Posted by Pete Smith on November 11, 2008, 10:47 pm
81.157.253.66
Recently I received an album from a band called Freeborn. Now I have searched for information about this outfit and I cannot seem to find anything at all, to be honest I do not know if they are a band. The CD sleeve shows a guy and a gal, Kent Freeborn I assume with friend. The liner notes list Kent, Gary Farmer (owner of Farm Boy Records), Jill Taylor and Marva Hughes. What I do know is they make wonderful music on “Sleepless Nights” (Farm Boy) a collection of twelve tracks, some original, some covers, a most pleasing blend or pop and mainstream country. Farmer is a well experienced producer who really knows his stuff and for this project has drafted in a number of really talented musicians, included one I have great respect for, the multi-instrumentalist Mike Headrick, but throughout it is the voices that command the listeners attention. Kent Freeborn has a great lead voice and the girls provide truly superb duet/harmony/backup vocals. The choice of songs is interesting and a little adventurous but it has paid off handsomely with wonderful arrangements and performances of Janis Ian’s “Jessie” (my top favourite), Gram Parsons’ “Brass Buttons”, Boudleaux and Felice Bryant’s “Sleepless Nights”, Carole King’s “Go Away Little Girl” (a UK hit for Mark Wynter in 1962) and Baker Knight’s “Lonesome Town”. The original songs, the mainstream country ones, were penned by either Jeff Leatherman or Scott McNabb and play nicely alongside the aforementioned with Leatherman’s opening “I Won’t Be Here” contrasting beautifully with McNabb’s closing “Until Your Mother’s Gone” Available from the usual sites.
Happy birthday to James Talley on Sunday (9 November). James has long been a favourite singer/writer of all discerning country fans. His songs, without exception, have something intelligent and worthwhile to say. Born in Oklahoma Talley was influenced by the music of fellow Okie Woody Guthrie and the author John Steinbeck. After a brief spell with Columbia and Atlantic James moved to Capitol records who was moved to say that they had not received such good press on an act since the Beatles but, unfortunately commercial sales did not match critical reaction though the singer did record some of the best albums of the seventies with titles such as “Got No Bread, No Milk, No Money, But We Sure got A Lot Of Love” (1976) and “Blackjack Choir” (1977 – featuring B.B. King). A favourite of the former President, Jimmy Carter, Talley has had songs recorded by Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson, Johnny Paycheck and even artists as diverse as Hazel Dickens and Moby. James continues to write and record wonderful country songs and long may he do so. For copies of James’ new albums and some back catalogue contact www.jamestalley.com
Remember there are stars in the southern sky.
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