Track Listing

1. Car Outside
2. Catch The Wind
3. This Land
4. Truth
5. Lucky Man
6. Hideaway Girl
7. That's The Way It Goes
8. Not Dark Yet
9. Walk A Mile In My Shoes
10. Don't Ask Me
11. Home Once Again
12. These Blues

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #46687 in Music
• Released on: 2007-05-08
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
Austin singer-songwriter legend and master of soulful "red dirt" roots music returns with a panoramic collection of songs on his first new release in two years. Cimarron Manifesto pays tribute to Woody Guthrie, J.J. Cale and LaFave's Oklahoma homeland, and sings of long roads, heavy loads and wide-open spaces. The record artfully combines soulful originals with inventive covers, creating a country mood that is both sweet and mournful. Delivering his most realized recording to date, LaFave solidifies his place as on the truly great American songwriters.

Raised by the Cimarron River that runs from northeastern New Mexico to Tulsa, LaFave draws great inspiration from the independent thinkers and musicians from this region and pays homage to them while exploring the current American climate. "I wanted to make an album that was a musical statement - something that spoke to that part of America that's going away." Cimarron Manifesto is LaFave's personal response to the country's changing cultural landscape, exploring themes of loss, war and wanderlust. Amidst his brilliant originals, Jimmy reinvents classics by Bob Dylan (Not Dark Yet), Donovan (Catch The Wind) and Joe South (Walk A Mile In My Shoes).

Produced by LaFave and recorded in Austin, it features the immense talents of his regular band: John Inmon on guitar and lap steel, Andrew Hardin on guitar, Radoslav Lorkavic on keys, Wally Doggett on drums and Jeff May on bass. Looking to include some of his favorite female singers, LaFave invited Ruthie Foster, Carrie Rodriguez and Kacy Crowley to lend their vocals, adding their full harmonies to four tracks.

Recorded with friends and neighbors, Cimarron Manifesto has an organic feel that grew out of the red dirt of LaFave's childhood. Celebrating the restless American soul, it's destined to be the brightest jewel in a career of musical treasures.

Associated Press
Jimmy LaFave stands out like a pint of Guiness in a bar full of Miller Lites

Rolling Stone
Jimmy LaFave is in the first rank of roots rockers to emerge from Austin

Customer Reviews

No one can sing about loss as well as Jimmy
A little while ago I saw a recent video of Donovan singing "Catch the Wind." He sang it just as he did 40 years ago, and coming from someone who looks like an aging leprechaun it was more than a little creepy. That's why Jimmy LaFave's version--with its sense of grownup loss and longing and regret (not to mention the dobro in the background)--struck me so powerfully. Just like his version of "Walk Away Renée," I now can't imagine it being sung any other way.

I've played this album a lot since I got it, and I love it. His songwriting is getting better and better (when he sings about his daughter in "Lucky Man," he doesn't say "what a lucky man I am," but "what a lucky man I must be," as though he can't quite believe his good fortune). The back-up vocals are a pleasant surprise.

Jimmy reaches out and grabs you
The first I heard of Jimmy LaFave was his cover of 'Walk Away Renee' on 'Austin Skyline' a good few years ago. It jumped out of the radio and grabbed me by the throat. I was lucky enough to see him live here in Auckland as the opening act for Lucinda Williams ... what a concert that was. His cover of 'Catch the Wind' on this will reach out and grab people all over again.

New LaFave cd grows on Cheyenne Chick
I have all of Jimmy's albums; try to go to all the live shows I can. This latest work projects a different twist/side to his personality. I love the passion of his other albums and his ability to touch your heart with his words and his voice. All of his albums are excellent. The new album to me has an ever so slight country slant to it but it is good although it took me a few listens to appreciate the added female vocals. As of yet, it is not my most favorite but I will definitely "wear it out" over time. The photography on the cover is phenomenal--good job Brian. I would have liked to had the words to the songs included as with all the other albums.