Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, Deluxe Edition

It's been eight years since Lucinda Williams released the original verion of her hit album Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. The original release pushed Williams well into the realm of being considered one of the great living singer/songwriters. Now, with the reissue Deluxe Edition, this classic album is revisited in the most tasteful way, complete with a stellar live performance of Lucinda Williams live at the World Cafe.

Whether you're listening to the original, or this newly remastered version, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road is an outstanding record. In a way that few artists manage to capture, Lucinda Williams single-handedly marries the genres of traditional and alternative country, roots rock and American folk music so smoothly, it almost feels like magic.

This time around, though Car Wheels is sporting a couple of wonderful bonus tracks, particularly the hauntingly catchy "Still I Long For Your Kiss." There's also an original, previously unissued version of "Out of Touch," and the 13-song live concert performance of Lucinda Williams live at the World Cafe. This includes many of the songs from Car Wheels, as well as great performances of some of her older tunes.

In addition to all the incredible performances on this record are the efforts of guest artists like Steve Earle and Emmylou Harris.

With all of this together in one place, the Deluxe Edition of Car Wheels could serve as an excellent introduction to the work of Lucinda Williams.

What's so great and timeless about this record is that it's the perfect companion for any journey. From the moment Williams opens her mouth for the opening song, "Right in Time," to her ode on her home town of Lake Charles, Louisiana, to the bonus track versions of "Out of Touch" and "Still I Long For Your Kiss," there is not one moment when one wouldn't feel compelled to hang on her every note.

With a voice as thick as whiskey and songs as sweet as wine, Car Wheels' reissue is welcome intoxication from one of America's great living songwriters.