Picnic (album) explained

Picnic is an album by the Texas-based folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen, released in 1997.^{[2] [3]} It was his first album for Arista Records.^[4] The album is dedicated to Townes Van Zandt.^[5]

Critical reception

Entertainment Weekly wrote that "Keen’s vivid scenarios in Picnic pack more punch than the usual Austin twang and bang."

Track listing

All tracks written by Robert Earl Keen, except where noted

1. "Undone" – 3:47
2. "Over the Waterfall" – 4:30
3. "Levelland" (James McMurtry) – 5:11
4. "I Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight" – 4:08
5. "Oh Rosie" – 5:23
6. "Runnin' with the Night" – 4:15
7. "The Coming Home of the Son and Brother" (J. D. Hutchison) – 3:53
8. "Shades of Gray" – 5:07
9. "Fourth of July" (Dave Alvin) – 3:59
10. "Then Came Lo Mein" – 3:57

Personnel

• Nancy Blake – cello (track 10)
• Rich Brotherton – electric guitar (tracks 2, 3, 7), backing vocals (track 3), acoustic guitar (tracks: 1 to 5, 7)
• John Keane – steel guitar (tracks 4, 5, 7), mandolin (track 1), keyboards (tracks 2, 10), electric guitar (tracks 1, 3, 9), bass (tracks 6, 10), backing vocals (track 9), acoustic guitar (tracks 3, 6, 8, 10)
• Gurf Morlix – electric guitar (tracks 3, 5, 6, 9)
• Joel Morris – drums (tracks 3, 6, 9)
• Tim O'Brien – mandolin (tracks 2, 4, 8)
• Mark Thomas Patterson – drums (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8)
• Dave Schools – bass guitar (track 9)
• Margo Timmins – vocals (track 10), backing vocals (tracks 4, 7)
• Bill Whitbeck – bass guitar (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8), backing vocals (tracks 1, 2, 5)
• Tim White – organ (track 9), keyboards (track 3), accordion (track 6)
• Robert Earl Keen – vocals (tracks 1 to 10), acoustic guitar (tracks 1 to 10)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Robert Earl Keen/ R.B. Morris. Peter. Margasak. August 21, 1997. Chicago Reader.
2. Web site: Robert Earl Keen Biography, Songs, & Albums. AllMusic.
3. Web site: One More Image. www.austinchronicle.com.
4. Web site: Robert Earl Keen – Picnic . No Depression . 6 January 2022.
5. Web site: Robert Earl Keen by Gary Fisketjon - BOMB Magazine. bombmagazine.org.