Ed Bruce - After Hours (2024)

Ed's new release today is a collection of songs he wrote and recorded as demos over the last 20 years. Ed never wrote a song he didn't mean, so these are honest songs that we are fortunate he took the time to record. American songwriter, artist, and actor Ed Bruce maintained a successful career for more than four decades. The songs he wrote and sang are legendary, “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys”, “After All,” “Girls, Women, and Ladies,” “When You Fall In Love, Everything’s A Waltz and My First Taste Of Texas are just a few of the self-penned hit songs by this great artist. Ed was born in Keiser, Arkansas, on December 29, 1939. While still very young, his family moved across the river to Memphis, and he claimed Tennessee as his home. Ed started writing songs in his early teens and, in 1957 while a senior in high school, he signed his first record deal with the hometown label, legendary Sun Records.

This set from the late Ed Bruce (1939-2021) is a touching final effort from the Arkansas-born artist/actor/songwriter. A touch of rockabilly, country & outlaw country dominated his repertoire throughout his career. Some listeners may never have heard Ed, but this is the man who wrote & recorded the classic “Mamma’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” (which later became a major hit for Willie Nelson & Waylon Jennings).

He’s another of the artists who were brought along by Sun Records’ Sam Phillips (Elvis, Johnny Cash/Jerry Lee Lewis/Carl Perkins/Roy Orbison). Mr. Bruce also recorded for several major labels & famed smaller labels. Aside from his recording, he penned songs for Tommy Roe, Tanya Tucker, Crystal Gayle & Charlie Louvin.

While his career & personality weren’t as intense as the names mentioned Ed had many varied hits (he charted 41 times including a #1 country song) & several songs he wrote were hits for other artists. No mean feat.

This posthumous LP features 16 originals for After Hours. Previously unreleased (13) with 2 remixes from earlier demo recordings & one live cut. The showcase was produced by friends/songwriters Mike Morgan & Jeff Elliott.

This is a look back at Ed Bruce who cleverly dabbled in various musical genres. The material covers many topics – sad, somber, mellow, jazzy lounge-inspired (“After Hours”) & humor-inflected Mexican-themed tight-up-tempo storytelling (“Who Wrote Her Name On the Wall,”). He had expressive Nashville-oriented country & bluesy balladry. Ed’s lyrics are always a focus of each composition.

For country singers who don’t write their own, Mr. Bruce would be a motherlode. There were others – Larry Weiss (“Rhinestone Cowboy”) but Bruce’s talent was writing a straight-ahead lyric with few spangles & hoi-polloi. I’m not big on humor in country songs but Bruce manages to glide over without touching the novelty rim.

The production sparkles. It’s country, plain & simple. Some are typical strong cowboy coffee (from a pot like the one on TV’s “Gunsmoke”). All memorable in their way. Another artist similar to Ed who never was a major player, but was a respected songwriter was the deep-voiced late Tony Joe White (“Polk Salad Annie”). Ed’s tune “Good Jelly Jones,” milks that tradition. Ed nailed it as a writer, storyteller & vocalist — with skill. Great song & performance.

Tracklist
01. What's a Girl Like You Not Doin' here (3:37)
02. Who Wrote Her Name on the Wall (3:13)
03. After Hours (4:28)
04. Like You Like Me (3:05)
05. Never Thought About You (4:01)
06. The Things I Couldn't See (2:58)
07. Good Jelly Jones (3:02)
08. The Feel of Bein' gone (3:43)
09. Mama's Quilt (2:58)
10. Homecoming 1945 (3:38)
11. Never Did Get Close Enough (2:59)
12. They Don't Play Double Headers Anymore (3:04)
13. Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys (2:16)
14. The Outlaw (A Tribute to Waylon Jennings) (2:31)
15. Outrun the Wind (3:17)
16. Old Timer (4:58)