquez – recording assistant
Adam Hong – recording assistant
Greg "Chief" Frahn – guitar tech
Tony Fitzpatrick – cover art
Danny Clinch – photography, back cover
Scott Newton – photography
Tom Bejgrowicz – package design and layout
Kim Buie – A&R
Danny Goldberg – management
Jesse Bauer – management
Danny Bland – tour management
Butch Gage – business management
Dan Goscombe – business management
Rosemary Carroll – legal
Paul Fenn – booking
Lance Roberts – booking
Bobbie Gale – publicity
Claire Horton – publicity
Richard Wootton – publicity

Charts

Chart performance for *Jerry Jeff*
Chart (2022)	Peak position
Scottish Albums (OCC)^[9]	20
UK Country Albums (OCC)^[10]	1
UK Independent Albums (OCC)^[11]	9
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)^[12]	30

References

^ ^a ^b "Critic Reviews for JERRY JEFF - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
^ Deming, Mark. "Steve Earle, Steve Earle & the Dukes - Jerry Jeff Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
^ ^a ^b Zimmerman, Lee (May 28, 2022). "Review: Steve Earle Offers His Mentor Some Added Adulation". American Songwriter. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
^ ^a ^b Bailie, Stuart (May 27, 2022). "Steve Earle & The Dukes are ragged and true on Jerry Jeff Walker tribute". Classic Rock. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
^ ^a ^b Simmons, Sylvie (August 2022). "Filter Albums". MOJO. p. 91.
^ Dalton, Nick (July 2022). "New Albums". Record Collector. p. 105.
^ Fish, Bob (June 6, 2022). "Steve Earle & the Dukes: Jerry Jeff". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
^ ^a ^b Hasted, Nick (June 10, 2022). "Steve Earle & The Dukes – Jerry Jeff". UNCUT. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
^ "Steve Earle Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2024.