Long in the Tooth (Billy Joe Shaver album)

Seven years after his previous album Everybody's Brother was released, singer Todd Snider convinced Shaver to write new material and record a new album. Shaver called Ray Kennedy and Gary Nicholson to produce the release, consisting entirely of newly written material. Shaver co-wrote the title-track with actor Paul Gleason.{{cite news|url=http://www.countryweekly.com/music/billy-joe-shaver-brings-truth-new-album-long-tooth|title=Billy Joe Shaver Brings the Truth on New Album, "Long In the Tooth"|last=Paxman |first=Bob|date=September 2, 2014|accessdate=September 17, 2014|work=Country Weekly|publisher=American Media, Inc}} Shaver defined the tracks and finished the writing while recording in the studio, completing previous ideas and selecting from his newly written work the ten tracks.{{cite news|first=Mike |last=Ragogna|title=Politics, Storytellers and Milltowns: Chatting With Kinky Friedman, Billy Joe Shaver and Mark Erelli|work=Huffington Post|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ragogna/politics-storytellers--mi_b_5726772.html|date=August 28, 2014|accessdate=August 28, 2014}}

Tracks of the album featured guest appearances. Willie Nelson contributed to background vocals in "Hard To Be An Outlaw", while his harmonicist, Mickey Raphael played throughout the album. Leon Russell played piano in "Last Call For Alcohol" and Tony Joe White played guitar in the title-track. Before the release of Long In The Tooth, Nelson recorded and released "The Git Go" and "Hard To Be An Outlaw" in his country chart topper Band of Brothers.{{cite magazine|last=Hudak |first=Joseph|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/billy-joe-shaver-bares-tooth-first-album-in-seven-years-20140805|title=Billy Joe Shaver Bares 'Tooth,' First Album in Seven Years|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media LLC|date=August 5, 2014|accessdate=September 17, 2014}}

On May 22, 2014, Rolling Stone premiered the single-duet with Willie Nelson "Hard To Be An Outlaw".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hear-willie-nelson-and-billy-joe-shavers-outlaw-duet-premiere-20140522|title=Hear Willie Nelson and Billy Joe Shaver's 'Outlaw' Duet - Premiere|last=Hudak |first=Joseph|date=May 22, 2014|accessdate=September 17, 2014|magazine=Rolling Stone|publisher=Wenner Media LLC}} The album was released on August 5, 2014 by Lightning Rod Records.{{cite news|url=http://radio.com/2014/05/22/outlaw-legend-billy-joe-shaver-to-release-new-album/|title=Outlaw Legend Billy Joe Shaver to Release New Album|date=May 22, 2014|work=Radio.com|publisher=CBS Radio, Inc}} After a 41-year career, Long in the Tooth became Billy Joe Shaver's first album to chart in Billboard's Top Country Albums, entering the chart at 19.{{cite news|url=http://www.musictimes.com/articles/9123/20140822/billy-joe-shaver-41-year-journey-top-20.htm|title=Billy Joe Shaver's 41 Year Journey to the Top 20|work=Music Times|publisher=Music Times, LLC|date=August 22, 2014|accessdate=September 17, 2014}} The album also entered the Billboard 200, peaking at 157.

{{Album ratings

| MC = (76/100)

|rev1= Allmusic

|rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

|rev2= American Songwriter

|rev2score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}

|rev3 = Austin Chronicle

|rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}

|rev4= Esquire

|rev4score= Positive

|rev5 = The National

|rev5score={{rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last1=Wine |first1=Steven |title=Album review: Billy Joe Shaver – Long in the Tooth |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts/album-review-billy-joe-shaver-long-in-the-tooth-1.472648 |website=The National |access-date=18 July 2023 |language=en |date=18 August 2014}}

|rev6= The Observer

|rev6score = {{Rating|3|5}}

|rev7= PopMatters

|rev7score = 7/10

|rev8= Record Collector

|rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}

|rev9 = Robert Christgau

|rev9score = A−{{cite web |title=Robert Christgau: CG: Billy Joe Shaver |url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Billy+Joe+Shaver |publisher=Robert Christgau |access-date=18 July 2023}}

|rev10=Uncut

|rev10score={{Rating|8|10}}

}}

According to the aggregate scores website Metacritic, the album opened to "generally favorable reviews", based on eight reviews.{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/long-in-the-tooth/billy-joe-shaver/critic-reviews|title=Long in the Tooth - Billy Joe Shaver|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive Inc|accessdate=September 17, 2014}}

Austin Chronicle rated the album with four stars out of five, declaring: "Here's Shaver the irascible honky-tonk hero, older but no less ornery".{{cite news|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2014-08-08/crazy-from-the-heat-billy-joe-shaver/|title=Billy Joe Shaver - Long in the Tooth (Lightning Rod Records)|last=Freeman |first=Doug|work=Austin Chronicle|publisher= Austin Chronicle Corp|date=August 8, 2014|accessdate=September 17, 2014}} Record Collector rated it with four stars out of five, noting that Long in the Tooth offers "a masterclass in redneck storytelling".{{cite news|url=http://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/long-tooth|title=Weather-beaten veteran still kicking country ass|work=Record Collector|publisher=Diamond Publishing Ltd|last=Staunton |first=Terry|accessdate=September 17, 2014}}

PopMatters rated it with seven points out of ten. The review remarked the weakening of Shaver's voice, but called it "a wonderful, expressive instrument", stating that Shaver "delivers (the words) with pizzazz".{{cite web|last=Horowitz |first=Steven | website=PopMatters|url=https://www.popmatters.com/184624-billy-joe-shaver-long-in-the-tooth-2495630038.html|title=BILLY JOE SHAVER: LONG IN THE TOOTH|date=August 14, 2014}} Meanwhile, American Songwriter declared Shaver's voice "perfectly suited for this material", while it called the album a "short but terrific ten track set", rating it with three-and-a-half stars out of five.{{cite news|url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2014/08/billy-joe-shaver-long-tooth-2/|title=Billy Joe Shaver: Long In The Tooth|last=Horowitz |first=Hal|date=August 5, 2014|accessdate=September 17, 2014|work=American Songwriter|publisher=ForASong Media, LLC}} Allmusic also commented on Shaver's voice, and stated that "(it) has worn to a deep, rough rasp". The review emphatizised his songwriting, calling it "strong and as vital and world-weary wise as ever".{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/long-in-the-tooth-mw0002680689|title=Long in the Tooth|last=Leggett |first=Steve|work=Allmusic|publisher=Rovi Corporation|accessdate=September 17, 2014}} Rating it with three stars out of five, The Observer declared: "Sometimes ornery, sometimes tender, this is how honky-tonk heroes grow old".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/17/long-in-tooth-review-billy-joe-shaver|title=Long in the Tooth review – Billy Joe Shaver shows how honky-tonk heroes grow old|last=Spencer |first=Neil|work=The Observer|publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited|date=August 17, 2014|accessdate=September 17, 2014}}

Esquire opined that the release was "arguably (Shaver's) most fully realized album in a 50-plus-year career".{{cite news|url=http://www.esquire.com/blogs/culture/billy-joe-shaver-profile|title=Billy Joe Shaver Will Make Country Music 'Til He's Dead|last=Hyman|first=Dan|work=Esquire|publisher=Hearst Communications|date=August 7, 2014|accessdate=November 26, 2014}} Meanwhile, Uncut rated it with eight points out of ten, calling it "a haunting, burning, world-weary tour de force on the ways of the world".{{cite news|url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/billy-joe-shaver/billy-joe-shaver-long-in-the-tooth-review|title=Billy Joe Shaver - Long In The Tooth|work=Uncut|publisher=Time Inc.|date=August 2014|accessdate=November 26, 2014}}

{{Track listing

| total_length = 32:09

| title1 = Hard to Be an Outlaw

| note1 = featuring Willie Nelson

| writer1 = Billy Joe Shaver

| length1 = 3:03

| title2 = Long in the Tooth

| writer2 = Shaver, Paul Gleason

| length2 = 3:19

| title3 = The Git Go

| writer3 = Shaver, Gary Nicholson

| length3 = 3:57

| title4 = Sunbeam Special

| writer4 = Shaver, Nicholson

| length4 = 2:30

| title5 = I Love You as Much as I Can

| writer5 = Shaver, Nicholson

| length5 = 3:26

| title6 = Last Call for Alcohol

| writer6 = Shaver, Nicholson

| length6 = 3:56

| title7 = Checkers & Chess

| writer7 = Shaver, Ray Kennedy

| length7 = 2:29

| title8 = American Me

| writer8 = Shaver, Kennedy

| length8 = 3:25

| title9 = I'm in Love

| writer9 = Shaver

| length9 = 3:01

| title10 = Music City USA

| writer10 = Shaver

| length10 = 3:03

}}

• Shawn Camp - background vocals
• Chris Carmichael - strings
• Dan Dugmore - acoustic guitar, electric guitar, steel guitar
• Stuart Duncan - fiddle
• Larry Franklin - fiddle
• Joel Guzman - accordion
• Jedd Hughes - acoustic guitar, electric guitar
• Ray Kennedy - tremolo guitar, Wurlitzer
• Siobhan Kennedy - background vocals
• Willie Nelson - duet vocals on "Hard to Be an Outlaw"
• Gary Nicholson - acoustic guitar
• Mickey Raphael - harmonica, jews harp
• Jon Randall - background vocals
• Michael Rhodes - bass guitar
• Hargus "Pig" Robbins - piano
• Leon Russell - piano on "Last Call for Alcohol"
• Billy Joe Shaver - lead vocals
• Travis Toy - banjo
• Tony Joe White - electric guitar and background vocals on "Long in the Tooth"
• Lynn Williams - drums

{{reflist|2}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2014 albums

Category:Billy Joe Shaver albums

Category:Lightning Rod Records albums