Joe Ely’s own first, self-titled album, was released in 1977. The following year his band played London….where he met punk rock group the Clash. Impressed with each other’s performances….the two bands later toured together….including appearances in Ely’s hometown of Lubbock. Ely sang backing vocals on the Clash single “Should I Stay or Should I Go?”. Another collaboration was with Dutch flamenco guitarist Teye….with whom he recorded Letter to Laredo (1995) and Twistin’ in the Wind (1998). Through out his career….Ely has issued a steady stream of albums….most on the MCA label….and a live album roughly every ten years. The Joe Ely Band song “Brainlock” was featured in the 1980 movie Roadie starring Meat Loaf, Alice Cooper, Don Cornelius and Kaki Hunter. In the late 1990’s, Ely was asked to write songs for the soundtrack of Robert Redford’s movie The Horse Whisperer….which led to re-forming The Flatlanders with Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock. A new album from the trio followed in 2002, with a third in 2004. In February 2007, Ely released Happy Songs From Rattlesnake Gulch on his own label, Rack ‘Em Records. Ely released a new live album featuring Joel Guzman on accordion recorded at the Cactus Cafe in Austin, Texas late 2006. The Flatlanders released their newest album “Hills and Valleys” on March 31, 2009. In 2011, Ely released the critically acclaimed album, “Satisfied At Last.” In September 2015, he released Panhandle Rambler….an album with a reflective West Texas feel.
