Credit: Barbara FG
Releases Rollicking New Single “Shake ‘Em Up”
January 24, 2025 – Today, GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter Joe Ely has announced his new album Love and Freedom, out 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 as well as by 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
“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 alongside frequent collaborator Lloyd Maines (Miranda Lambert, Kris Kristofferson), Love and Freedom unveils songs from Ely’s recording vault over the course of several decades at Spur Studios, his home studio facility outside of Austin. Ely would record these tracks during time spent off the road and the end result features 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 official road album Driven to Drive, which was released to widespread acclaim from Pitchfork, American Songwriter, Rolling Stone, Stereogum, No Depression and more. In addition to his revered solo work, he is one-third of the Texas-based trio The Flatlanders along with Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. In 2021, the band released Treasure of Love, their first album in over 12 years which had The Austin Chronicle raving in their five-star review, “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 while taking those sounds and this place around the world. Love and Freedom marks yet another milestone for Ely, one that celebrates the power of unity through song during these divisive times.
Love and Freedom Tracklist:
1. Shake ‘Em Up
2. Adios Sweet Dreams
3. Magdalene – Written by Guy Clark
4. Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos) [feat. Ryan Bingham] – Written by Woody Guthrie
5. Waitin’ Around to Die – Written by Townes Van Zandt
6. Sergeant Baylock
7. Today It Did
8. Band of Angels
9. For the Sake of the Song
10. Here’s to the Brave
11. What Kind of War
12. No One Wins
13. Surrender to the West
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