Originally released as an LP,
Lonesome Road is a brief collection of ten songs drawn from two 1964
Hoyt Axton albums, Sings Bessie Smith and
Explodes. In the '60s
Axton's music veered toward folk and rock 'n' roll rather than country, with limited success. "Young Man" and "Big Red" are straight-ahead rockers, and the
Bessie Smith material is performed with horns and clarinet in an approximation of the originals, although
Axton's vocals are often delivered in an unappealing growl. Given the scarcity of
Axton's '60s recordings on CD, serious fans may find something to enjoy here. ~ Greg Adams