Bobbie Gentry - The Girl From Chickasaw County, The Complete Capitol Masters [2018] (8 x CDs)

BOBBIE GENTRY

Bobbie Gentry - The Girl From Chickasaw County, The Complete Capitol Masters [2018] (8 x CDs)

Like her signature song "Ode to Billie Joe," Bobbie Gentry is an enigma by choice. "Ode to Billie Joe" deliberately leaves out details that would spell out the story and Gentry removed herself from public view sometime in the late '70s for reasons that have never been fully disclosed. Many have tried to track her down because her cult not only persisted into the 21st century, but it also even grew -- so much so that an observer would be forgiven if they believed Gentry was something of an outsider artist instead of a mainstay on television who hosted a variety show of her own. There was a pair of worthy efforts to get to the heart of the Gentry mystery in the 2010s -- Tara Murtha wrote an excellent 33 1/3 volume about 1967's Ode to Billie Joe, while the Gentry episode of Tyler Mahan Coe's podcast Cocaine & Rhinestones is enthralling -- but the crowning jewel of that revival is The Girl from Chickasaw County: The Complete Capitol Masters, an eight-disc box set that contains everything she recorded for the label, including all seven of her albums, plus 75 unreleased tracks.

To listeners who only know Gentry through "Ode to Billie Joe" or perhaps her hit duets with Glen Campbell ("Let It Be Me," "All I Have to Do Is Dream") or "Fancy," the minor 1969 hit that Reba McEntire revived in 1991, this may seem like overkill, but a cursory listen of the first disc of The Girl from Chickasaw County will prove that false. What makes Gentry so compelling is how she straddled the divide between nascent Americana and show biz, rooting her music in the former while striving for the latter. Certainly, "Ode to Billie Joe" pulsates to the languid rhythms of the south, its eccentricity accentuated by its spectral arrangement, and several of her earliest records tap into this eccentric rhythm, including her version of Jim Ford's "Niki Hoeky." Gentry would keep circling back to this thick, swampy sound again and again, but she'd keep layering on strings, horns, and other studio accouterments that were in fact there from the beginning. All the while, she demonstrated an equal fascination with sentiment and spookiness, working a territory somewhere between Glen Campbell and Tom T. Hall ("Casket Vignette" is impossible to imagine without the latter), slowly moving into adult contemporary without ever losing her deep eccentricity. All the spare demos, overblown outtakes, and show-bizzy live tracks on The Girl from Chickasaw Country wind up emphasizing how Gentry effortlessly embraced these contradictions, her music gaining a richness as she simultaneously pandered and wandered. Much of the music embodies the excesses of its time -- it's hard to see a record as mannered and elliptical as Patchwork being released at any point that wasn't 1971 -- but even if it sounds tied to its time, it also exists outside of it; it's music that feels lush and haunting, saccharine and genuine, arty and authentic all at once. All of this can be gleaned from Gentry's individual ouvre, but the rarities deepen her work and add to the mystery, making The Girl from Chickasaw County a box set as endlessly beguiling as Bobbie Gentry herself. (AllMusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine)

This release features specially commissioned cover art by David Downton and includes an 84-page book, eight postcards, and a copy of Gentry’s original handwritten lyrics to her iconic hit, “Ode to Billie Joe.” The set was lovingly compiled by Andrew Batt, who produced the unreleased material and penned the essay included in the book.

If you’re new to Bobbie’s music or curious to explore beyond her biggest hits, this box set is the perfect way to dive in. With its wonderful arrangement, superb audio quality, and excellent supplemental materials, you’ll find it a rare opportunity to get to know Bobbie Gentry’s songwriting process, the story of her career, and the progression of her artistic development much more intimately. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Bobbie Gentry - Mississippi Delta 3:05

02 Bobbie Gentry - I Saw an Angel Die 2:58

03 Bobbie Gentry - Chickasaw County Child 2:45

04 Bobbie Gentry - Sunday Best 2:43

05 Bobbie Gentry - Niki Hoeky 2:45

06 Bobbie Gentry - Papa, Won't You Let Me Go to Town With You 2:32

07 Bobbie Gentry - Bugs 2:07

08 Bobbie Gentry - Hurry, Tuesday Child 3:52

09 Bobbie Gentry - Lazy Willie 2:41

10 Bobbie Gentry - Ode to Billie Joe 4:16

11 Bobbie Gentry - Seventh Son (Demo) 2:25

12 Bobbie Gentry - I Saw an Angel Die (Demo) 2:53

13 Bobbie Gentry - Niki Hoeky (Demo) 2:42

14 Bobbie Gentry - Papa, Won't You Let Me Go to Town With You (Demo) 2:31

15 Bobbie Gentry - Hurry, Tuesday Child (Demo) 3:50

16 Bobbie Gentry - Mississippi Delta (Alternate Take) 3:06

17 Bobbie Gentry - Sunday Best (Alternate Take) 2:34

18 Bobbie Gentry - Show Off 2:46

19 Bobbie Gentry - La Siepe 4:03

20 Bobbie Gentry - La Citta' E' Grande 2:19

CD2

01 Bobbie Gentry - Okolona River Bottom Band 2:56

02 Bobbie Gentry - Big Boss Man 3:00

03 Bobbie Gentry - Reunion 2:37

04 Bobbie Gentry - Parchman Farm 3:12

05 Bobbie Gentry - Mornin' Glory 3:09

06 Bobbie Gentry - Sermon 2:33

07 Bobbie Gentry - Tobacco Road 2:51

08 Bobbie Gentry - Penduli Pendulum 1:55

09 Bobbie Gentry - Jessye' Lisabeth 3:03

10 Bobbie Gentry - Refractions 2:28

11 Bobbie Gentry - Louisiana Man 2:39

12 Bobbie Gentry - Courtyard 2:58

13 Bobbie Gentry - Seventh Son (Band Version) 2:52

14 Bobbie Gentry - Feelin' Good (Demo) 3:21

15 Bobbie Gentry - I Didn't Know (Demo) 3:03

16 Bobbie Gentry - Morning to Midnight (Demo) 3:29

17 Bobbie Gentry - Refractions (Demo) 2:30

18 Bobbie Gentry - Louisiana Man (Demo) 2:20

19 Bobbie Gentry - Sermon (Demo) 2:24

20 Bobbie Gentry - Mornin' Glory (Demo) 3:04

21 Bobbie Gentry - Jessye' Lisabeth (Demo) 3:12

22 Bobbie Gentry - Courtyard (Demo) 2:54

23 Bobbie Gentry - Louisiana Man (Live on the Tom Jones Show) 3:24

24 Bobbie Gentry - Ode to Billie Joe (Live on the Tom Jones Show) 5:16

CD3

01 Bobbie Gentry - Sweet Peony 2:27

02 Bobbie Gentry - Casket Vignette 2:32

03 Bobbie Gentry - Come Away Melinda 3:21

04 Bobbie Gentry - The Fool on the Hill 3:45

05 Bobbie Gentry - Papa's Medicine Show 3:48

06 Bobbie Gentry - Ace Insurance Man 3:32

07 Bobbie Gentry - Recollection 2:07

08 Bobbie Gentry - Sittin' Pretty 3:20

09 Bobbie Gentry - Eleanor Rigby 2:29

10 Bobbie Gentry - Peaceful 2:51

11 Bobbie Gentry - Here, There and Everywhere 2:31

12 Bobbie Gentry - Hushabye Mountain 2:48

13 Bobbie Gentry - Skip A-Long Sam 2:38

14 Bobbie Gentry - The Conspiracy of Homer Jones 3:34

15 Bobbie Gentry - Sweet Peony (Alternate Take) 2:26

16 Bobbie Gentry - Cotton Candy Sandman 2:06

17 Bobbie Gentry - Hushabye Mountain (Demo) 3:02

CD4

01 Bobbie Gentry, Glen Campbell - Less of Me 2:07

02 Bobbie Gentry, Glen Campbell - Little Green Apples 3:11

03 Bobbie Gentry, Glen Campbell - Gentle on My Mind 3:07

04 Bobbie Gentry, Glen Campbell - Heart to Heart Talk 2:52

05 Bobbie Gentry - My Elusive Dreams 3:10

06 Bobbie Gentry, Glen Campbell - (It's Only Your) Imagination 1:49

07 Bobbie Gentry, Glen Campbell - Mornin' Glory 2:52

08 Bobbie Gentry, Glen Campbell - Terrible Tangled Web 2:01

09 Bobbie Gentry, Glen Campbell - Sunday Mornin' 2:29

10 Bobbie Gentry, Glen Campbell - Let it Be Me 2:03

11 Bobbie Gentry, Glen Campbell - Medley: Scarborough Fair/Canticle 3:18

12 Bobbie Gentry, Glen Campbell - All I Have to Do is Dream 2:31

13 Bobbie Gentry, Glen Campbell - Walk Right Back 2:17

14 Bobbie Gentry, Glen Campbell - Sunday Mornin' (Alternate Take) 2:27

15 Bobbie Gentry, Glen Campbell - Let it Be Me (Without Strings) 2:03

16 Bobbie Gentry, Glen Campbell - Medley: Scarborough Fair/Canticle (Without Strings) 3:17

17 Bobbie Gentry, Kelly Gordon - Love Took My Heart and Mashed That Sucker Flat 2:13

18 Bobbie Gentry - The Fool on the Hill (Japanese Version) 3:45

19 Bobbie Gentry - I'll Never Fall in Love Again (Spanish Version) 2:53

20 Bobbie Gentry - Here, There and Everywhere (Spanish Version) 2:18

CD5

01 Bobbie Gentry - Touch 'Em With Love 2:02

02 Bobbie Gentry - Greyhound Goin' Somewhere 2:23

03 Bobbie Gentry - Natural to Be Gone 2:19

04 Bobbie Gentry - Seasons Come, Seasons Go 2:49

05 Bobbie Gentry - Glory Hallelujah, How They'll Sing 2:32

06 Bobbie Gentry - I Wouldn't Be Surprised 3:22

07 Bobbie Gentry - Son of a Preacher Man 2:04

08 Bobbie Gentry - Where's the Playground, Johnny 2:29

09 Bobbie Gentry - I'll Never Fall in Love Again 2:52

10 Bobbie Gentry - You've Made Me So Very Happy 3:18

11 Bobbie Gentry - More Today Than Yesterday 2:32

12 Bobbie Gentry - Spinning Wheel 2:39

13 Bobbie Gentry - Touch 'Em With Love (Alternate Stereo Take) 2:13

14 Bobbie Gentry - Glory Hallelujah, How They'll Sing (Alternate Take) 2:43

15 Bobbie Gentry - Seasons Come, Seasons Go (Demo) 2:51

16 Bobbie Gentry - Supper Time 3:08

17 Bobbie Gentry - God Bless the Child 2:59

18 Bobbie Gentry - Since I Fell for You 2:56

19 Bobbie Gentry - Save Your Love for Me 3:45

20 Bobbie Gentry - Here's That Rainy Day 2:39

21 Bobbie Gentry - Stormy 3:28

22 Bobbie Gentry - This Girls in Love With You 3:11

23 Bobbie Gentry - The Windows of the World 2:57

CD6

01 Bobbie Gentry - Fancy 4:14

02 Bobbie Gentry - Delta Man 3:01

03 Bobbie Gentry - Something in the Way He Moves 2:33

04 Bobbie Gentry - Find 'Em, Fool 'Em and Forget 'Em 2:37

05 Bobbie Gentry - He Made a Woman Out of Me 2:32

06 Bobbie Gentry - Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head 3:08

07 Bobbie Gentry - If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody 2:20

08 Bobbie Gentry - Rainmaker 2:38

09 Bobbie Gentry - Wedding Bell Blues 3:13

10 Bobbie Gentry - In the Ghetto 2:49

11 Bobbie Gentry - Fancy (Mono / Radio Edit) 3:15

12 Bobbie Gentry - Apartment 21 3:18

13 Bobbie Gentry - Away in a Manger 2:37

14 Bobbie Gentry - Scarlet Ribbons 2:36

15 Bobbie Gentry - Circle ‘Round the Sun 3:01

16 Bobbie Gentry - Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head (Alternate Take) 2:39

17 Bobbie Gentry - Wedding Bell Blues (Alternate Take) 3:06

18 Bobbie Gentry - Apartment 21 (Without Strings) 3:19

19 Bobbie Gentry - Scarlet Ribbons (Alternate Take) 2:36

20 Bobbie Gentry - If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody (Live on Top of the Pops 1970) 2:04

CD7

01 Bobbie Gentry - Benjamin 3:41

02 Bobbie Gentry - Interlude 1 0:40

03 Bobbie Gentry - Marigolds and Tangerines 2:07

04 Bobbie Gentry - Interlude 2 0:36

05 Bobbie Gentry - Billy the Kid 2:03

06 Bobbie Gentry - Interlude 3 0:37

07 Bobbie Gentry - Beverly 3:06

08 Bobbie Gentry - Interlude 4 0:42

09 Bobbie Gentry - Miss Clara/Azusa Sue 4:21

10 Bobbie Gentry - Interlude 5 0:21

11 Bobbie Gentry - But I Can't Get Back 3:31

12 Bobbie Gentry - Jeremiah 5:23

13 Bobbie Gentry - Interlude 6 0:52

14 Bobbie Gentry - Belinda 4:05

15 Bobbie Gentry - Mean Stepmama Blues 3:58

16 Bobbie Gentry - Your Number One Fan 2:33

17 Bobbie Gentry - Interlude 7 0:20

18 Bobbie Gentry - Somebody Like Me 3:25

19 Bobbie Gentry - Lookin' In 4:39

20 Bobbie Gentry - Smoke 2:58

21 Bobbie Gentry - Joanne 3:17

22 Bobbie Gentry - Salome Smith and Her Amazing Dancing Bear 2:16

23 Bobbie Gentry - Benjamin (Alternate Take) 3:31

24 Bobbie Gentry - Belinda (Alternate Take) 4:05

25 Bobbie Gentry - Smoke (Demo) 3:03

26 Bobbie Gentry - The Girl From Cincinnati 3:30

27 Bobbie Gentry - You and Me Together 3:58

CD8

01 Bobbie Gentry - Mississippi Delta (Live) 3:03

02 Bobbie Gentry - Papa Won't You Let Me Go to Town With You (Live) 2:51

03 Bobbie Gentry - I Saw an Angel Die (Live) 3:30

04 Bobbie Gentry - My Dog Sargent (Live) 1:12

05 Bobbie Gentry - Ode to Billie Joe (Live) 4:45

06 Bobbie Gentry - Mornin’ Glory (Live) 3:15

07 Bobbie Gentry - Sunday Best (Live) 3:04

08 Bobbie Gentry - Hurry, Tuesday Child (Live) 3:18

09 Bobbie Gentry - Niki Hokey / Barefootin' (Live) 3:41

10 Bobbie Gentry - Penduli Pendulum (Live) 2:06

11 Bobbie Gentry - Ace Insurance Man (Live) 3:44

12 Bobbie Gentry - Chickasaw County Child (Live) 1:44

13 Bobbie Gentry - Recollection (Live) 2:14

14 Bobbie Gentry - Sweet Peony (Live) 1:58

15 Bobbie Gentry - Refractions (Live) 2:29

16 Bobbie Gentry - Greyhound Goin’ Somewhere (Live) 2:31

17 Bobbie Gentry - Cotton Candy Sandman (Live) 2:30

18 Bobbie Gentry - Open Your Window (Live) 1:57

19 Bobbie Gentry - Mother Nature's Son (Live) 3:29

20 Bobbie Gentry - Mr. Bojangles (Live) 3:28

21 Bobbie Gentry - Your Number One Fan (Live) 5:14

22 Bobbie Gentry - He Made a Woman Out of Me (Live) 2:39

23 Bobbie Gentry - Billy the Kid (Live) 2:37

24 Bobbie Gentry - Wailing of the Willow (Live) 2:18

25 Bobbie Gentry - Belinda (Live) 3:55

26 Bobbie Gentry - Circle 'Round the Sun (Live at the BBC 1971) 3:38

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