Kinky Friedman - The Loneliest Man I Ever Met

Nobody could invent a character quite like Kinky Friedman, the stogie-waving, black-hat-wearing Texas Jewboy singer, storyteller, tequila purveyor, animal rescuer and full-time iconoclast. Though renowned for penning some of outlaw country's most outrageous songs, authoring bestsellers and running for governor of Texas, his 45-year career includes touring with Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue; recording with Clapton, most of the Band and Ringo Starr; appearing on Saturday Night Live and at the Grand Ole Opry; and writing one of Nelson Mandela's favorite songs. He also became the protagonist of his own crime novels, because even he couldn't invent a character that could out-kink Kinky Friedman.

But what he hasn't done in 39 years is record a new studio album. Friedman's 'The Loneliest Man I Ever Met,' via Avenue A Records/Thirty Tigers, might be one of the longest-awaited follow-ups in recent memory. Not that fans have complained; the continued popularity of tunes such as "Sold American," "Nashville Casualty and Life" and "Ride 'Em Jewboy" (the Holocaust-referencing song that soothed Mandela in prison) prove Kinky is that rare talent whose work withstands the test of time. Friedman still delivers those songs interspersed with his inimitable blend of politically incorrect quips, jokes and tales both tall and true to appreciative audiences around the world.

"What I've tried to do is interpret some of these songs. But it's not like Tony Bennett sings Willie Nelson; it's more spiritually halfway between those people and me. So if you're not a little bit melancholy, maybe you should be?"

In most cases, the selections, which also include a lesser-known Cash song that was Friedman's father's favorite ("Pickin' Time") and two Great American Songbook tunes ("Wand'rin' Star" and "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square"), reflect more personal feelings. To Friedman, the album is filled with significant works by significant people, and he wants others to hear them.

1. Bloody Mary Morning (Willie Nelson)
2. A Christmas Card From A Hooker in Minneapolis (Tom Waits)
3. I'm The Loneliest Man I Ever Met (Kinky Friedman/Will Hoover)
4. My Shits Fucked Up (Warren Zevon)
5. Lady Yesterday (Kinky Friedman)
6. Freedom To Stay (Will Hoover)
7. Wild Man From Borneo (Kinky Friedman)
8. Mama's Hungry Eyes (Merle Haggard)
9. Pickin' Time (Johnny Cash)
10. Girl From The North Country (Bob Dylan)
11. Wand'rin Star (Lerner/Loewe)
12. A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square (Maschwitz/Sherwin)