VA - Choctaw Ridge New Fables Of The American South 1968-1973 [2021]

 

COUNTRY FLAVOUR

VA - Choctaw Ridge New Fables Of The American South 1968-1973 [2021]

Choctaw Ridge explores a new country sound, one that emerged at the end of the 60's in the wake of Bobbie Gentry's 'Ode To Billie Joe', a shock number one hit in 1967. When singers like Gentry, Jimmy Webb, Michael Nesmith and Lee Hazlewood moved from the south to Los Angeles to make it in the music business, they were not part of the Nashville in-crowd and they forged a new direction. 'Ode To Billie Joe' was the tip of the iceberg, and it's success helped a bunch of singers and storytellers to emerge over the next three or four years. Storytelling is the link between all of the songs on this collection. The tracklist and fulsome sleeve notes have been put together by Bob Stanley (Saint Etienne) and Martin Green (Smashing, The Sound Gallery), who have been collecting these records for decades. The voices are resonant and relatable, and the productions take in the best of what pop had to offer in the late 60's and early 70's. Before the factionalism between smooth pop-conscious Nashville and the hedonistic 'outlaws' made it look inward again, this was a golden era for an atmospheric, inclusive and progressive country music. It began on the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day.

Overall, this is an eye-opening, fascinating and immensely satisfying glimpse of a corner of music you probably didn't even know existed, and it's immediately worthy of your time and attention. Don't worry about it being country music: if there was ever an album of country music for people who don't like country music, this is it, but country lovers are likely to adore it too. Another reviewer has suggested there's scope for more volumes of stuff like this. Yer darn tootin', podner. Let's hope they do appear, and the sooner the better. (Amazon)

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Track lists

01 Lee Hazlewood The House Song 4:28

02 Chris Gantry If Only She Had Stayed 2:15

03 Jerry Reed Endless Miles Of Highway 2:13

04 Jeannie C Riley The Back Side Of Dallas 2:34

05 Hoyt Axton Way Before The Time Of Towns 3:07

06 Tom T Hall Strawberry Farms 2:51

07 Dolly Parton Down From Dover 3:47

08 Charlie Rich July 12, 1939 4:27

09 Nat Stuckey What Am I Doing In L.A. 2:44

10 Rob Galbraith Mr Stanton Don't Believe It 2:20

11 Sammi Smith Saunders' Ferry Lane 3:03

12 Henson Cargill Four Shades Of Love 3:53

13 Waylon Jennings & The Kimberlys Drivin' Nails In The Wall 2:37

14 Kenny Rogers & The First Edition Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town 2:59

15 Ed Bruce Why Can't I Come Home 2:20

16 Billie Jo Spears Mr Walker, It's All Over 3:00

17 Jim Ford Harlan County 3:27

18 Tony Joe White Widow Wimberly 3:38

19 Bobbie Gentry Belinda (Alt take) 4:06

20 Michael Nesmith & The First National Band Joanne 3:11

21 John Hartford Mr Jackson's Got Nothing To Do 2:43

22 Lee Hazlewood & Suzi Jane Hokom Alone 2:44

23 Sir Robert Charles Griggs Fabulous Body And Smile 3:42

24 Charlie Rich I Feel Like Going Home 4:28

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