Side A
The album opens with a cool rendition of "My Way," a song made famous by Frank Sinatra, but also recorded by the Sex Pistols. This rendition might owe a bit to each of those artists, but really has its own sound. The song is counted off at the start. There is an energy to that guitar work, making us feel this version is ready to explode. And I love the little laugh on the "regrets" line. Then it does kick in to become a harder rock number. These guys easily transition back and forth then. This rendition is a lot of fun. "The record shows/I'll take the blows/And I'll do it my way." And, indeed, they have done just that. I love it. That's followed by a cover of The Who's "The Real Me," this version beginning with a couple of lines delivered a cappella, as if in the distance. Then it kicks in with a great hard rock force. All the energy is there, and this track features a strong, passionate vocal performance. Plus, Bonerama Horns join the band for this track. I hadn't listened to this song in a while, and had forgotten its power. Then we get "Can't Hardly Wait," the Replacements song. The title of this song (and of the movie, for that matter), has always bothered me because it should be "Can Hardly Wait." As it is, it is a sort of double negative. That being said, it's a great song. I think we all remember that moment when we learned about The Replacements. There were certain bands like that in the 1980s, bands somewhat outside the mainstream that were exciting, that provided a breath of fresh air. These guys clearly have a love for this song, and deliver a really good rendition, featuring some great stuff on guitar.
I love Fats Domino, and this band delivers a seriously fantastic rendition of "I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday." It is so cool and so hot, and a whole lot of fun. They say in the liner notes they were inspired more by the original Bobby Mitchell version than by Fats Domino's recording of it. If you haven't heard the Bobby Mitchell rendition, it's definitely worth checking out. This Cowboy Mouth version is a lot more wild than either of those early versions. It has punk and rockabilly elements, and is one to get you dancing around like a glorious fool. It features a great vocal performance. This is one of my personal favorites tracks. "Everything's gonna go my way." They slow things down then with "'Til I Gain Control Again," a song written by Rodney Crowell and first recorded by Emmylou Harris. Several years later Crystal Gale had a hit with it. So, yeah, they dip into country here, and do so earnestly and beautifully. This track contains another of the album's best vocal performances. Just listen to the delivery of the lines "I only hope that you can hold me now/'Til I can gain control again." This track contains some good stuff on guitar, plus some really nice work by special guest Dwight Breland on pedal steel.
Side B
The second side opens with "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" (that's the way it is spelled on Cher's record), though a typo on the Cowboy Mouth record jacket has the song as "Gypisies, Tramps And Thieves." I admit, I've always loved this song. It's one of Cher's best. I still have it on vinyl (my copy is from the self-titled release before the album was renamed for this song). This band gives it more of a rock sound and flavor, particularly on the chorus, which is delivered with a punk energy. That approach is totally fitting, and works so well. There is still some of that carnival vibe of the original. That's followed by "Perfect Circle." R.E.M. was another of those special bands in the 1980s that had a different sound from most of what was being played. Of course, it wasn't all that long before they were in the mainstream themselves, but I still recall that moment when a friend turned me onto Murmur. I wasn't always sure what was being sung, and maybe that was a bit of the attraction. "Perfect Circle" is from that album, a rather pretty song, one you feel can lift you and carry through the rougher spots of your day. Cowboy Mouth does a really nice job with it. Then they deliver a fun rendition of Ian Hunter's "Just Another Night." This is another song I hadn't listened to in a long time. It comes from Ian Hunter's 1979 album You're Never Alone With A Schizophrenic (the same album that gave us "Cleveland Rocks"). This track features an energetic vocal performance. "It's just another night/On the other side of life." This is what rock music is all about, isn't it? And this track features Becky LeBlanc and Belle Fine on backing vocals, delivering some wonderful stuff toward the end.
I was ten years old when I got my first Queen album (it was a cassette that my grandfather got for us to listen to on a road trip), and this song was one that stood out for me. I still love it, and I love what these guys do with it, giving it a bit of a bluegrass vibe, which works perfectly. Brendon Anthony joins the band on fiddle, delivering some excellent work. There is also some delicious work on guitar. This is fun, fun, fun, and is another of my personal favorite tracks. They playfully toss in a few lines from The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again," instead of the "Get on your bikes and ride" bit. The album concludes with a cover of the Hootie & The Blowfish song "City By A River." Hootie & The Blowfish member Mark Bryan joins the band on guitar for this one. And, yes, there is plenty of great guitar work here. "Take your dreams down to the river/Drop 'em in and watch them flow." This is a rousing and uplifting number, a perfect way to wrap things up.
Record Track List
Side A
- My Way
- The Real Me
- Can't Hardly Wait
- I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday
- 'Til I Gain Control
Side B
- Gypsys, Tramps And Thieves
- Perfect Circle
- Just Another Night
- Fat Bottomed Girls
- City By A River
Cover Yo' Azz! is scheduled to be released on August 15, 2025.
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