J.T. (album)

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For James Taylor's 1977 album, see JT (album).
J.T.
Studio album by
Steve Earle & The Dukes
ReleasedJanuary 4, 2021 (2021-01-04)
Recorded2020
StudioElectric Lady Studios (New York City, New York)
Length34:32
LabelNew West
ProducerSteve Earle
Steve Earle & The Dukes chronology
Ghosts of West Virginia
(2020) 		J.T.
(2021) 		Jerry Jeff
(2022)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.9/10[1]
Metacritic82/100[2]
Review scores
SourceRating
American Songwriter[3]
The Arts Desk[4]
Clash Music9/10[5]
Exclaim!9/10[6]
Mojo[7]
The Observer[8]
Pitchfork7.6/10[9]
Spectrum Culture77%[10]
Uncut8/10[11]
Under the Radar7/10[12]

J.T. is a studio album by American rock band Steve Earle & The Dukes. The album is a tribute to Earle's oldest son, Justin Townes Earle, who died of an accidental drug overdose on August 20, 2020. It was released by New West Records on January 4, 2021, on what would have been Justin's 39th birthday.[13] Recording sessions took place at Electric Lady Studios in New York City with Ray Kennedy as audio engineer. Production was handled by Steve Earle himself.[14] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 82 based on eleven reviews.[2]

The album's genesis[edit]

Justin Townes Earle released eight albums and an EP over a span of 13 years.[13] Like his father, he struggled with addiction, beginning with heroin use before turning 13.[15][16] While problems with substance abuse strained their relationship, the father and son appeared to have reconciled more recently, and they spoke on the phone the night Justin died in his Nashville apartment.[17][18] The cause of death was ruled an accidental overdose of cocaine and the opium derivative fentanyl.[19][20]

Shortly after Justin's death, Steve Earle began working on an album in his memory. With the help of his 33-year-old son Ian, Earle selected 10 songs from six of Justin's albums.[19] He then booked a week at Jimi Hendrix's Electric Lady Studios in New York City, where he recorded 2020's Ghosts of West Virginia.[13][21][22]

Regarding his motivation for recording J.T., Earle wrote in the liner notes, "For better or worse, right or wrong, I loved Justin Townes Earle more than anything else on this earth. That being said, I made this record, like every other record I’ve ever made...for me. It was the only way I knew to say goodbye."[23]

The songs[edit]

All of the songs on J.T., except one, were either written or co-written by Justin Townes Earle. Together, they provide an overview of the songwriter's career, featuring both fan favorites and deep cuts.[21][24]

The opening track, "I Don't Care", is a rocking bluegrass tune that appeared on Justin's EP Yuma in 2007.[21] Four of the songs are taken from his first album, 2008's The Good Life: "Ain't Glad I'm Leaving", "Far Away in Another Town", "Turn Out My Lights", and "Lone Pine Hill".[18] Interspersed between these songs are selections from five subsequent albums: "They Killed John Henry", Midnight at the Movies, 2009; "Harlem River Blues", the title track of his second album, 2010; "Maria", Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now, 2012; "Champagne Corolla", Kids in the Street, 2017; and "The Saint of Lost Causes", the title track of his final release, 2019.[25]

"Last Words," the closing track, is the album's only original.[26] Composed by Steve Earle in the weeks following Justin's death, it recounts the last conversation between the two, in the phone call the night he died.[27] The song also reflects on their rocky relationship during times spent together and apart.[28] It closes with their final words to each other: "I love you" and "I love you, too".

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Don't Care"Justin Townes Earle1:54
2."Ain't Glad I'm Leaving"Justin Townes Earle2:52
3."Maria"Justin Townes Earle2:46
4."Far Away in Another Town"
  • Justin Townes Earle
  • Scotty Melton
3:06
5."They Killed John Henry"Justin Townes Earle2:34
6."Turn Out My Lights"
  • Justin Townes Earle
  • Scotty Melton
2:35
7."Lone Pine Hill"Justin Townes Earle2:43
8."Champagne Corolla"Justin Townes Earle3:35
9."The Saint of Lost Causes"Justin Townes Earle5:01
10."Harlem River Blues"Justin Townes Earle3:10
11."Last Words"Steve Earle4:21
Total length:34:32

Personnel[edit]

Steve Earle & The Dukes[edit]

Source:[13]

Additional personnel[edit]

Source:[14]

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for J.T.
Chart (2021) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[29] 49
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[30] 39
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[31] 157
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[32] 43
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[33] 48
Scottish Albums (OCC)[34] 7
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] 37
UK Country Albums (OCC)[36] 1

References[edit]

  1. ^ "J.T. by Steve Earle & The Dukes reviews | Any Decent Music". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Critic Reviews for J.T. - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  3. ^ Zimmerman, Lee (January 4, 2021). "Steve Earle Offers a Lingering Lament for a Sadly Departed Son". American Songwriter. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  4. ^ Thomson, Liz (January 8, 2021). "Album: Steve Earle & The Dukes - JT". The Arts Desk. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  5. ^ Fitzpatrick, Will (January 4, 2021). "Steve Earle & The Dukes - J.T." Clash. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  6. ^ Mullin, Larry (January 4, 2021). "Steve Earle and the Dukes' 'J.T.' Is a Fitting Send-Off to Justin Townes Earle". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  7. ^ Simmons, Sylvie (2021). Mojo - March 2021. Mojo. p. 84.
  8. ^ Spencer, Neil (December 26, 2020). "Steve Earle and the Dukes: JT review – a father's fond farewell". The Observer. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  9. ^ Deusner, Stephen M. (January 27, 2021). "Steve Earle: J.T." Pitchfork. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  10. ^ Cober-Lake, Justin (January 15, 2021). "Steve Earle & the Dukes: J.T." Spectrum Culture. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  11. ^ Staunton, Terry (2021). Uncut - February 2021. UNCUT. p. 27.
  12. ^ Moody, Mark (January 20, 2021). "J.T." Under the Radar. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  13. ^ a b c d Sisario, Ben (December 29, 2020), "The Album Steve Earle Never Wanted to Make: A Tribute to His Son", The New York Times, retrieved March 28, 2021
  14. ^ a b "J.T. Album Credits". allmusic.com. Allmusic. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  15. ^ Freeman, Jon (August 25, 2020), "Police: Justin Townes Earle Died From 'Probable Drug Overdose'", Rolling Stone, retrieved April 2, 2021
  16. ^ Hudak, Joseph (August 23, 2020), "Justin Townes Earle, Americana Singer-Songwriter, Dead at 38", Rolling Stone, retrieved March 28, 2021
  17. ^ Zimmerman, Lee (January 2021), "Steve Earle Offers a Lingering Lament for a Sadly Departed Son", American Songwriter, retrieved March 28, 2021{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  18. ^ a b Newcomb, Brian Q. (January 27, 2021). "Steve Earle & The Dukes: J.T." firenote.com. The Fire Note. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  19. ^ a b Danton, Eric R. (January 4, 2021), "Steve Earle & The Dukes Mourn Justin Townes Earle on J.T.", Paste, retrieved March 28, 2021
  20. ^ Bernstein, Jonathan (December 1, 2020), "Justin Townes Earle Death Ruled an Accidental Drug Overdose", Rolling Stone, retrieved March 28, 2021
  21. ^ a b c Hackett, Vernell (January 13, 2021), "Steve Earle Releases Powerful Album, 'JT', in Tribute to Late Son", Sounds Like Nashville, retrieved April 3, 2021
  22. ^ Cober-Lake, Justin (January 14, 2021). "Steve Earle & the Dukes: J.T." spectrumculture.com. Spectrum Culture. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  23. ^ DeVille, Chris (January 4, 2021). "Stream Steve Earle's Album of Songs by His Late Son Justin Townes Earle". stereogum.com. Stereogum. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  24. ^ Mullin, Larry (January 4, 2021), "Steve Earle and the Dukes' 'J.T.' Is a Fitting Send-Off to Justin Townes Earle", exclaim.ca, Exclaim!, retrieved April 5, 2021
  25. ^ Mullin, Larry (January 4, 2021), "Steve Earle and the Dukes' 'J.T.' Is a Fitting Send-Off to Justin Townes Earle", Exclaim!, retrieved April 5, 2021
  26. ^ Freeman, Jon (January 8, 2021), "Steve Earle Covers Son Justin Townes Earle's 'Harlem River Blues' on 'Kimmel'", Rolling Stone, retrieved March 28, 2021
  27. ^ Armstrong, Chuck (January 4, 2021), "Steve Earle Lifts Up His Son's Legacy on 'J.T.'", No Depression, retrieved March 28, 2021
  28. ^ Bryson, Ben (January 21, 2021). "Album Review: Steve Earle and The Dukes – J.T." mxdwn.com. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  29. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. March 29, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  30. ^ "Ultratop.be – Steve Earle & The Dukes – J.T." (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  31. ^ "Ultratop.be – Steve Earle & The Dukes – J.T." (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  32. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Steve Earle & The Dukes – J.T." (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  33. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Steve Earle & The Dukes – J.T." (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  34. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  35. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Steve Earle & The Dukes – J.T.". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  36. ^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 28, 2021.

External links[edit]

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