what Frank is listening to #79 – MICKEY NEWBURY – His Eye is on the Sparrow – (Hickory Records) – 1978
Every serious Elvis fan knows Mickey Newbury as does every serious "progressive country" fan.
For Elvis fans he arranged the three traditional American songs, "Dixieland", "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "All My Trials" into the epic "An American Trilogy". He released that in 1970 and it went to #26 in the US in 1972. Elvis promptly covered it and it became a emotive highlight of his live shows. His live version was released as a single and went to #66 in 1972. Constant exposure to the song through many live albums and live concert and documentary footage ensured that it subsequently became associated with Elvis … especially after Elvis sang it as the emotional highlight of the "Aloha from Hawaii" concert in 1973. That concert was the first live music broadcast via satellite around the world. It went to 40 countries across Asia and Europe and was watched by over 1 billion people (yes … billion … about 1.5 billion they reckon). I remember it, even though I was a little bitty boy. Elvis' version of the song has none of the subtlety of Newbury's (Elvis' live shows in the 70s were not known for their subtlety – though there was lot more going on than meets the eye) whilst Newbury doesn't have the emotive, and indeed iconic power of Elvis' version (afterall, An American Trilogy IS Elvis).
It is Newbury's subtlety and thought that put him at the forefront of "progressive country". "Progressive Country's" roots lie in traditional country, roots music, folk, Americana, regional rock 'n' roll and was largely comprised of younger country songwriters writing country music with naked honesty, which is no mean feat as country music generally is "nakedly honest" (think Hank Williams, Patsy Cline). What they did do was write incredibly personal songs much like their "singer-songwriter" relatives in the pop field though with an ear to the past. The other thing they did was sing their own material regardless of the quality of the voice. Consequently, they have put out many albums and are well respected but their songs are often associated with other singers. Think Townes Van Zandt, Danny O'Keefe, Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson, Terry Allen, John Hartford, Billy Joe Shaver, Butch Hancock, Gene Clark, Tom T. Hall, John Prine, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Guy Clark, Dennis Linde, etc. Some of those artists moved into the more up-tempo "outlaw country" whilst the rest continued on and eventually became the cornerstones of "alt country" in the 80s and 90s.
I discovered Newbury because of Elvis. In the country world of today (and even in the 70s) he is and was regarded a minor artist. He may be minor in sales but he certainly is major in contribution to the genre. The discovery of Newbury via Elvis is not so odd, as there are other Elvis fans who have also said that they discovered American music through Elvis. The thirst for everything Elvis was so great that once his catalogue was owned then fans would start trawling the books and song writing credits looking for Elvis influences. This is how I discovered country, R&B, blues, Brill building, singer songwriter, popular, and Neapolitan opera. (Similarly, through Elvis I discovered punk … think Suicide, The Saints, The Dead Kennedy's, The Gun Club, The Cramps, The Soft Boys … google them and "Elvis" if you don't know the links).
In any event, the discovery of Newbury was a not insubstantial joy. His music is consistently interesting and quite "intellectual". Though up till now I had only heard (and have) his "Frisco Mabel Joy" LP from 1971. Better late than never.
Newbury, born 1940 in Houston Texas (D: 2002) put out his first album in 1968. This was his fifth.
The album is everything I have described above – deeply personal and intimate songs, with instrumentation that is not "obviously country" but "country" nevertheless. There is an underlying sadness to all the songs and the mood of the album is an abandoned loneliness. He does use some sound effects – rain, tinkling etc – which can be a bit hokey but I think work in the context of the songs … though I would have preferred it a little stripped down. This is one of his most commercial albums I am led to believe but even here there is enough quirkiness here to keep it off the MOR path.
Best Tracks:
they are all good … seriously … but the best are in italics:
- Juble Lee's Revival – a lament on loneliness.
- Westphalia Texas Waltz – a beautifully sad country waltz.
He said to her my little darlin'
Why you're as lovely as I did recall
Her eyes brightly sparkled like diamonds
As the tears started slowly to fall
Why you're as lovely as I did recall
Her eyes brightly sparkled like diamonds
As the tears started slowly to fall
Oh yes I can clearly remember
He said in a slow Texas drawl
And she cried as she softly surrendered
To the strains of the Westphalia Waltz
He said in a slow Texas drawl
And she cried as she softly surrendered
To the strains of the Westphalia Waltz
- Wish I Was – the instrumentation lens itself to schmaltz (it is 1978) but the lyrics are superb. I could see EP doing this.
- His Eye is on the Sparrow – a traditional gospel song in the public domain which is quite haunting.
- The Dragon and the Mouse – a metaphorical lullaby … like a gentler version of Dylan.
- Gone to Alabama – a country stomper – with a jaw / mouth harp in there somewhere – which changes tempo and mood half way through. Remembrances of past happy days that turn to one of regret – all in two verses!
Ships are in the harbor sittin' on the sunset
Sittin' on the sunset like a water color picture
Life was mighty good in the year of '47
It will be like Heaven in the year of '48
Sittin' on the sunset like a water color picture
Life was mighty good in the year of '47
It will be like Heaven in the year of '48
Oh ain't it funny how we always said in times of leaving
Said in times of leaving we'd be coming back some day
How we now find in our time of grieving
What was really leaving was not us but Mobile Bay
Said in times of leaving we'd be coming back some day
How we now find in our time of grieving
What was really leaving was not us but Mobile Bay
- It Don't Matter Anymore– one of the best songs on the album and one of the most accessible – it's less country and more like Nilsson … and that's not a bad thing.
My, it's been a long, long time
Funny things I once treasured in my mind
Be like the closing of the door
It just don't matter anymore
Funny things I once treasured in my mind
Be like the closing of the door
It just don't matter anymore
All the friends I thought I knew
They dwindled down now to a precious few
I feel like an aging LA boy
It just don't matter anymore
They dwindled down now to a precious few
I feel like an aging LA boy
It just don't matter anymore
Taking it in
I'm watching a willow freely
Bend in the wind
Turning so ever slowly
I'm watching a willow freely
Bend in the wind
Turning so ever slowly
I mean in the end
honey don't no one know me
Not the way that you do
honey don't no one know me
Not the way that you do
My it's been a long, long time
Funny thing how you could
always read my mind
Funny thing how you could
always read my mind
So turn out the light
and close the door..
cause it just don't matter anymore
It just don't matter anymore
and close the door..
cause it just don't matter anymore
It just don't matter anymore
- I Don't Know What They Wanted Me to Say – a straight country weepie (strings, backing angelic voices) with some great lyrics …
I think it is time for me to lay it down
Close the door and never turn around
All the good in life is free
All I have paid for was not good to me
Close the door and never turn around
All the good in life is free
All I have paid for was not good to me
- Saint Cecelia – a secular gospel song with particularly tasty crescendo.
Saint Cecelias is in her garden
Singin' come into the fold
But all her little children now
Would rather rock and roll
Singin' come into the fold
But all her little children now
Would rather rock and roll
Singing blessed be what used to be
Away with all thats old
Oh the silence is golden
But the loneliness is so cold
Away with all thats old
Oh the silence is golden
But the loneliness is so cold
- Juble Lee's Revival Shout – a sort of reprise of the first track – not a particularly optimistic way to end an album.
The album didn't chart and "Gone to Alabama" went to #94 in the country charts.
A keeper.
Sounds:
Wish I Was
a stripped down version recorded live later in 1991
Gone to Alabama
attached
It Don't Matter Anymore
attached
Mickey's most famous song:
"An American Trilogy"
MN
EP
Hawaii
or, given the recent anniversary of Elvis' passing
Website:
Bio:
The guy has been well covered:
Kenny Rogers and the First edition covered one of his best songs " Just Dropped In" (To see what condition my condition was in) … youtube it.
(originally posted: 23/08/2009)
