Truckload of Art – The Music of Terry Allen

Sat, May 23, 2026

Hey Listeners,

Toda I am giving Terry Allen the Cause-and-Effect treatment. Terry Allen is having a late career moment. He’s been on tour, he’s got a brand-new record, and Brendan Greaves’ authorized biography Truckload of Art continues to receive accolades. I had a chance to catch Terry twice at Big Ears in March and I have just finished reading Truckload of Art.

I think he is one of the most fascinating musicians I have ever read about and I am anxious to share his story and his music tomorrow. While we’ll focus on his music we’ll touch on his work as an artist – drawing, paintings, and sculpture as well as his performance art and written works. Terry is truly a renaissance man in the art world. Admired by many including David Byrne and a huge influence on Texas musicians like Butch Hancock, Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Guy Clark, Robert Earle Keene to name a few.

Enjoy!

The Haberdasher

Show archive

Playlist

Terry Allen, “The Radio … And Real Life”

from Juarez

Paradise of Bachelors - 1975

Cowboy Copas, “Signed Sealed and Delivered”

from Cowboy Copas - Greatest Hits

Vintage Masters Inc. - 1960

Terry Allen, “Bloodlines”

from Blood Sucking Maniacs

Paradise of Bachelors - 2026

Blood Sucking Maniacs & Terry Allen, “Blues (Pauline Allen) [feat. Pauline Allen]”

from Blood Sucking Maniacs

Paradise of Bachelors - 2026

Robert Shaw, “The Clinton”

from The Ma Grinder: Texas Barrelhouse Piano

Arhoolie Records - 1962

Ersel Hickey, “Bluebirds Over the Mountains II (Alternate Take 2)”

from Hangin' Around at Heartbreak Hotel

Fury Records - 2005

The Delmore Brothers, “Blues Stay Away from Me”

from 16 Biggest Country Hits of the 40's

Starday Records - 2005

The Maddox Brothers & Rose, “Gosh, I Miss You all the Time”

from Maddox Brothers and Rose

King Records - 1997

Lydia Mendoza, “Tango Negro”

from Para Evocar el Ayer… La Última Copa

Preludio Soluciones - 2023

Lowell Fulson, “Juke Box Shuffle”

from Blues Collection

Rolled Gold Classics - 2013

John Lee Hooker, “Whiskey and Wimmen”

from Travelin'

Vee-Jay Records - 1960

Jimmy Reed, “Take Out Some Insurance”

from The Very Best of Jimmy Reed

Tomato Records - 2005

The Four Teens, “Hound Dog (Demo)”

from single

bootleg

The Crickets, “Don't Cha Know”

from In Style With The Crickets (Expanded Edition)

Geffen - 1960

Buddy Holly & The Crickets, “That'll Be the Day”

from The "Chirping" Crickets

Geffen* - 1957

Sonny Curtis, “I Fought The Law (And the Law Won)”

from The 1st of Sonny Curtis

Good Time Records - 1968

The Legendary Stardust Cowboy, “Paralyzed”

from For Sarah, Raquel and David: An Anthology

Cherry Red Records - 2013

Joe Ely, “Fingernails (Live in London)”

from Live Shots

Geffen* - 1980

Jimmie Dale Gilmore, “Midnight Train”

from "After Awhile"

Nonesuch - 1991

Jo Harvey Allen, “Time Again”

from 36 Year Serenade - The Songs of Donald Rubinstein

Hijo Records - 2020

Terry Allen, jo Pierce, Butch Hancock, “Boomtown Boogie”

from Songs From Chippy

Hollywood Records

The Flatlanders, “One More Road”

from More A Legend Than A Band

Rounder

Butch Hancock, “Fools Fall in Love”

from Own & Own

Sugar Hill

Terry Allen, “Gonna California”

from Gonna California - Single

Paradise of Bachelors - 1967

Lead Belly, “Linin' Track”

from Lead Belly Sings Folk Songs

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings - 1989

Terry Allen, “Red Bird (demo)”

from Cowboy and the Stranger - EP

Paradise of Bachelors - 2018

Johnny Cash, “Ballad Of A Teenage Queen (feat. The Tennessee Two)”

from Sun Records - The Definitive Hits, Vol. 1

Sun Records - 2000

The Great Scots, “Ball & Chain”

from The Great Lost Great Scots Album!!!

Sundazed Music - 1996

Terry Allen & The Panhandle Mystery Band, “Cocktail Desperado”

from True Stories, A Film By David Byrne: The Complete Soundtrack

Nonesuch - 2018