Today, GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter Joe Ely announced his new album, Love and Freedom, set for release on February 7 via Rack ‘Em Records / Thirty Tigers. With nearly 25 albums under his belt, the prolific Texas native returns with a timely collection of songs written by Ely and some of his musical heroes, including Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, and Woody Guthrie. Along with the announcement, Ely released a new single, “Shake ‘Em Up,” which he describes as “an ode to dice games in the Wild West.”
Listen to “Shake ‘Em Up” via YouTube
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“I’m really appreciative of everyone’s help in putting this album together,” shares Ely. “To me, Love and Freedom is a reminder of the times we’re living in right now, and I hope it resonates with whoever takes the time to listen.”
Co-produced with frequent collaborator Lloyd Maines (Miranda Lambert, Kris Kristofferson), Love and Freedom unveils songs from Ely’s recording vault, spanning several decades of sessions at Spur Studios, his home studio outside Austin. Ely recorded these tracks during time off the road, resulting in poignant renditions of classics like the Ryan Bingham-featured take on Woody Guthrie’s protest anthem “Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)” and the heartfelt Guy Clark cut, “Magdalene.”
Love and Freedom follows Ely’s 2024 road album, Driven to Drive, which received widespread acclaim from Pitchfork, American Songwriter, Rolling Stone, Stereogum, No Depression, and more. In addition to his revered solo work, Ely is one-third of the Texas-based trio The Flatlanders, alongside Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. In 2021, the band released Treasure of Love, their first album in over 12 years, which earned a five-star review from The Austin Chronicle, praising, “Perfect in vision, voice, harmony – not to mention timing – Treasure of Love delivers quintessential Flatlanders.”
Over the course of his long and eclectic career—as a songwriter, performer, collaborator, and author—Joe Ely has altered and expanded the meaning of Texas music, bringing its sounds and stories to audiences worldwide. Love and Freedom marks yet another milestone for Ely, celebrating the power of unity through song during divisive times.
Love and Freedom Tracklist:
Shake ‘Em Up
Adios Sweet Dreams
Magdalene – Written by Guy Clark
Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos) [feat. Ryan Bingham] – Written by Woody Guthrie
Waitin’ Around to Die – Written by Townes Van Zandt
Sergeant Baylock
Today It Did
Band of Angels
For the Sake of the Song
Here’s to the Brave
What Kind of War
No One Wins
Surrender to the West
