A_Bigger_Piece_of_Sky
A Bigger Piece of Sky
1993 studio album by Robert Earl Keen
A Bigger Piece of Sky is an album by Texas-based folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen. It was released in the United States in 1993 by Sugar Hill Records and re-released in SACD format with the originally intended track sequencing in 2004 by Koch Records. The title of the album comes from a line in the opening verse of "Paint the Town Beige":
- I gave up the fast lane for a blacktop country road
- Just burned out on all that talk about the mother lode,
- I traded for a songbird and a bigger piece of sky
- When I miss the good old days I can't imagine why.
The album is frequently cited to be one of Keen's best if not the best and is considered to be a transitional point in his career as an artist.[1][2][3] The album brings together various elements of alternative country such as roots-rock, honky tonk, and folk to form Keen's own cohesive blend of Texas music. Reviewers cite "Corpus Christi Bay", "Whenever Kindness Fails", "So I Can Take My Rest", and "Paint the Town Beige" as stand-out tracks.[2][3] Keen's down-beat duet with Irish singer Maura O'Connell, "Night Right for Love" is also worthy of note as is Keen's cover of Terry Allen's "Amarillo Highway". Other guest performers include Marty Stuart on mandolin and Garry Tallent on electric and upright bass.