One Month Music Discoveries

Hi Paul; thanks for the additional info. on Eva Cassidy's music. Craig

Eva Cassidy's No Boundaries is a classic case of a producer with his idea of how an artist should sound & as a result that " magic spark" that is unique to that artist is subverted. Paulwp you are correct in guessing that the album is terrible; caveat emptor.

Craig, and anyone else who might be interested in women singers (non-operatic), I have previously mentioned the best ever, Barbara Keith, and Delores Keane, who Maura O'Connell calls the Queen of all the Irish women singers.

I was introduced to Barbara Keith by Skip Weshner, who had a radio show in the early-mid 70's. Skip always said Ms. Keith had made the best album by a "distaff singer" in the last 10 years (eponymous on Verve and unavailable), then, Skip said, she made an even better album (eponymous on Warner and available as a Japanese cd through Amazon). If you buy the cd, and you can, try reversing phase. Mine sounds better that way.

Ms. Keith is a songwriter. All but one of the songs on the second album were hers and several have been covered by others. Sort of folk-rock. Now, some 25 years later Ms. Keith and her husband and stepson have a 3 person rock band called Stone Coyotes. Their first album, called Changing of the Guard is a killer. Their second album is also great. This is no folkie music. Its grown up rock and roll. (And I though rock and roll had reached its zenith with Cesar Rosas's "I Walk Alone" (Los Lobos, The Neighborhood).) The Stone Coyotes have a new album out in the next few days. They also have a website where you can get more info and order cds.

Now Delores Keane is not a songwriter. She is an Irish institution. She's recorded a lot of Irish folk songs (not my cup of tea) but also some popular music. Several of her cds are available through Amazon, including a "Best Of" disc that's probably a good start. I first heard of her at a Maura O'Connell concert (very small venue where I could talk to Maura after the show) where Maura was selling cds of "A Woman's Heart," a collection of songs by Irish women.

garfish: my "5 cd's of eva cassidy" did not include "no boundaries" but did include "songbird." the latter is the 1st of eva's discs i purchased and is, indeed, a compilation. i find it an easy way to transport test tracks on a single disc. i agree with others that her best cd is "live from blues alley."

BTW, another recommended disc of my last month's acquisitions: eliza gilkyson, "hard times in babylon." some more good self-penned stuff. (in case you couldn't tell, i've a preference for singer/songwriters.) -kelly

I agree with Cornfedboy that " Hard Times In Babylon" is an excellent album. If you like that try Jess Klein "Draw Them Near" on RYKO & Les Sampou, self titled on Flying Fish records. All 3 are excellent albums & if you like singer songwriters are must haves.