What does it sound like?:
I know there are a lot of Gretchen fans on here and I guess a few will be disappointed that her latest release is a tribute to Mickey Newbury rather than a collection of self-penned songs. This review intends to dispel any fears you may have.What you get with any new Gretchen album is one of the best female voices around, great musical backing and fantastic songs. You have all of these elements except that she is interpreting another great songwriters efforts. Mickey Newbury had something of a cult following whilst he was alive but like many others his reputation increased after his untimely death.
Firstly I have to say that Gretchen’s voice has matured like a fine wine. If I think back to songs such as On a Bus to St.Cloud or Independence day – her voice had a sweetness and hadnt yet developed the timbre that she now has. It has a huskiness that didnt previously exist and it suits her and the songs.
In listening to these songs it is clear that they were a big influence on her own songs – if you take songs like Frisco Depot or San Francisco Mabel Joy you can easily imagine they are her own words.
This album has been many years in the development apparently and to my ears it sounds like a real labour of love. Husband Barry Walsh leads the musicians well and the instrumentation is never intrusive and fits perfectly. His accordion on the title track is subtle but adds greatly to the song. Elsewhere Chrlie McCoy adds fantastic harmonica. Buddy Miller pops up on harmony vocals and so too Kim Richey.
Highlights for me are Frisco depot, the opener The Sailor and the title track. However the absolute best is the penultimate song St.Cecelia – a song I was unaware of. Gretchen Peters sang the definitive version of the Tom Russell song Guadalupe. St.Cecilia is similar in construction and subject matter. If Mickey Newbury influenced Tom Russell as well as Gretchen Peters then he has left a fine legacy. Don’t know if there will be many better releases this year in the female singer songwriter field – this is a very good release indeed.
What does it all *mean*?
Quality songwriting in USA and Canada has been around for a very long time – good to see that current artists promote their influences in the form of tributes like this.
Goes well with…
A glass of wine, sit back on the sofa and let it draw you in. It is perfect summer evening music.
Release Date:
June 2020
Might suit people who like…
Gretchen, Tom Russell, Mary Chapin Carpenter and countless other American singer songwriters.
Excellent. I am a fan of both.
No American Trilogy I hope.
Nice review.
Nice review. Enough for me to buy it , anyway.
I’ve been pondering on this. I have heard a few songs before, most notably on a webcast she did a few weeks back.
Before this album, I’d never heard of anyone praising Mickey Newbury as a major songwriting talent, but I bow to Gretchen’s ability to pick a decent song.
No doubt we will take the plunge and but it.
I only vaguely knew his name, I admit. I’m listening now. It sounds lovely, though I haven’t heard anything remarkable in the songwriting department. It’s mostly Gretchen’s voice I’m listening to.
Mickey Newbury’s finest moment?
BB Kings version of You’ve Always Got the Blues on his Love Me Tender album..
Spotify is your friend for that.
Have an “up” for that. Magnificent call.
Jeez, I have mentioned that BB King album on here a few times to tumbleweed. Delighted to know at least 2 others have heard it, and I assume, like it.
@Twang I could easily imagine Gretchen writing a song like this:
san francisco mabel joy
×
Oh, his daddy was an honest man,
Red-dirt, Georgia farmer.
His mama lived her short life,
Havin’ kids and balin’ hay.
He had fifteen years,
And an ache inside to wander,
Hopped a freight in Waycross,
Wound up in L.A.
Oh, the cold nights had no pity,
On that Waycross, Georgia farm boy.
Most days he went hungry,
Then the summer came.
He met a girl known on the Strip,
As San Francisco Mabel Joy.
Destitution’s child,
Born on an L.A. street called shame.
Growing up came quietly,
In the arms of Mabel Joy.
And laughter found their mornings,
It brought a meaning to his life.
On the night before she left,
Sleep came, left that Waycross country boy,
With dreams of Georgia cotton,
And a California wife.
Sunday mornin’ found him standin’ ‘neath,
The red light at her door.
When a right cross sent him reelin’,
Put him face down on the floor.
Lord, in place of Mabel Joy he found.
A merchant man marine.
Who growled, “Your Georgia neck is red,
But, sonny, you’re still green.”
He turned twenty-one,
In a Gray Rock federal prison.
Ol’ judge had no mercy,
On that Waycross, Georgia boy.
Starin’ at those four gray walls,
In silence he would listen,
To that midnight freight,
He knew could take him back to Mabel Joy.
Sunday mornin’ found him lyin’ ‘neath
The red light at her door,
With a bullet in his side he cried,
“Have you seen Mabel Joy?”
Stunned and shaken, someone said,
“Son, she don’t live here no more.
No, she left this house four years today,
They say she’s looking for some Georgia farm boy.”
Yes I agree some are quite Gretcheny.
A lovely album. My (signed) CD arrived earlier this week, together with a “Gretchen Sings Mickey” t-shirt. That fits!
Excellent work