http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10253&rws=%2Fjames-mcmurtry%2Fmusic-videos.rssThe son of novelist Larry McMurtry and an English professor, James McMurtry has an acute way with words. He got his big break when his father's novel <I>Lonesome Dove</I> was being turned into a movie. John Mellencamp was in that movie, and McMurtry slipped him a demo tape. Impressed, Mellencamp signed on to produce his new labelmate's debut, <I>Too Long in the Wasteland</I>. From the outset, McMurtry was heralded for his lyrical astuteness and keen character-building. He recorded regularly throughout the '90s, releasing critically acclaimed efforts in 1992 (<I>Candyland</I>) and 1995 (<i>Where'd You Hide the Body</I>). Toward the end of the decade, McMurtry switched to the Sugar Hill label and released 1997's <I>It Had to Happen</I>, 1998's <I>Walk Between the Raindrops</I> and 2002's <I>Saint Mary of the Woods</I>. After releasing a live album for his new label, Compadre, McMurtry released <I>Childish Things</I> in 2005, his first overtly political release, which reflected his dissatisfaction with the war in Iraq and the companies profiting from it. Three years later, McMurtry returned with <I>Just Us Kids</I>, a biting snapshot of the social and political state of the country in 2008. - Linda RyanAmericanaen720Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:50:26 -0800 http://static.realone.com/rotw/images/logo_rhapsody_113x22.gif http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=art.10253&rws=%2Fjames-mcmurtry%2Fmusic-videos.rss The son of novelist Larry McMurtry and an English professor, James McMurtry has an acute way with words. He got his big break when his father's novel <I>Lonesome Dove</I> was being turned into a movie. John Mellencamp was in that movie, and McMurtry slipped him a demo tape. Impressed, Mellencamp signed on to produce his new labelmate's debut, <I>Too Long in the Wasteland</I>. From the outset, McMurtry was heralded for his lyrical astuteness and keen character-building. He recorded regularly throughout the '90s, releasing critically acclaimed efforts in 1992 (<I>Candyland</I>) and 1995 (<i>Where'd You Hide the Body</I>). Toward the end of the decade, McMurtry switched to the Sugar Hill label and released 1997's <I>It Had to Happen</I>, 1998's <I>Walk Between the Raindrops</I> and 2002's <I>Saint Mary of the Woods</I>. After releasing a live album for his new label, Compadre, McMurtry released <I>Childish Things</I> in 2005, his first overtly political release, which reflected his dissatisfaction with the war in Iraq and the companies profiting from it. Three years later, McMurtry returned with <I>Just Us Kids</I>, a biting snapshot of the social and political state of the country in 2008. - Linda Ryan