AMG Review of Songs of Dwight Yoakam: Will Sing for Food

Thom Owens
All Music Guide

It was always clear that Dwight Yoakam was one of the most important country singers of the '80s, one of the handful of artists who was influential on both the new traditionalist and alt country movements. If anyone has any doubt about that statement, Songs of Dwight Yoakam: Will Sing for Food might change their minds. There aren't many big stars here, instead, there are a number of country-rockers and alt country singers -- vital artists who illustrate how vital Yoakam and his songs are. Rhonda Vincent, the Backsliders, David Ball, Tim O'Brien, Scott Joss, the Lonesome Strangers, Pete Droge and Gillian Welch all contribute great performances, making the songs their own. Very few tribute albums wind up being wholly successful, but this is one of them.