BLAZE FOLEY & THE BEAVER VALLEY BOYS: Cold, Cold World

Blaze Foley & the Beaver Valley Boys

Cold, Cold World

© 2006 Lost Art Records (823043421225)

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Texas singer-songwriter, alt-country.

notes

The November 2006 release from Lost Art Records captures Blaze Foley and his working band—the Beaver Valley Boys—from their first Texas studio recordings dating from 1979 and 1980. Blaze and the band—anchored by the reknowned Gurf Morlix—are at the top of their form. The new CD, Cold, Cold World, includes 17 Foley songs that range from several of his well-known classics to six songs that appear on a Foley recording for the first time. The studio sessions were produced by Gurf Morlix and John Hill.

“Blaze and the Beaver Valley Boys were a big part of a healthy Houston club scene in the late 1970’s,” said band mate Gurf Morlix. “We had our share of fun, but mostly it was about the songs. This album represents the music as it existed then, raw and beautiful. Blaze has never been captured like this on CD. These recordings represent a special moment in time.”

Long known to the nation’s top songwriters in the country, Foley’s songs have been recorded by Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, John Prine, Lyle Lovett and others. Four Foley tribute CDs have been issued and a documentary of his life are in progress. Lucinda Williams’ “Drunken Angel,” and Townes Van Zandt’s “Blaze’s Blues,” personal tributes to their good friend Foley, added to a legacy that was once nearly forgotten. Lost Art Records previously released two live Foley albums, Live at the Austin Outhouse and Oval Room from recordings made in 1989.

The Cold, Cold World album represents Blaze’s first recorded material and is compiled from two sessions, the first in Houston, Texas in 1979. The second session was recorded at Loma Ranch Studios in Fredricksburg, Texas in 1980.

Born in Marfa, Texas, in l949, Foley (birth name Michael David Fuller) began performing at an early age in a family gospel act called the Fuller Family. He led a colorful and storied life. Even in Austin, a city of non-conformists, Foley stood out. He slept on friends’ couches or on the pool tables in clubs. Periodically banned (if only temporarily) by many Austin clubs, he made the Austin Outhouse his surrogate home. Four weeks after making the “Outhouse” recordings Foley was shot and killed in Austin in 1990.

Other Blaze Foley recordings available from Lost Art Records include Live at the Austin Outhouse (LAR 1015) and Oval Room (LAR 1018).

reviews

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  • Just Get It!
    author: C.H.

    I bought this record more out of curiousity than anything. Gurf Morlix plays a few Blaze songs in concert and Lucinda's 'Drunken Angel' is about Blaze. Townes Van Zandt covers `I wish I Could Fly`, another Blaze song made famous by Merle Haggard. I was stunned at what a great album this is. The master tracks were laid down in `79 and `80 and Gurf produced this version in `06 but it sounds like it was recorded a few weeks ago. Absolutely great songs, a fine singer and great musicianship throughout. If you are into great singer-songwriters who happen to be from the lone star state, just get it!

  • Dusty wordsmith
    author: Robert Tisi

    The stories are legendary, and well-known. Blaze wrote great Texas folk. His material being recorded by the best of the best, and he having more tribute albums than releases himself speaks volumes of the respect he had, and deservingly so. This is special stuff!

  • Great songs, Blaze and Morlix shine
    author: Jake Haisley

    This CD features some of Blaze's best songs, and Blaze himself is in top form vocally. Gurf Morlix supplies some juicy electric blues parts that definitely enhance the music and make the songs that are on other Blaze albums worth hearing again. Unfortunately, the overuse of crash cymbals and occasional drum rolls is highly irritating and undermines the natural dramatic touch of Blaze's voice on key tracks such as Small Town Hero and Slow Boat to China. The album would actually be better with more subdued drums and with stronger bass parts. Still, hearing a full band playing with energy behind Blaze is a positive and different experience. Highlights include Picture Cards, with a stirring piano accompaniment (no crash cymbals, thank God), the rollicking Officer Norris, and the title track.

  • Great songs, Blaze and Morlix shine
    author: Jake Haisley

    This CD features some of Blaze's best songs, and Blaze himself is in top form vocally. Gurf Morlix supplies some juicy electric blues parts that definitely enhance the music and make the songs that are on other Blaze albums worth hearing again. Unfortunately, the overuse of crash cymbals and occasional drum rolls is highly irritating and undermines the natural dramatic touch of Blaze's voice on key tracks such as Small Town Hero and Slow Boat to China. The album would actually be better with more subdued drums and with stronger bass parts. Still, hearing a full band playing with energy behind Blaze is a positive and different experience. Highlights include Picture Cards, with a stirring piano accompaniment (no crash cymbals, thank God), the rollicking Officer Norris, and the title track.

  • Blaze is addictive...
    author: camtosh

    Can't get over how real his songs are. Just like in "New Wave Blues," this blonde keeps coming back "again and again and again"! Blaze's up there with the best songwriters and poets, with images to rival Waits at his most human, the pain shining through the humor, the love beyond the pain. Gurf Morlix plays great, the mix is clean and wonderful. Thanks for this one, wish there were more to come...

  • Blaze Foley, is he good? No, he is brilliant. Fact.
    author: Jamie
  • More perfection from the vaults
    author: Dan I.

    Blaze Foley was one of our finest , though mostly unknown , songwriters. This buried treasure is enhanced by the production and playing of Gurf Morlix. You can never go wrong buying something with Gurf producing and/or playing. Blaze Foley will be a Van Gogh from this generation. Unheralded in his own time , a hundred years from now his songs will be considered genius.

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