The Hard Way (Steve Earle album)

{{Infobox album

| name = The Hard Way

| type = Studio album

| artist = Steve Earle

| cover = Steve Earle & the Dukes - The Hard Way.jpg

| alt =

| released = July 1, 1990

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio = *Sound Emporium (Nashville, Tennessee)

• Ardent (Memphis, Tennessee)

| genre = {{Flatlist|

• Country rock
• rock and roll

}}

| length = 55:47

| label = MCA{{Cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/steve-earle-mca-catalogue-to-be-remastered-released-on-vinyl/|title=Steve Earle's MCA Catalogue To Be Remastered, Released on Vinyl|date=March 31, 2016|website=American Songwriter}}

| producer = Steve Earle, Joe Hardy

| prev_title = Copperhead Road

| prev_year = 1988

| next_title = Train a Comin'

| next_year = 1995

}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-hard-way-mw0000308240|title=The Hard Way - Steve Earle, Steve Earle & the Dukes | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|via=www.allmusic.com}}

|rev2 = Austin American-Statesman

|rev2score = {{rating|2.5|4}}{{cite journal |last1=MacCambridge |first1=Michael |title=Loose connection shorts Earle effort |journal=Austin American-Statesman |date=28 June 1990 |page=19}}

|rev3 = Calgary Herald

|rev3score = B+{{cite journal |title=RECENT RELEASES |journal=Calgary Herald |date=28 June 1990 |page=E3}}

|rev4 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music

|rev4score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2006 |publisher=MUZE |volume=3 |page=195}}

|rev5 = Entertainment Weekly

|rev5score = A{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/1990/07/06/notable-music-week-july-6-1990/|title=Notable music for the week of July 6, 1990|website=EW.com}}

|rev6 = MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide

|rev6score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite book |title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |date=1999 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |page=373}}

|rev7 = Ottawa Citizen

|rev7score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |last1=Erskine |first1=Evelyn |title=Falling from grace: Earle's country-rooted rock tells bad-guys' side |journal=Ottawa Citizen |date=3 Aug 1990 |page=D6}}

|rev8=The Rolling Stone Album Guide

|rev8Score= {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite book |title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=1992 |publisher=Random House |page=218}}

| rev9 = Select

| rev9Score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{Cite magazine|title=The Harder They Come|last=Perry|first=Neil|date=July 1990|page=91|magazine=Select}}

}}

The Hard Way is the fourth studio album by Steve Earle, released in 1990.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-earle-mn0000034249/biography|title=Steve Earle | Biography & History|website=AllMusic}}{{cite book |title=The Rough Guide to Rock |date=1999 |publisher=Rough Guides Ltd |page=310 |edition=2nd}} Earle is backed by the Dukes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1993-07-16-9307160100-story.html|title=STEVE EARLE RETURNS WITH A VENGEANCE|first=Dan|last=Kening|website=chicagotribune.com|date=16 July 1993 }} The album is dedicated to Emilio Lorenzo Ensenat (1930–90).

The album peaked at No. 100 on the Billboard 200.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/steve-earle/chart-history/tlp/|title=Steve Earle|magazine=Billboard}} It peaked at No. 22 on the UK Albums Chart.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/25128/steve-earle/|title=STEVE EARLE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company|website=www.officialcharts.com}}