Day 0927 - Time (the Revelator)

Gillian Welch "Time (the Revelator)" (2001) - got it

The film "O Brother Where Art Thou" had revived public interest in rootsy, folky Americana.   Welch and her writing/performing partner David Rawlings had previously worked with the producer of that soundtrack, T-Bone Burnett.  They'd agreed to have Burnett as their producer when he'd let them know he was happy to stick to their approach of minimal instrumentation.

The pair themselves had recently been working with Ryan Adams on his 'Heartbreaker' album and "Time (the Revelator)" was the pair's third album under Welch's name.

The album is a rootsy sort of mountain music.  It feels like a weird mix of music that's 100 years old an brand new at the same time.   The opening track is nice and mellow, then it heads into "My First Lover" which is more of an upbeat banjo-heavy track.   The one that (by its name) sounds like it should be punchier "I want to see that rock n roll" is all vocal harmonies and restraint.

"Ruination Day part II" has an almost dangerous tone to its subdued melody.  Like there's murder under the notes somewhere.   "Dear Someone" is my favourite off the album, a nice trotting pace rendered in acoustic guitar and a vocal harmony that wouldn't have been out of place 90 years ago, or 150 years ago or last week.

Another one of those albums where owning it is one of the many perks of being married to my wife.

Day 0152 - From Elvis in Memphis

Elvis Presley "From Elvis in Memphis" (1969)

 
Elvis had been sinking a bit of time into making his movies.  He got back into the music thing with a TV special that was hugely popular and revitalised him and inspired him to get back into the studio. He went down to Memphis and unlike Dusty (in yesterday's post) he apparently had a laid back and enjoyable recording experience, dipping back into the RnB sound that worked so well for him in the past.

Another success, and some great tracks.  You can kind of hear the start of the added cheese that would segue the King into his sequinned disco suits and Vegas residencies.

Day 0025 - Elvis is Back!

Elvis Presley "Elvis is Back" (1960)  - got it

Oh yeah, still the king.

Elvis was back after 2 years in the army, and RCA were itching to get him in the recording studio as soon as possible.  Colonel Tom tried to hold off to negotiate a really good deal, but for once, he didn't get his way.

Elvis was reunited with a bunch of musicians he'd worked with on his early albums and they very quickly churned out this 'comeback' album.  It's almost like the essence of Elvis distilled: you get his raunchy 'sexual' (for the time) sound, his 'soda-pop at the diner' style of pop, his sense of fun, his sensitive ballad crooning and the smooth warm vocal on "Fever" gives me funny feelings in my tummy.

I know that the Beatles often get credited as the artist that really opened things up as far as mixing sounds/genres, but Elvis got in a little ahead of them here.