Mike Allen

Mike continues his musical journey with his fourth CD release, Texas Soul, and a powerful set of songs it is. The title track is a thumping, soulful tribute to the Masters of Texas songwriting, Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Billy Joe Shaver and Willie Nelson. A Song For The Cowboy is a Country waltz telling of how the cowboy spirit lives on, despite the tries at civilizing us all.

The music on this CD covers a lot of ground and genres. A Little Too Late is a strong, slow burning Blues with lots of guitar to match the lyrics. She Loved To Dance is a tribute to Mike’s grandmother, a woman who survived the Depression, the loss of 3 husbands and all the hazards along the way, to emerge from the fire even stronger and give him his love for music. The Ballad Of Brushy Bill Roberts, a demo he recorded back in 2005 that has received innumerable song plays and over 1,200 video plays in the last year, finally makes it’s way to CD with a new studio cut.

These are a powerfully moving and lyrically compelling set of songs, and Mike’s most striking work yet. Don’t miss out on Texas Soul. (expired link)

Pieces Of Me
I’m pleased to announce the release of my new CD, Pieces Of Me. I think it’s my finest work to date. Instead of an all electric country rock album like Good For Something or an all acoustic country/folk album like A Mile Of Bad Track, Pieces Of Me encompasses a little of everything I do.
From the opening track, Greed Is The Devil’s Handshake, a co-write with Nashville songwriter Bobby Keel (Whiskey On Ice, Time Off For Bad Behavior), the mood gets set. A smoking Southern Rocker driven by guitar, slide and honky tonk piano, it’s a story of life advice by a sly, wise old man.
The CD runs the gamut of all my musical styles: Southern Rock (Greed Is The Devil’s Handshake, Tail Lights, Wrong Again, I’m Your Huckleberry) Acoustic Ballads (The Light, Old Enough To Know Better) Straight up Country (Have It All, Barroom Hell, I Just Can’t Get Over You) and a smoky 12/8 Blues (I Gave Until It Hurt).
The final song, I’m Your Huckleberry, is a little different for me. I make a point to stay out of politics when it comes to my music, but this one I couldn’t resist. This one comes from a conversation I overheard between several veterans talking about their reasons for going to war and how they feel about what’s happened to the country they love and fought for. I think it’s a side worth telling.
I was going to name the CD after one of the songs, Greed Or Huckleberry, but my wife suggested the title and I went for it. Because that’s what they are...every song that I write are little Pieces Of Me.
The CD is Available in my store, (expired link), and will be at Amazon, CD Baby, Itunes and Emusic very soon!