Musta Notta Gotta Lotta (1981)

"In 1979, Texas singer/songwriter Joe Ely struck up a friendship with the Clash that led to Ely and his band touring with the rebel rockers in both the United States and England. More than a few wondered what the Clash were doing hanging out with a country singer. Those questions weren't asked after Ely released "Musta Notta Gotta Lotta" in 1981; while the album still paid homage to his Texas heritage and country roots, it made clear that Ely could also write and perform with the fire and grit of a natural born rock & roller. The album opens with the rave-up title track, in which Ely not only showed off his passion for Jerry Lee Lewis but rivaled the Killer for sheer mania, and if it's the fastest and craziest tune on the album, it threw down an audible gauntlet that Ely and his band were ready to turn up their amps and show what they could do. Here, he proved he could also play great rock & roll without sacrificing his country soul; it's as fun as anything he would ever cut." (Mark Deming, Allmusic)