FOLK-ROCK SINGER-SONGWRITER

Recorded in the ‘70s folk-rock heyday, this should have been a hit album, but wasn’t released due to contract issues. It had every advantage: producer Brian Ahern made many classic records in the genre; the songs are well written; Carpenter’s deep, husky baritone is rich & beautiful when he sings out with full voice (like Gordon Lightfoot or Harry Chapin) or he can drop down into a gravely Leonard Cohen (#7) or Tom Waits (#8-10) growl. The band includes monster session guys Lee Sklar, Russ Kunkel, and Bill Payne.

No FCC issues.

1 ** Mid-tempo. Great start. Feel-good traveling song. Bottleneck solo by Lowell George (of Little Feat). Female chorus harmonies include Anne Murray. (3:16)
2 * Slow. Gorgeous ballad about self-discovery. Sung with his fullest, best voice. Emmylou just stuns in the backing vocals. (2:51)
3 Mid-tempo. Big baritone voice here reminds me of Michael McDonald. (3:43)
4 Slow. Emotional. With organ & synth’d strings. Imagery of journey & conquest. (4:53)
5 Mid-tempo train song. A bit overdone with strings, winds, voices, etc, etc. (4:30)
6 ** Slow ballad. Beautiful melody. Just his gravel voice & strummed guitar for several verses, then soothing strings enter, and they’re just right. (3:44)
7 Slow, mournful. He talk-sings in a low, Leonard Cohen growl. (4:40)
Tracks 8-10 all sound much like Tom Waits vocally. Add synth’d strings & winds to lead instrument mentioned. Would go well with early Waits ballads like Martha or Ol ’55.
8 ** Slow, stately. Strummed acoustic guitar, plus steel guitar, strings, winds. (2:53)
9 * Slow. Another pretty, gravely ballad. Finger-style guitar, piano, strings, winds. (4:46)
10 * Slow. The big finish. Sad love song. Piano with orchestra sized strings & winds. (2:19)