Driven To Drive isn't just a collection of songs; it's a musical journey through Joe Ely's life on the road. The album stitches together decades of recordings made at Spur Studios, with the help of fellow musicians and neighbors like accordionist Joel Guzman, keyboardist Bill Guinn, singer Eddie Beethoven, and fiddler Richard Bowden. The latest additions were made last year at The Zone in Dripping Springs, where Jeff Plankenhorn laid down guitar tracks and engineer Pat Manske, who also mastered the album, added percussion.

Each track on the album encapsulates the spirit of movement. Whether it's the roar of a sixteen-wheeler, the hum of a motorcycle, or the quiet rumble of a Greyhound bus, Ely captures the essence of travel. The songs range from high-energy anthems perfect for speeding down a two-lane blacktop to laid-back tunes that meander through the blues-soaked highways of the Gulf Coast. Stories of running from the law on the Interstate sit alongside contemplative tracks about staying put, offering a rich tapestry of experiences on the road.

Ely's career began in the 1970s, sweeping out of West Texas like a tornado. Fronting a band that was too rock for country and too country for rock, he carved out a unique niche with his wide-open, honky-tonk roadhouse sound. His riveting live performances, honed over thousands of shows from Lubbock to London, have cemented his reputation as one of the most compelling live acts in music. Ely's influence is vast, with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Linda Ronstadt, Tom Petty, and the Clash embracing him as a kindred spirit.

Over the past four decades, Joe Ely has been at the forefront of various musical movements, from Outlaw Country to Alt-Country, Texas Country, and Americana. His songwriting is widely regarded as some of the best of his generation, with a knack for capturing the rugged beauty and raw emotion of life on the road. Driven To Drive is a well-traveled road map of Ely's enduring legacy, a celebration of a life spent chasing the horizon and the perfect song.