Customer Reviews
MUSIC PENNED BY THE DEVIL'S RIGHT HAND - By: Mr. Richard J. Carter, 10 Mar 2003 
Steve Earle music is best described as country-rock. The skull & cross bones that form the cover of Copperhead Road album warn of what is to come, a heavy mix of potent music shot through with the reflections of an wild young man who is older than his years. Inserts show a relaxed Earle, fagin mouth, black shades & dressedin denim.
A strong start with 'Copperhead Road' on which you can apparently 'smell the whisky burnin'; 'The Devil's Right Hand' refers to a pistol & though the song has a strange lyrical resonace it isn't until 'Johnny Come Lately' (on which the Pogues play) when the album begins to rock..
'Johnny Come Lately' tells the story of a soldier off to Vietnam who hopes to return to his girlin London & take her home to the USA. In 'Even Whem I'm Blue' Earle sings of a long lost love & is determined to find her again. But listen to the words, for example 'Waiting On You' with the chorus 'Breathing out, breathing in, Holding in, Holding out, Doing with or without, For a lifetime, just a lifetime, I cant let go, I wait for you, Till hell goes cold, I'll wait for you, You're all I know & I wait for you' says it all; 'Once You Love', again the chorus, 'once you love you trust it, once you give your soul is bare, One false move & you're busted, once you love you care'
The Christmas sounding 'Nothing But A Child' is a gentle number, with Earle's strong vocals offset with female vocals to give a kind of mystical feel. I'll admit this album did nothing for me initially, & however hard I try I can't see anythingin some of the tracks ... yet there are some rough diamonds, like the man himself, which, with time, I can see why people treasure.
ROARING COUNTRY ROCK - By: Pieter, 01 Nov 2000 
Wow! This is country with a roaring rock 'n roll heart, & a delicious concept album packed with melodic, emotional but very literate songs. At times it reminds me of the best work of The Rolling Stones. Every track is great, but my favorites include the title track, Snake Oil, The Devil's Right Hand, Johnny Come Lately & You Belong To Me. I investigated Steve Earle because of Emmylou Harris' cover of his song Goodbye on her Wrecking Ball album, & I've not been disappointed. His growling voice is full of feeling & the band is brilliant. Sometimes bitter, sometimes tender, this is a masterpiece of breath-taking beauty.
ignore country - just buy! - By: mark.borland@bigfoot.com, 13 Jun 2000 Try to ignore the fact that this classic is filed under "country" & try out the best work that Earle has produced. There is not one tune that you will not be stomping & singing toin days. The only caveat is that most of his other work is not this accesssible. This was the first album I bought on two formats (vinyl & CD). Enough said.
