Silver Dagger – Charley Crockett

One of the best entertainers out today, Charley Crockett should be one of the faces of country music, but instead the powers that be continue to pander to a pop radio audience and perpetually shove acts like Morgan Wallen down our throats. Morgan has a cool voice, but his songs follow a formula and his lyrics are weak, even with a team writing them for him. That being said, I’m sure he’s wiping his tears from my comments with $100 bills. But this post isn’t about him; it’s about Charley Crockett. Hailing from a trailer park in southern Texas, Matthew Charles Crockett was raised by a single mother and left school and home at 17 to make his fortune. He traveled all over with his pawn shop guitar (bought by his mother) by hitchhiking and riding freight trains, not only in Texas but to places like New Orleans and NYC. He even spent a year abroad, busking in Paris, Spain, and Morocco. I would put Mr. Crockett in the category of “troubadour.” To date, he’s put out 14 studio albums, 2 EPs, and a live album in about 10 years’ time. His live performances have entered legendary status, certainly being one that is on my bucket list to see. He very well may be the hardest working man in country and western music today. Oh! And he may directly be descended from Davy Crockett.

Given his catalog, I had what felt like a million songs to choose from, but I ended up going with the soul-filled and blues-influenced “Silver Dagger.” This is one of the songs that really got me into Crockett, in particular his usage of horns. The saxophone solo in this one tends to induce a pretty strong stank face. I love the work on the keys as well. Smooth stuff. Lyrically, a classic blues feel, about a dastardly woman breaking hearts all over town.

Audio – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-odtha0f8g&list=RDn-odtha0f8g&start_radio=1

Live – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT_OTlqgShw&list=RDRT_OTlqgShw&start_radio=1