Steve Earle
Mexican Demos
17 Track Version & 24 Track Version
1974-1979
24 track version
01 Mustang Wine
02 Juanita
03 We’re From Texas
04 Old Friends
05 Songs About Mexico
06 Honey On They Highway
07 The Mercenary Song
08 Darling Commit Me
09 I’ve Never Really Been In Love Before
10 Ben McCulloch
11 Daddy and Me Played Swing
12 A Country Song
13 We Look Back
14 Usual Time
15 If She Only Knew
16 A Far Cry From You
17 Drive Me Crazy
18 Blues Got the best of Me
19 Halfway Home
20 I Can’t Help It
21 I’m a Lover
22 I Love You Too Much
23 Hurtin Me, Hurtin You
24 Angel is The Devil
CD-R (unknown generation) -> EAC -> FLAC Front End (level 8)
Steve Earle
Mexican Demos – 17-track version
1974-76 (some say 1979)
01 The unrepentant *
02 CCKMP *
03 Angel Is The Devil
04 Hurtin’ Me, Hurtin’ You
05 Mustang Wine
06 Juanita
07 We’re From Texas
08 Tom Ames’ Prayer *
09 Old Friends
10 Songs About Mexico
11 Honey On The Highway
12 Mercenary Song
13 Darlin’Commit Me
14 Never Really Been In Love
15 Ben McCulloch
16 Daddy And Me Played Swing
17 A Country Song
- not on Mexican Demos 24-track version
The “Mexico demos” are songwriter’s demos from 1974-76 (some say 1979), not artist’s demos from Earle’s recording career, which began about a decade later, and have never been officially released.
CD-R (unknown generation) -> EAC -> TLH (level 8)
themidnightcafe.org 
Nice! I LOVE Demos collections. And I have an interesting review of the 2 time I”ve seen him in concert so far – 1989 opening for Dylan, then 1997 in an unnanounced set at a music festival.At the risk of boring you all, and putting in way too many words in a comment, here’s my review of that 1997 show, with a mention of the ’89 as well:—
Steve Earle – Midtown Music Festival – Atlanta – May 4, 1997Review by me
Interestingly, this was the second time I’ve seen Steve Earle, and what a long, strange 8 years it’s been for him. Saw him open for Dylan at Chastain Park in 1989, and I believe he closed with “Copperhead Road” then too. I distinctly remember him saying “We got one more song, then we’ll get out of the way so you can hear what you really came for” or something like that. He seemed a bit more bitter than generous in that; maybe the dinner forks were clinking even more than usual during his set.
For this unexpected and unlisted show (neither he nor, in fact, the small VH1 stage he performed on, were listed in the program anywhere), the mood was considerably different from that previous show.
Then, Steve Earle was a tough-looking hard-rocking precursor to the current Americana “No Depression” musical vein, mixing country and rock in an exciting, loud way. Today, he not only looks more like a mechanic than a rock star, he barely even looks as good as some mechanics, sadly. Of course, in the interim, he went to jail; I’m not sure why.
But he did get out a couple years ago and, despite his very un-tuned appearance, has been on quite a comeback trail. His album last year, I Feel Alright, got mentioned on as many year-end best-of lists as any other that came out. I haven’t heard it, but I’ve just heard real high compliments for what he’s doing musically these days.
And on stage, in this very intimate appearance (starkly contrasting with all the other big-bigger-biggest shows at the festival all weekend), he sounded good, and came across strong. It was just him with a bluesy acoustic guitar, singing cautionary tales of his problematic life. He seemed real open about his legal problems and referred several times to his jail time obliquely, saying before one song that he would sing it on the one condition that we don’t have to live it.
As I was walking past the stage, I not only didn’t recognize Earle, I actually chuckled to myself about how people were standing there watching this unkempt guy strum out ragged songs, and wondered what the attraction was. Then I got closer and realized who it was.
He spoke lovingly about Townes Van Zandt, whom he apparently had known since he was 17, and who died Jan. 1 this year. Earle referred to him as “our greatest songwriter.” With praise that rich, I’ll have to search out some stuff by him to see for myself.
It was great hearing him close with “Copperhead”—pretty chilling too, considering his troubles. I’m not sure if he went to jail for drugs or who knows what, but like some rap artists, it kinda gives his pseudo-gangsta tales a chilling validity.
Great review Noel, and thanks for sharing. I assume you know this now but it was drugs that sent Earle to jail. He got clean and has made a lot of great albums since. Does a little acting too. I’m a fan. Wild that you didn’t know Townes yet. I’m trying to remember when I first heard TVZ. It was probably around the time you wrote that review. I got deep into what they used to call alternative country in the late nineties and discovered Steve and Townes, Nanci Griffith, John Prine, Lyle Lovett and Lucinda Williams. Good times.
Very cool! Yes, I’ve been a late bloomer to many things. Luckily, knowledgeable friends and music blogs like this – and music magazines – have broadened my scope a lot. Growing up, I was a straightforward ‘radio kid’- I literally used to tape Kasey Kasum’s American Top 40 show on the radio each week, or at least write down the positions the songs were at.
Oh yes, I was talking to my wife the other day about that very thing. Kids today just don’t know the struggle of trying to record songs off the radio. I’d tape the Top 40 as well. But I didn’t want all the talking or commercials so I’d hit “Records + Play” and the Pause button. Finger poised over the Pause button to catch the music right after the DJ stopped talking and then again when the song was over. There was an art to it.Somewhere I have a notebook where I kept extensive notes on the nightly Top Ten from the local radio station. 🙂 🙂
Love it! I can SO relate!!