Dale Watson’s Long-Awaited “Dalevis” Is Finally Here
For years fans of Dale Watson have been anticipating an album release from a Dale’s alter ego called “Dalevis,” a mix of Dale and Elvis. Well friends and neighbors, the wait is over. Dalevis is now officially available digitally, with physical copies to be made available in mid February. It includes 12 new songs recorded at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis. Along with Dale, the album also features Chris Crepps on upright bass, and Mike Bernal on drums among others.
This is not the first Dalevis album Dale Watson has released. As he told Saving Country Music in October of 2011, “Back in 2000 I did a Christmas record there (Sun Studios). I didn’t make a big deal about recording at Sun, it’s just what we did. Then I did a little vanity project I just sold off the stage, 1,000 copies of a thing called “Dalevis”, kind of like what Chris Isaak is doing, but raw, more in the style of old Sun.”
Dale Watson’s last record The Sun Sessions was recorded at Sun with a distinct Johnny Cash vibe. “Elvis and Johnny were the biggest influences on me of the Sun folks. When I wrote the songs I kept that in mind.”
Dale’s latest release El Rancho Azul is also being released today (1-29-13).
Purchase Dalevis from Dale Watson
Track List:
1. Big Frank
2. I Love Too Much
3. That’s All
4. It Was Us
5. Lord I’m Proud
6. Color Me Gone
7. Forever Valentine
8. Rich In Love
9. You Can’t Undo The Wrong
10. I’m Gonna Start Livin’
11. You’ll Cry Too
12. Hit The Road
January 29, 2013 @ 1:18 am
And a damn fine collection it is too!! Ol’ Dale sounds as fantastic as ever – I particularly like “It Was Us”. He said on facebook that it’s not a country album and that might be so, but to my ears it sounds more country than a lot of the so-called-country being churned out by some folks today.
January 29, 2013 @ 7:24 am
I’m so damned excited to have new Dale music this week. “Dalevis is fantastic, but “El Rancho Azul” might be the most “Dale” album he’s ever recorded. It has the feel of his live show, but cleaner without the crowd noise.
January 29, 2013 @ 8:11 am
Well, this old fart is going to wait for the physical release. Have already ordered El Rancho Azul.
Loved the video. Shows what a great vocalist he truly is. The way that he can so convincingly channel both Elvis and Johnny Cash is just something.
January 29, 2013 @ 8:27 am
I’m a big Dale Watson fan, and I’ve got “El Rancho Azul” ordered, as well. The only time I was able to see him, a couple buddies were buying me extra hoppy hippie beers all night, so by the time I got to talk to Dale after the show, I couldn’t form a sentence. Anyhow, he was a real nice guy and I got a picture with him.
January 29, 2013 @ 9:50 am
Those strong, hoppy beers can do you in. One of the strongest I had was something called Bigfoot Ale in a bar in Baltimore. My brother and I had few tall drafts of those toward the end of a long day of bar hopping. Whoosh.
Yeah, I really want to see Dale live. He was around my way not too long ago opening for Bill Kirchen, which probably would have been a good one to see, but I had seen a lot a shows around that time and couldn’t quite justify it. Maybe if I was single. He comes to Hill Country BBQ in DC every once in a while. Maybe next time.
January 29, 2013 @ 8:42 am
Here’s my thought. Let’s get Dale Watson and Marty Stuart together and see what music could come out of that. Both of them to me are the leaders or fathers of underground country to me. They both understand and support “real” country music.
January 29, 2013 @ 9:38 am
I don’t know much of the history of those two guys. I believe their friends. I think one time when I was talking to Dale he mentioned Marty, but I’ve never seen or heard of them sharing the stage or anything. They kind of exist in two different worlds, though those two worlds are probably slowly growing closer together.
January 29, 2013 @ 9:22 am
I’m really looking forward to El Rancho Azul, but this will hold me over until that CD arrives.
It doesn’t strike me as the greatest business decision to release competing projects on different labels on the same day (although it didn’t stop me from getting both.)
January 29, 2013 @ 9:36 am
I agree, and if there wasn’t so much damn interest in “Dalevis” over the years, I probably would have tried to wait until at least next week to mention it. Dale’s album releases have always been weird. I’ve got a review of “El Rancho Azul” coming up shortly.
January 29, 2013 @ 10:08 am
another great album from my favorite artist.
January 29, 2013 @ 1:18 pm
Dale is freakin’ prolific. I lie when I drink from El Rancho Azul is a classic. Nobody pulls off the sun sound better than Dale. I look foward to hearing this one. FYI, if your ever in Austin and can catch a Dale show at the broken spoke do it, the perfect paring of venue and artist.
“El Rancho Azul” by Dale Watson | The Lonesome Road Review
February 12, 2013 @ 10:00 am
[…] from a recent Sun Records focus (The Sun Sessions and the recently unveiled and equally enjoyable Dalevis) and taking a stab at Blake Shelton’s lack of vision (“Old Fart, A Song for […]
June 18, 2014 @ 5:31 pm
I saw Dale and the Lonestars for the first time on 6/6. It was an excellent but short set, as he was opening for Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison. I was hoping to able to pick up Dalelvis and maybe Kelly’s album Easy, as that’s the only one of hers I don’t have. Unfortunately, the merch table only had El Rancho Azul, which I have, and Dale’s three Hightone albums. I already had the Best of the Hightone Years CD, which samples from those three albums. As we were filing out after the Kelly and Bruce show (excellent show), I saw that Dale was there talking to a couple of fans. I was on the fence about buying Cheatin’ Heart Attack, but that settled it for me and I bought it (also picked up one of Bruce Robison’s albums). I got to talk to Dale and get his autograph on the album sleeve. I told him how I got into his music through this site and how I enjoyed reading about the Ameripolitan Music Awards show here. Lastly, I mentioned how I was hoping to pick up Dalelvis tonight, but that I’d go on-line to pick it up. He was surprised it wasn’t for sale and then called over his tour manager (Tommy, I think his name was) and asked him to get a copy of it for me. Then, he said “Give it to him” and nodded at me. Of course, I thanked him profusely. His manager, who seems like a real nice guy, went out to the bus, came back and gave me a copy of Dalelvis. Good man, that Dale.
I really enjoy the album. Great songs. Nice mix of rockabilly, blues and early Elvis style ballads. Great singing and playing. I think it’s right up there with Johnny Cash inspired Sun Sessions album.
June 18, 2014 @ 6:29 pm
Thanks for the story Jack.