Track 1 Biloxi Written by Jack Ingram --
"That’s a true story about my dad," Jack says. "About my mom and dad and how they kinda fell apart. It’s not a song about hatred, it’s just a song that helped me sort out the facts for myself. I was 17 when it happened and I wrote the song when I was 28. It’s been a blessing because after I wrote it, I was forced to have an actual conversation about it with my dad. I played it for him, and he just kinda said, ‘Yeah. That’s what happened--play it again.’ And I was glad, ‘cause I had my fists ready--I thought for sure we’d come to blows.
"The funny part about writing that song is how I immediately felt closer to my dad. And instead of looking outward as to who to blame, the anger was gone, and that cleared up my vision about why he might have done it. Being married, you see how those things work. So, after I got that off my chest, I was a lot clearer about my own relationship."
Track 2 Feels Like I'm Falling In Love Written by Jack Ingram & Todd Snider --
Written with roots-rocker Todd Snider, this tuneful mid-tempo beauty rides a devastating, low-flying guitar line as the battered-but-unbowed singer steps bravely, once more, into the fire--crooning "This time it’s different/this time it’s real." Sure, pal. One can only hope...
Track 3 Something To Talk About Written by Jack Ingram --
Jack’s more restrained vocal style notwithstanding, here’s a heavy serving of the Buck Owens "Bakersfield Sound" which so intrigued the fledgling Beatles. You know you’ve got heartaches by the number when you’ve "gotta fight to find something to say," whether it’s literally or figuratively. Wig-out to the nifty vintage work on the six-strings.
Track 4 How Many Days Written by Jim Lauderdale, Terry McBride --
"This song was a last-minute addition to the record. Blake Chancey played it for me and I thought it would be a great addition to the record. It’s a song about a relationship going, going, gone . . ."
Track 5 Work This Out Written by Jack Ingram, Jim Lauderdale --
The first of back-to-back jewels from the songwriting team of Ingram and Jim Lauderdale, "Work This Out" layers mandolin and a swirling Hammond organ over an insistent beat as the singer rolls up his heart-laden sleeves and gets busy about patching up the relationship.
Track 6 I Would Written by Jack Ingram, Jim Lauderdale --
If you can’t get that pledge of undying love, a pledge to never stop trying has to be a real close second. Drenched with shimmering guitar, this easy-going rocker has just got to convince you of the latter, at least.
Track 7 Barbie Doll Written by Jack Ingram, Todd Snider--
"Todd Snider and I were just bullshittin’ about shows, and what goes on from the view from the stage. The girls and the guys, all the interactions that we’re lookin’ at goin’ down while we’re playing. Some of these girls just have no clue, but they’re trying to grab your attention and then, once they have it, well...good-bye."
"And these guys are doing the same kinda thing, and trying to get up onstage--it’s just kinda funny sometimes. Because it’s all SO important at the time--but just for a short while--and then it means nothing to ‘em. So we just got to laughin’, and we wrote this song about it all."
Track 8 Hey You Written by Jack Ingram, Tom Littlefield--
With drummer Pete Coatney tapping out a to-the-bone Jerry Allison to Jack’s honey-sweet Buddy Holly, the Ingram/Tom Littlefield-penned title track captures the sense, soul and spirit of The Crickets with affection and admirable restraint. You could frost a wedding cake with those guitars, too. Rave on, children, it’s a crazy feeling.
Track 9 Any More Good Lovin' Written by Jack Ingram, Bruce Robison--
"I’d been wanting to write with Bruce Robison for a while, but he lives in Austin and I’m in Dallas. One morning--I don’t remember who called who--we talked on the phone and it was like, ‘Well, you wanna write today?, Sure.’
"It was about nine in the morning, and we met mid-way at a McDonald’s parking lot in Waco and we just sat there in his van and wrote two songs that day. And then we split and headed back home. He does a version of it on his new record--he does it completely different. We both do it as a shuffle, but mine’s a little more straight-ahead, honky-tonk version."
Track 10 Inna From Mexico Written by Jack Ingram--
Turn your lamps down low for this tender ballad, because tears don’t shine so much in the dark. "Inna" is Ingram’s heartbreaking tale of a Mexican single mother trying to make her way in the States. "I think she knows the truth, but she whispers faith/Inna’s friends back home--they think she’s got it made." Oh, baby...
Track 11 Mustang Burn Written by Jack Ingram, Bill Longhorse, Gus Salmon--
This fuel-injected pony rocks like crazy and is one of the funniest songs ever written about the causes for at least 90% of all Saturday night roadhouse brawls--cars and girls. "I love playin’ it," laughs Ingram. "I think it was when we were out on tour in ‘97 that we wrote that song. It was me and our bass player at the time (Gus Salmon) and the guitar player, Bill Longhorse. I had had this idea for a while, and we started working on it and it just kinda popped out. I didn’t know it was gonna be Mustang, necessarily--I just wanted to write a song about a car burnin’ up. And kinda paralleling the whole story about how sometimes you’re not sure if you’re talking about the woman or the car."
Track 12 Juanita Written by Jack Ingram, Tom Littlefield--
Fueled by south of the border passion, this snappy Ingram/Littlefield two-step really gives it up. Cuz when you hear Jack say that "She can keep all my Willie Nelson records/She can have my velvet poster of the king," you know this bordertown girl has got a Texan on his knees.
