The Hard Way (Steve Earle album)

The Hard Way
Studio album by Steve Earle
Released	July 1, 1990
Genre	Country rock
Length	55:47
Label	MCA
Steve Earle chronology
Copperhead Road (1988) The Hard Way (1990) Train a Comin' (1995)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	link
Rolling Stone	link

The Hard Way is the fourth studio album by Steve Earle (back by The Dukes), released in 1990.

Track listing

All songs written by Steve Earle unless otherwise noted.

1. "The Other Kind" - 5:09
2. "Promise You Anything" - 2:43 (Earle, Maria McKee and Patrick Suggs)
3. "Esmeralda's Hollywood" - 6:01 (Earle, Maria McKee)
4. "Hopeless Romantics" - 2:45
5. "This Highway's Mine (Roadmaster)" - 3:54
6. "Billy Austin" - 6:16
7. "Justice in Ontario" - 4:47
8. "Have Mercy" - 4:41
9. "When the People Find Out" - 4:10
10. "Country Girl" - 4:11
11. "Regular Guy" - 3:17
12. "West Nashville Boogie" - 3:09
13. "Close Your Eyes" - 4:44

Personnel

• Steve Earle: lead vocal, acoustic guitar, electric guitars, mandolin, Mandoblaster, 6-string bass, guitar synthesizer on "Billy Austin", percussion programme on "This Highway's Mine", harmonies on "Justice In Ontario" and "Hopeless Romantics"

The Dukes

• Bucky Baxter: Mullins pedal steel guitar
• Ken Moore: organ, synthesizer and string arrangements on "Esmeralda's Hollywood"
• Zip Gibson: electric guitars and vocals
• Kelly Looney: bass and vocals
• Craig Wright: drums
• John Jarvis: piano
• Lester Snell: organ on "When The People Find Out"
• Patrick Earle: percussion
• Stacey Earle Mims: harmony on "Promise You Anything"

References

• The Hard Way at AllMusic