Performer Notes

Personnel includes: Lyle Lovett (vocals, acoustic guitar); Dean Parks (acoustic guitar); Ray Herndon, Billy Williams (electric guitar); Leo Kottke (guitar); Jay Dee Maness (pedal steel guitar); John Hagen (cello); Plas Johnson (tenor saxophone); Matt Rollings (piano); Leland Sklar (bass); Russ Kunkel (drums); Ricky Lee Jones, Emmylou Harris, Sir Harry Bowen, Sweet Pea Atkinson (background vocals).
Producers: George Massenberg, Billy Williams, Lyle Lovett.
Recorded at Ocean Way Recorders and Conway Studios, Hollywood, California between September 1991 & January 1992.
In the wake of the stylistic curveball that was LYLE LOVETT & HIS LARGE BAND, the Texas singer/songwriter took the opportunity afforded by his newfound fame to indulge in as many different musical styles as he pleased on JOSHUA JUDGES RUTH (an album title drawn from three books of the Bible, that slyly tips its hat to Lovett's penchant for detailing woman trouble). He combines the progressive country leanings of his first two albums with the jazzy style of his previous album, but along the way he throws in gospel and R&B influences as well.
No one can describe heartbreak from a cool, literary distance like Lovett, and "She's Already Made Up Her Mind" and "She's Leaving Me Because She Really Wants To" are breakup songs worthy of minimalist author Raymond Carver. On the lighter side, "Church" is a light-hearted gospel romp that's remains one of Lovett's biggest crowd-pleasers, and "She Makes Me Feel Good" closes the album on the closest thing to an up note that a lovable cynic like Lovett can muster.

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (4/30/92, p.56) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...Lovett's fourth, bleakest and most resonant album....Its major artistic progression lies in the more intimate balladry, which is distinguished by sharper writing and more precise emotional nuance than Lovett has previously displayed..."

Spin (12/92, p.69) - Ranked #14 in Spin's list of the 20 Best Albums Of The Year. - "...Lovett uses the rubric of country music as a cloak for some of the most intelligent, introspective pop around..."

Spin (5/92, p.80) - Highly Recommended - "...worth the wait...familiar country'n'blues turf..."

Q (5/92, p.79) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...Lyle Lovett is just a regular mixed-up kind of guy who happens to make very classy records that don't sound like anybody else..."

Down Beat (8/92, p.46) - 3.5 Stars - Good Plus - "...Lovett again flashes the kind of deliciously wicked wit and musical eclecticism that have branded him as an outsider in Nashville....The pure, naked emotion of these slice-of-life tales cuts directly to the heart..."

Dirty Linen (Dec./Jan. 92-93, p.54) - "...the most appropriate music to frame [Lovett's] considerable lyrical gifts..."

Musician (5/92, p.90) - "...consider this a winner on all counts..."

Village Voice (3/2/93, p.5) - Ranked #24 in the Village Voice's list of the 40 Best Albums Of 1992.

Album: Joshua Judges Ruth
#	Song Title	Time
1)	I've Been to Memphis
2)	Church
3)	She's Already Made up Her Mind
4)	North Dakota
5)	You've Been So Good up to Now
6)	All My Love Is Gone
7)	Since the Last Time
8)	Baltimore
9)	Family Reserve
10)	She's Leaving Me Because She Really Wants To
11)	Flyswatter / Ice Water Blues
12)	She Makes Me Feel Good

Album: Joshua Judges Ruth
#	Song Title	Time
1)	I've Been to Memphis
2)	Church
3)	She's Already Made up Her Mind
4)	North Dakota
5)	You've Been So Good up to Now
6)	All My Love Is Gone
7)	Since the Last Time
8)	Baltimore
9)	Family Reserve
10)	She's Leaving Me Because She Really Wants To
11)	Flyswatter / Ice Water Blues
12)	She Makes Me Feel Good