-JACK OF ALL HEARTACHE
-2002
01. JACK OF ALL HEARTACHE (click to listen)
02. I CAN'T CALL VIRGINIA
03. LATE GREAT GOLDEN STATE (click to listen)
04. WORTHLESS
05. THE DESERT OF MY HEART
06. WHEN MY ANGEL GETS HIGH (click to listen)
07. THE GOOD OLD DAYS
08. FIGHTING OFF A MEMORY
09. I JUST DON'T THINK SO
‘Jack Of All Heartache’
“I ain’t old but I’m out of date”, Mike Stinson sings on his debut record, ‘Jack Of All Heartache”. Well Mike, you ain’t exactly a
spring chicken and your songs are right up there with Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, John Prine, Billy Joe Shaver
and Harlan Howard, I wouldn’t say, “out of date”, I would say, “timeless”.
Mike Stinson has been known only as a drummer for far too long. It’s nice to see him banging on an old Gibson acoustic guitar
and singing his songs, while letting a fine bunch of fellows back him up. Tony Gilkyson’s lead guitar is to Mike Stinson as Roy
Nichols is to Merle Haggard or Luther Perkins to Johnny Cash. Don Heffington’s subtle playing could only come from a lifetime
of drumming for everyone, including some of Mike’s influences like Bob Dylan or Emmylou Harris. Kip Boardman’s bass and
piano are understated to the point of genius. All these guys are pals and can share a laugh or two, you can tell.
Mike’s lyrics are at the same time sentimental or hilarious depending on where you are in life and whether or not you can laugh at
yourself. In his song “I Can’t Call Virginia” he sings of only having enough nerve to call an old Love after drinking too much.
Most of us have been part of these moments, whether you can look back and shake your head or be there and cry or what side
of the telephone line you where on doesn’t seem to matter. Mike’s songs tell this a lot easier than this paragraph does.
Willie Nelson and his band listen to Mike Stinson while traveling on their tour bus, ‘The Honeysuckle Rose’, it’s true Mickey
Raphael said so. Not to mention that they where cool enough to have this stuff before the record came out.
The only problem that I have with Mike Stinson is when I’m hanging out, cooking chili is should I put on Willie Nelson’s ‘Phases
and Stages’ or should I put on Mike Stinson’s ‘Jack Of All Heartache’.
-Charlie McGovern
East Hollywood, California 2001
-JACK OF ALL HEARTACHE
When Dwight Yoakam walked into the
record store on Sunset Boulevard, the
clerks wondered what he was going to
buy. He walked up to counter and
slapped one CD down, Mike Stinson's,
"Jack Of All Heartache". Within a
couple month's Dwight cut "The Late
Great Golden State" from Mike's
record to use as the opening cut of his
new record.
Buy the record!
Be as cool as Dwight.
after writing another gold record.