Mighty Fine: An Austin City Limits Tribute To Walter Hyatt
Omnivore, 2021
10/10
Listen to Mighty Fine: An Austin City Limits Tribute To Walter Hyatt
Walter Hyatt only lived to be 46, but he sure did leave an indelible mark on a lot of people. The frontman for Uncle Walt’s Band, who were Austin favorites that developed an unwavering fanbase, he later went on to a successful solo career that included touring with Lyle Lovett, who is one of his biggest fans.
A year after Hyatt passed away, friends and fans came together for this tribute broadcast, which is available for the first time on CD and digitally, and it comes with plenty of bonus material, too.
Willis Alan Ramsey starts the listen with “As The Crow Flies”, where Rick Gordon’s swift guitar and Billy Block’s agile drumming complement Ramsey’s soulful, gritty pipes, and “Houston Town” follows with David Ball’s smooth pipes guiding the warm, breezy climate.
Further on, “Motor City Man” benefits from Allison Moorer’s harmony vocals as Champ Hood’s precise fiddle adds much beauty to the David Halley sung tune, while “Diggero” gets rowdy and bouncy with Junior Brown’s playful vocals in the company of John Simon’s acrobatic keys. “Babe In The Woods”, a truly outstanding track, then bring Lyle Lovett and Shawn Colvin on vocals, as Victor Krauss’ carefully plucked bass anchors the slow burning climate.
Of the bonus material, 6 tracks are Austin City Limits Recordings not included in the original broadcast, and include 3 from Champ Hood, a pair from Lyle Lovett and 1 from David Ball. Of these tracks, Lovett’s “Teach Me About Love” is particularly notable, as the legend’s inimitable pipes, intricate guitar playing and strategic bass from Krauss make a big impression.
The final 4 tracks are previously unreleased Walter Hyatt recordings, and alone are worth the price of admission. The inclusion of sweeping strings, well timed dobro and bright brass make for a diverse and timeless few tunes that truly showcases the depth of Hyatt’s talent.
Although he never achieved much commercial success, Hyatt was part of the beginning of the alt-country sound, and he inspired legions of other artists, some of which are household names. It’s tough to think of what he may have done had he not stepped on that plane that fateful day, but he sure did leave us with an extraordinary body of work, as evidenced by these 21 brilliant tunes.
Travels well with: Uncle Walt’s Band- Recorded Live At Waterloo Ice House; Steve Earle & The Dukes- Ghosts Of West Virginia