Crooked Line

LP Cat No: Essential Records   ESSLP 183       July 1992
CD Cat No: Essential Records   ESSCD 183       July 1992
CD Cat No: Rykodisc Records   RCD 10238       July 1992 (US)

1	A CHILD COULD TELL	04:21
2	BLUE SKIES	03:58
3	MISERY	06:45
4	YOU	03:30
5	SHOT AT YOU	05:47
6	CROOKED LINE	04:54
7	WALK ON ME	04:05
8	SOMEDAY	05:31
9	NEW KIND OF FREEDOM	03:40
10	JUST A LITTLE	03:22
11	DRUNKEN DRIVER	06:27
12	I'LL FIGHT FOR YOU	02:47
		55:07

All songs written by Nils Lofgren except Just A Little (Elliot/Durand)

The Band:

Nils Lofgren: guitars, lead vocals, keyboards, accordion, harmonica, vibes
Eric Ambel: guitars, harmony vocals, timpani
Andy York: bass guitars, harmony vocals, percussion, keyboards
Johnny "Bee" Badanjek: drums

with:
Frank Funaro: drums
Rob White: percussion
Neil Young: harmony vocals, guitar, harmonica

Produced by Eric "Roscoe" Ambel

Recorded by Ron Freeland at Big Mo Recording Studios,Kensington, Maryland

Cover illustrations by Ralph Steadman

Review This album blew me away when I first heard it. For reasons too complicated I didn't listen to it until 1998 but what an album. Nils had matured! With Neil Young lending a hand Crooked Line showed just how he could produce records of real depth. This, with the previous release of Silver Lining, took Nils on the next stage of his career by taking a leap forward after a few less impressive albums (Flip, Night Fades Away and Wonderland). He seemed to have gathered a few more good friends about him and he was doing his own thing with excellent production in tow. I believe this to be a milestone album that kept Nils exactly where he belongs - among the true greats of Rock'n'Roll! And I think the cover is brilliant.

AMG EXPERT REVIEW: Crooked Line evokes Lofgren's Youngian (not Jungian) roots, and it's therefore appropriate that original mentor Neil guests on the sessions. Mr. Young adds distinctive background vocals and harmonica to the country-folk ramble "You," and lets loose with some grungy electric guitar for "Drunken Driver." Not that he steals any of the limelight from Lofgren, who offsets his trademark tough but melodic string-bending with tasteful acoustic pop forays like "Shot At You." The guitarist leaves flashy pyrotechnics to others, preferring to cut his material with direct, slashing simplicity. — Roch Parisien

Personally, I found it profound and encouraging that he acknowledged his thanks to his friend Bill W in the credits.

Front and back of the US "Long Box" CD (RCD 10238)

This is from a tour T-shirt

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