Junior Brown should be a star.  Instead, the Texas based artist is pretty much relegated to cult hero status among music fans, whether they love that unmistakable singing voice, catchy songs, his unique style of playing on the “guit-steel” (half electric guitar, half lap steel guitar), or those that only know him for penning the theme song to AMC’s “Better Call Saul”.  For those of you that aren’t familiar with his work, “Highway Patrol” is your gateway to the man’s talents.

Originally released in 1993 on Brown’s Guit With It album, “Highway Patrol” is a stone cold Junior classic.  An ode to law enforcement, it’s actually a cover of a 60s country hit from Red Simpson that Junior certainly owns as he keeps the spirit of the original and throws in plenty of guitar flair (electric and steel runs!) to appease those guitar fans out there.  A bit of chicken pickin’ here, sleek slide playing there, and a whole lot of tasty playing throughout.

And did I say unmistakable singing voice?  Oh yeah…  Junior’s droll baritone delivery is certainly a highlight, a sing songy twang that rivals Johnny Cash but has its own timbre as it takes the best of country and Western swing mixed with a touch of rockabilly.  A voice like that can certainly help sell a song, especially one with such a descriptive visual lyric like “Highway Patrol”.  Pure, solid music that they just don’t make anymore.

If you’re one of those that misses the good old days of country music, one that digs unique guitar stylings, or one that just likes simple and memorable songs, it will do you good to check out “Highway Patrol”.  But don’t stop there-  grab a copy of Junior’s Greatest Hits CD on Curb Records or grab any of his other albums.  You won’t be disappointed in the variety of styles-  country, swing, lap steel, rockabilly, Hawaiian, or plain ol’ rock and roll.  He’s got it all!