OWEN TEMPLE - MOUNTAIN HOME
OWEN TEMPLE
MOUNTAIN HOME
RELEASE DATE – APRIL 26, 2011
BY JOHN WALKER
I actually reached Owen for this interview while he was on the road to Little Rock, Arkansas for a gig that night. As many may already know, the cell reception is not the best between Texas and Little Rock, so we called each other back several times in order to share thoughts on music and his new release. Thank you for your patience Owen.
The state of Texas is a virtual treasure trove of great songwriters. There is a long unique history of musical talents to sprout up there. One of the many reasons for this I believe is the vast amount of characters within the state. Characters create stories, which breed good song material. Owen Temple has grasped this concept, and ran with it. The Austin based Texas native has just released his sixth studio record, Mountain Home, which shines the light on some of these characters and legends.
Temple was born just outside Kerrville, Texas, which is famous for its own music festival, so you might say Owen had music in his blood from the day he hit the ground. Listening to Texas music formed a bond in his memory that still beats strongly today in his own music.
“I have always enjoyed songs which are actual life experiences and take you to a particular place in time”, stated Temple as he was on the road to a gig that night in Little Rock, Arkansas. “They are more tangible, something you can touch and feel. They seem based in tradition and can span the bridge of time.”
Owen has certainly delivered just that in his new record, writing 9 of the 10 songs. The lone cover is a brilliant rendition of Leon Russell’s Prince of Peace.
“I wanted to do a Leon Russell song for sometime now. I have always loved his work. This particular song of unexplained magic or mystery fit perfectly for this record, tying everything together fairly well. I think you can certainly hear Leon’s influence as well in 3 of my other songs here…Jacksboro Highway, Old Sam, and even Medicine Man.”
Kicking of the record is the title cut Mountain Home. This song relates the story about a man who has been locked up in Huntsville for 20 years, and the only thing he desires is to be back home. Temple, as he does throughout this record, does an exceptional job of painting a picture here with his lyrics and passion.
Desdemona, along with Small Town and Jacksboro Highway, each are a glimpse into life within Texas. Desdemona is a song of desperation, telling a story about the ghost town of today and the woman for whom it was named. Small Town shines a light on how growing up in rural Texas permeates your soul.
Providing writing help on this record are fellow Texas artists Adam Carroll, Gordy Quist, and Scott Nolan. Looking back over these artists records, you can see they have worked well together in the past.
“We all get along very well together”, states Temple. “We can call each other up and run ideas past each other whenever we get stuck or need that final piece in the puzzle. Adam, Gordy, and Scott, along with Mark Jungers as well, are all great musicians and fun to work with. We can sit together and pick up immediately where we left off, and listen well to each other. I think that is the key, we listen and respect each other so much.”
Along with these artists, Owen also credits several other musicians who have helped him to get where he is today.
“Guy Clark is amazing. There should be a copy of the song Desperados Waiting For A Train in every music institution. What a great song that is. Billy Joe Shaver is also a hero of mine. I once had the pleasure of opening for him, and got the opportunity to sit and talk. I could sit and listen to him forever. In fact, he was one of the people I thought of while writing the song Fall In Love Every Night which is on this record. That song has several Texas legends in mind. Rumors and stories passed on through the years created lyrics about Ray Wylie Hubbard playing cards with Freddie King and ultimately losing quite a bit, or Stevie Ray Vaughn sleeping on a pool table then played the gig in those same clothes. That particular song is a tip of the hat to some of those great stories. I can’t divulge some names, however,” he laughed.
Of course if you are a musician in Texas, you can not help but be touched by the blues. Temple is no exception.
“I grew up listening to many of the greats…Mance Lipscomb, Lightnin’ Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, and Leon Russell as well. They were all exceptional, and certainly contribute to my musical tastes even today.”
Many may recognize the song Medicine Man from the latest Band of Heathens record. Temple originally wrote this one with help from BOH member Gordy Quist, along with Adam Carroll.
“The funny thing about this one was I actually recorded my version first, before Gordy and Band of Heathens put out their record with their version on it, which was outstanding. Gordy switched it up a bit by changing it to more first person, making the singer the medicine man. That made perfect sense, and I actually thought suited the song much better. I now do it that way myself, but the record version I cut is second person. Yet another example of how we can adapt and change, and still not lose the integrity of the songs as we go. If Bob Dylan can change Tangled Up In Blue, then I guess it is OK for us to make changes too,” Owen laughs.
Danger and Good Times is more of a spoken word song, very reminiscent of Guy Clark or Charlie Robison. The harmony vocals here by Gordy Quist, along with crisp instrumentals, make this song very enjoyable.
Contributing on this record, which was produced by Gabriel Rhodes, are Charlie Sexton on bass and baritone guitar, Rick Richards on drums and percussion, Bukka Allen on piano, organ, and accordion, Brian Standefer on cello, and Tommy Spurlock on pedal steel guitar. Jamie Wilson provides harmony vocals, along with help from Gordy Quist on acoustic and harmony, and Adam Carroll on harmonica. Rhodes also plays acoustic guitar, tenor guitar, banjo, dobro, and piano. The instrumentals throughout were exceptional.
Old Sam is a song about Sam Houston which blends that facts and stories into the mythology which lives throughout Texas today. The sparse arrangements here allow the lyrics to tell the story.
One of the many highlights on this record is the final song, One Day Closer to Rain. This song paints a poignant picture of the drought conditions in Texas, and how it impacts life. Temple reminds me here of the immortal Blaze Foley, or even the legendary Willis Alan Ramsey, with great phrasing and vocals dripping with passion.
“This one came to me pretty quickly,” stated Temple. “I actually wrote it in about 1-2 hours. I felt very lucky to have caught it when I did. I know many artists feel fortunate when they catch that one great song, for Leon Russell that is probably A Song For You. I am perhaps still searching for mine, but it is normally songs such as this one which come up quickly on you, and you need to catch them while you can.”
Owen is currently touring the states now in support of his record. This fall the record is set to be released in Europe, so plans are being set to tour there as well.
“I am just hitting the road and playing music. Hopefully someone is listening and enjoying it,” Temple said.
Well, this record is definitely enjoyable, and one everyone should give a listen. Pure music is getting hard to find, and musicians such as Temple are even more rare.
