Category: Southern Soul

Amy LaVere – Painting Blue

Mr SquirrelLeave a comment

https://amylavere.bandcamp.com/album/painting-blue

I came across Amy Lavere by chance through Johnny Dowd’s new record which is produced by her husband Will Sexton (Charlie’s Big Brother) .

I now know she and Will played here in Nottingham in the teeth of Covid getting through a tour on the cusp of the world’s downtime.

Amy sings and had a lot to do with Dowd’s latest which is excellent by the way.

She has also had a solid career which passed my by until now sadly. This her last solo Lp released in 2019 is a de facto gem and reminds me of not only the looser end of Lucinda Williams but also other noted stateside female acts like Eliza Gilkyson and maybe even Victoria Williams such is the lightness in her voice. The songs are very well written and the producer’s hat of WS is worn more than well.

The closest contemporary feel I get is with the work of Vlautin’s Delines.. yes that good.

Personal fave on first few plays through is the Memphis track which recalls the famous track by Tom T Hall. There is not a note out of place and not a false step here.

Note to self catch her next time she comes through pandemics allowing of course….

Joe South – Midnight Rainbows

Mr SquirrelLeave a comment

Bargain of the year! This almost mint copy of Joe South’s second to last album from 1975 cost me 50p.

I have seen cover many times over the years but never investigated further.

Once I put it on the deck I realised it a keeper. There a very full and beautifully written eulogy to the man here:

http://deeprootsmag.org/2012/09/11/for-all-he-gave-and-for-giving-his-all/ 

This says all you need to know about his career going back to the late 1950s. I never knew he played bass on Blonde on Blonde nor that he was such a rated guitarist and was experimenting with guitar techniques and hacks way back. A new hero.

The album is astonishing and indeed Nillson and Beatlesque in its depth and variety. He had spent four years ‘missing’ following the suicide of his brother and this album was some kind of a comeback. From the sitar playing on the famous Games People Play he had been an innovator but I still unprepared for just how good this LP is.

It made me pull out a See for Miles reissue of his first album Introspect. I also found a double CD rip of the two later albums Games People Play and Joe South. All highly recommended..Southern Roots at its best.

Here the man himself on youtube in 1969 TV appearance..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5znh58WITU8

 

DISCOGS PAGE : https://www.discogs.com/artist/325103-Joe-South