Tag archives: james mcmurtry

Wandering Americana with McMurtry
By Steven Libowitz   |   July 21, 2026

James McMurtry found critical and commercial success early in his career when his song “Painting by Numbers,” from his John Mellencamp-produced 1989 debut album Too Long in the Wasteland, connected with disaffected members of America’s heartland and became an MTV video hit. He’s been on the road ever since, almost incessantly touring northwards of 100 […]