Album of the Day

The 1980s saw Steve Earle rise from Nashville staff writer to acclaimed recording artist, but as the decade drew to a close, he was sidelined by drug addiction for several years. By 1995, he'd begun a comeback that culminated in EL CORAZON, one of the finest albums of his career. The well-produced 1997 Warner Bros. collection includes country, rock and R&B (with such varied guests as Emmylou Harris, Supersuckers and The Fairfield Four lending a hand), and it all meshes perfectly thanks to Earle's passionate performances. The songwriting is equally strong and varied, touching on topics including relationships (“Poison Lovers”), personal heroes (“Ft. Worth Blues,” a tribute to Townes Van Zandt) and thought-provoking social commentary (“Christmas in Washington”). Steve Earle wears his heart on his sleeve with EL CORAZON, and it makes all the difference.