Artist: Steve Goodman
Album: Affordable Art
Label: Omnivore Records
Release Date: 7.19.19
In 1980, after a decade of circling his recording career wagon in the groove (or is it rut?) of critical but not commercial success with major labels, Steve Goodman, along with his manager Al Bunetta, took a leap of faith for that time and boldly started their own Red Pajamas label. Artist-owned labels were basically unheard of back then. Affordable Art was their first release. For Goodman it really wasn’t that much of a leap, for he had been at the edge of the cliff of life since he was diagnosed with Leukemia in 1969. Knowing he was on borrowed time, he wisely opted to control the things he lived for. Other than the lower budget, nothing else changed. High artistic standards remained in Goodman’s writing, musicianship, wit, humanity, and his choices of writing and recording with his old friends and running buddies like John Prine and Jethro Burns. Prine, who was also managed by Bunetta, followed suit in the formation of Oh Boy Records. Also remaining here is what I like to think is that beautiful smile in his voice, that was always there since we first took that ride with him, on “City Of New Orleans”
One of several tunes that jumped out at me was “When My Rowboat Comes In” which combines a great Goodman melody with his witty way of looking at things that really matter. On that track are a couple of youngsters, Marty Stuart and Jerry Douglas. “Vegamatic” is a major hoot about taking up every offer from every infomercial on late night TV at the time. “California Promises” is a three Kleenex number in the vein of his classic “Yellow Coat.”
For those who were not around, when Goodman was (he passed away in 1984), this reissue is even more of bargain, as it contains seven bonus tracks. There is a good sampling of live performances, the kind I was fortunate to witness a time or two, but in retrospect, not enough. Like the real pro he was, Steve Goodman always left them wanting more.
—Ken Spooner
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