On this episode of Casey's Musical Dustbin we bring you Casey's Really Scratchy Party #5: Dick Curless Hard, Hard Traveling Man. Released in 1970, Hard, Hard Traveling Man was his first album for Capitol Records. A concept album of sorts, the record features ten songs about trucks, traveling and the road.
This is rough and tumble hard country music, no schmaltzy strings or backing orchestras on this one. Think Red Simpson, Del Reeves, Red Sovine and mid-sixties Buck Owens and Merle Haggard.
The backing band is great with lots of dobro, telecaster and steel guitar. Plus, Dick Curless had one of the best baritones voices in country music; Don Williams with more balls.
Highlights include, “Drag ‘Em Off The Interstate, Sock It To ‘Em, J.P Blues”, Tom T.Hall’s, “I Miss A Lot Of Trains”, “Hard, Hard Travelin’ Man” and “Winter’s Comin’ On Again”. Plus a killer cover of Dave Dudley’s, “Six Days On The Road” and a remake of Curless’s 1965 hit “A Tombstone Every Mile”.
Dick Curless was unique for a country performer in the sixties and seventies because he was a not from the south. He was born in Maine and grew up in Maine and Massachusetts. In addition, due to a childhood injury, he wore an eyepatch over his left eye giving him the look of a scurvy pirate or a Rooster Cogburn impersonater.
He passed away in 1995 and, sadly, is largely forgotten today.
Take a listen to the show HERE
