Steve Earle & The Dukes Terraplane LP (Transparent Gold Vinyl)

Terraplane takes its title from the 1930s Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit model, which also inspired the Robert Johnson song, "Terraplane Blues". It is Earle's 16th studio album since the release of his highly influential 1986 debut Guitar Town. As its title suggests, the album is very much a blues record, some of which was written while Earle toured Europe alone for five weeks with just a guitar, a mandolin and a backpack.

Earle, who was raised outside of San Antonio before migrating to Houston, offers about Texas blues, "There was Fort Worth where the model was Freddie King and there was the Houston scene which was dominated by Lightnin' Hopkins. Two very different styles." He saw both of these giants and was also exposed to Johnny Winter, Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Billy Gibbons - all of which make their influence heard here within Earle's masterful storytelling.

This is the first time this record has been pressed on color vinyl.

Terraplane is the most relaxed and least fussed-over album Earle has made in quite some time, and frankly, he sounds like he's having a ball on these sessions; with rare exceptions, this isn't music that ponders the dark night of the soul, but semi-acoustic roadhouse boogie that rocks with a steady roll and gives Earle a chance to crow like a rooster as he ponders broken hearts, long lonesome highways, battles with the forces of destiny, and the enduring appeal of women in go-go boots... if you want to hear the man have a good time while kicking up a fuss in the studio, Terraplane is a ride well worth taking.