The Mavericks - What A Crying Shame

In this week's episode we're featuring the third album from The Mavericks, "What A Crying Shame" (1994). With roots in Miami's alternative and punk scenes, country music became the common ground upon which the band came together, and after two albums with moderate sales success (including one for MCA) producer Don Cook was brought on board for their third. Cook's work with Brooks & Dunn was instrumental in the success of that duo - and he allowed The Mavericks a tight but diverse record on "What A Crying Shame". Given their name by an old manager, The Mavericks fell into it over time; causing country radio programmers headaches since the get-go with elements of Latin, country, blues, rock 'n' roll, vintage pop and rockabilly in their music - their product was hard to define. But anchored by the sensational Orbison-esque vocal of Raul Malo, The Mavericks wouldn't be pigeonholed. Despite sales of over a million units, radio's reaction to "What A Crying Shame" was luke warm. But for those willing to listen cover to cover there was some excellent country music to be had: a couple of updated Ray Price shuffles in "Just A Memory" and "Ain't Found Nobody", and a pair of excellent honky tonk floor fillers in "There Goes My Heart" and the belly-rubber "Pretend" are worth the listen alone.