Thursday, June 10, 2010

JESSE WINCHESTER - JESSE WINCHESTER 1970

Jesse Winchester first gained notice as a protege of the Band's Robbie Robertson, who produced and played guitar on his debut album and brought along bandmate Levon Helm to play drums and mandolin. The album had much of the rustic Southern charm and rollicking country-rock of the Band. Winchester's other immediate appeal was a certain sense of mystery. A Southern American expatriate living in Canada, he was unable to appear in the U.S. to promote the album, which was released in a fold-out LP jacket that featured the same sepia-toned portrait (which looked like one of those austere Matthew Brady photos from the Civil War era) on each of its four sides. Winchester emphasized the dichotomy between his southern origins and his northern exile in songs like "Snow" (which Robertson co-wrote), "The Brand New Tennessee Waltz" ("I've a sadness too sad to be true"), and "Yankee Lady." Jesse Winchester was timely: It spoke to a disaffected American generation that sympathized with Winchester's pacifism. But it was also timeless: The songs revealed a powerful writing talent (recognized by the numerous artists who covered them), and Winchester's gentle vocals made a wonderful vehicle for delivering them. (Originally released by Ampex in 1970, Jesse Winchester was reissued by Bearsville Records in 1976 and again in 1988 by Rhino/ Bearsville).
--William Ruhlmann, All-Music Guide

Tracks :

  1. Payday
  2. Biloxi
  3. Snow (J.Winchester/J.R.Robertson)
  4. Brand New Tennessee Waltz
  5. That's a Touch I Like
  6. Yankee Lady
  7. Quiet About It
  8. Skip Rope Song
  9. Rosy Shy
  10. Black Dog
  11. Nudge


4 comments:

  1. Jesse has writen some of the finest american songs. Espacialy "What about me" is surely a masterpiece. Quick Silver Messenger Service sang it but Richie Hanens's performance is the all time best. Great post this one is. Thanks a million.

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  2. great album.
    @zico - 'what about me' was written by dino valenti (chet powers) of quicksilver messenger service.

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  3. Excellent. Love his voice.

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  4. Heard these songs over the years but didnt put them down to this guy...excellent album with 2/5ths of the band with him....cant be bad....thanks for the share much appreciated ...cheers.

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