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John Morthland

John Morthland has been writing about music since 1969 when he began working as an associate editor at Rolling Stone. He has also been an associate editor at Creem and Country Music magazines and is the author of The Best of Country Music (Double Day, 1984). He is currently a contributing editor to TEXAS MONTHLY and lives in Austin, Texas.

Features

BBQ08

Eighteen hungry reviewers. 14,773 miles driven/flown. 341 joints visited. Countless bites of brisket, sausage, chicken, pork, white bread, potato salad, and slaw—and vats of sauce—ingested. There are only fifty slots on our quinquennial list of the best places to eat barbecue in Texas. Only five of those got high honors. And only one (you’ll never guess which one in a million years) is the best of the best. (June 2008)

Grease

At restaurants across Texas, there are any number of things that taste better dipped in egg and milk, dredged in flour, and pan-fried in hot oil. If you think steak is the only chicken-fried, uh, delicacy, wake up and smell the bacon. And the antelope. And the lobster. And… (August 2005)

The 100 Best Texas Songs

Two are by Willie. Which songs, exactly? And what about the remaining 98? You’ll have to check our list to find out. (April 2004)

Top Fifty

(May 2003)

Pit Stops

Where are the best places to eat barbecue in Texas? Six years ago we published a highly subjective—and hotly debated— list of our fifty favorite joints, and now we’ve gone back for seconds. Ten intrepid souls drove more than 21,000 miles in search of 2003’s worthiest ‘cue. Here’s what they came back with: the top 5 and the next 45, plus honorable mentions, great chains, and meat by mail. (May 2003)

A Good Mango Is Hard to Find

Unless you’re Susana Trilling, who taught me how to prepare traditional Oaxacan dishes at her cooking school in Mexico. This month she’ll teach you too—right here in Texas. (April 2002)

Shaggy

Tuning in to Shaggy. (September 2001)

Unsentimental Journey

Ornette Coleman's radical theory of harmolodics helped redefine jazz. His relationship with the music business has always been troubled, however, and today the Fort Worth native suffers from benign neglect. But his tenor sax still packs an emotional wallop. (January 2001)

Merry Texas Christmas, You All

Ten tunes by Texas artists to jingle your bells. (December 2000)

Gladys Porter Zoo, Brownsville

(October 2000)

Music • Elida Reyna

Tops in tejano. (September 2000)

The Meating

Three friends, seven years, untold pounds of pork chops and prime rib, and a single tradition that elevates the experience above mere food. (June 2000)

Wills Power

Sixty-five years after his first recording sessions with the Texas Playboys, 25 years after his death, Bob Wills is still the king of western swing. (May 2000)

Musical Marginalia

The places, people and stories behind Texas music. (May 2000)

A Big Hit

How Nolan and Reid Ryan are Expressing themselves in Round Rock. (April 2000)

Play Ball, Y'all

Meet eight Texas teams that are bringing America's pastime—the gimmicky, anything-goes minor league version—to a stadium near you. (April 2000)

Culture • José E. Limón

Folk hero. (September 1999)

aaaaaaiiiiieeeee!

From Poltergeist to the Steel Eel, Texas has five of the nation’s best new roller coasters. And they’re all a scream. (August 1999)

Cemeteries

Simple wooden crosses in Terlingua, carefully delineated stonework in Jefferson: Five great graveyards that run the gamut. (March 1999)

Johnny on the Spot

Country singer Johnny Rodriguez has had a career full of highs and lows, but with a murder trial looming, his lowest day may be yet to come. (December 1998)

EDUCATION • Diana Natalicio

Diversity U. (September 1998)

Music • LeAnn Rimes

Little miss hits. (September 1997)

The Other Cabeza de Vaca

(May 1997)

Lockhart and Soul

(May 1997)

Gone To Kansas City

(May 1997)

Quindon

(October 1996)

The Kids Are Alright

Fourteen-year-old country prodigy LeAnn Rimes is singing a Blue streak. But she’s not the only Texas teen tearing up the music scene. (October 1996)

Music • Kirk Franklin

The voice of God. (September 1996)

No Smoking

Welcome to Llano, the real barbecue capital of Central Texas. The proof is in the pit. (March 1992)

Columns | Miscellany

O, Canadian!

The Panhandle town may be the first in Texas to decide to base its economy on nature tourism. Judging by the results, it won't be the last. (September 2004)

Buried Treasure

Secret Santas, take note: Here are my picks for the state's most underrated or underrecognized CDs of the year. (December 2003)

Prodigal Son

After years of ignoring Woody Guthrie's time in Pampa, residents of the tiny Panhandle community are finally singing "This Land Is His Land." (March 2003)

We Are the World

With colorful music and dynamic performers who hail from Africa, Asia, and all points in between, the Houston International Festival puts the globe onstage. (April 2002)

Polka Dotty

Bitter ethnic rivalries. Fragmented musical styles. Who knew that polka fans could be so hard-core? Not Denton's Brave Combo. (February 2002)

Whole Other Country

Texas artists find a new home at Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame. (July 2001)

Tennison, Anyone?

Chalee Tennison wants to reclaim old-time country music. (April 2001)

Spurred On

How Hockley's Fred Whitfield lassoed his place in pro rodeo history. (December 2000)

Unsung

On the record with Chris Strachwitz, whose Arhoolie label has quietly built the world's best collection of indigenous Texas music. (October 2000)

Swamp Thing

It's no croc: September is alligator season in Texas, and hunters are taking to the marshes hook, line, and rifle. (September 2000)

On the Fringe

You might have thought Waco’s Hank Thompson, a forebear of today’s alt-country scene, was dead and gone. But faster than you can say “No Depression,” he’s back, and even at 74, he shows no signs of slowing down. (July 2000)

Songwriter

Move over, Anna Nicole Smith. Mexia’s biggest celebrity is Cindy Walker, who penned hits made famous by everyone from Eddy Arnold to Bob Wills. (December 1999)

Blues Brothers

Long John Hunter and his guitar-slinging friends sharpened their axes in and around Port Arthur, so their recent return was truly a homecoming. (July 1999)

Hog Wild

They’re a major nuisance in rural Texas— but, boy, do they taste good. (June 1999)

Folk Hero

He’s one of the most influential men in American music. So why haven’t you heard of Alan Lomax? (November 1998)

Class Acts

Long before they were chart-topping musicians, Erykah Badu and Roy Hargrove made the grade at an arts magnet school in Dallas. (September 1998)

Soul Survivor

His mentor, Sam Cooke, is long dead, but Dallas’ Johnnie Taylor is alive and well and still living at the top of the charts. (July 1998)

Horn Free

After years in New York’s jazz trenches, trumpeter Hannibal Lokumbe has come home to Smithville in search of the simple life. (November 1997)

Royal Blue

For decades, Bobby Bland has personified the definitive post–T-Bone Walker Texas R&B style. Even at 67, no one can dethrone him. (August 1997)

Voice of Amerykah

Whether or not Erykah Badu is the Billie Holiday of hip-hop, her uplifting songs and soulful singing are winning fans from coast to coast. (May 1997)

Tenor of the Times

Dallas sax player Marchel Ivery has impressed jazz greats like Red Garland and Art Blakey. So why isn’t he more famous? For one thing, he won’t blow his own horn. (March 1997)

Golden Oldie

After playing for years in relative obscurity, 57-year-old Ronnie Dawson is the latest cult hero in the cultish world of rockabilly. (November 1996)

To B or Not to B?

Cesar Alejandro’s low-budget action movies aren’t exactly number one with a bullet, but the El Paso director is sure he’ll be hot in Hollywood—some day. (May 1996)

Walser Across Texas

Beloved by bubbas and the Butthole Surfers alike, 350-pound yodeler Don Walser is country’s current cross-generational king of cool. (March 1996)

Wasted Days

Freddy Fender has one of the most affecting voices in the music business. So why isn’t he a star? (October 1995)

Shell Game

Son of a gun, you’ll have big fun—and terrific fresh crawfish—at these seven Louisiana seafood joints. (April 1995)

Low Steaks

How a cut of meat from the wrong side of the street rose to culinary stardom, plus a guide to Texas’ most authentic fajitas. (March 1993)

Out of Sync

Nearly everyone agrees that the nation’s best college jazz program is in Denton, but critics wonder if it isn’t mired in the past. (November 1992)

Food Get Your Goat

Juan Espinoza’s classy cabrito puts Johnny’s restaurant in front of the herd. (August 1992)

Plains Song

When Lubbock-born songwriter Butch Hancock steps onstage, West Texas haunts his music. (November 1991)

Fire Power

The habanero chile stokes the burning desire of pepper lovers everywhere. (September 1991)

Red Beans and Blue Notes

When in New Orleans for the Jazz and Heritage Festival, do as the locals do: Search out the neighborhood restaurants and clubs. (April 1990)

Crispy Critters

Carnivores have their steakhouses, herbivores their sprout spots. Now insectivores can munch their way through the Aztec menus in Mexico City. (February 1990)

Presumed Innocent

Rolling with Marcia Ball. (June 2001)

V.I.P.: The Leroy Preston Songbook

(March 2001)

Love Letters

(February 2001)

Mama's Gun

(January 2001)

Ideal

(January 2000)

The Texas Trumpets

(January 2000)

Reporter

Clifford Antone (1949-2006)

The legendary Austin club owner, who died May 23, helped launch many a Texas musician, from Stevie Ray Vaughan to Charlie Sexton. ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons remembers the larger-than-life music impresario. (July 2006)

Five Guys Walk Into a Bar

(September 2004)

The Great Battle

(September 2004)

The Revolution Starts...Now

(September 2004)

Music

Blues, rockabilly, classic honky-tonk—and maybe even Jimmy Buffett. (September 2004)

Movimiento Popular

(May 2004)

Westernaire

(January 2004)

Marvelous Things

(January 2004)

Wheels of Fortune

(January 2004)

A Stagecoach Named Desire

(December 2000)

Uma

(November 2000)

Trainfare Home

(October 2000)

Consent to Treatment

(September 2000)

The Spectacular Johnny Horton

(August 2000)

Dallas Alley Drag

(July 2000)

Greyhound Blues

(June 2000)

Waltz Across Texas

(May 2000)

Adolph Hofner and the Pearl Wranglers

CDs by Adolph Hofner and the Pearl Wranglers, Sister Seven, and Bob Dorough. (April 2000)

Sweet Inspiration

(March 2000)

The Big "D" Jamboree Live, Volumes 1 & 2

(February 2000)

Sour Notes

A tejano rift widens. (March 1999)

Beef 101

An A&M extension class gets beefy. (January 1999)

It’s Not Over

Okay, he isn’t exactly sexy. But he’s hot! And he’s dead! The busiest balladeer in Texas these days is… Roy Orbison. (October 1998)

Joe Cool

Joe Ely hits the road. (May 1998)

Statues of Limitations

Which version of history should be promoted by El Paso’s new statue series: the Wild West or the mild West? (April 1998)

Television

The newest bilingual TV star. (December 1997)

Meat Feat

An East Texas hot links meat-and-greet. (November 1997)

Heavenly

The heavenly hits of God’s Property. (September 1997)

Hot Stuff

Spicy-food impresarios turn up the heat on each other. (August 1997)

Ring Class

A knockout boxing program in West Texas. (November 1996)

Eva, Diva

Listening to conjunto queen Eva Ybarra. (July 1996)

Web Exclusives

Clifford Antone

ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons, environmental activist Robin Rather, and others remember the legendary Austin nightclub owner who died May 23, 2006. (July 2006)

Sharp Shooter

Richard Young knows it takes a lot of practice—and a little natural ability—to be a proficient cowboy action-shooter. (May 2002)