MICKEY NEWBURY - Rusty Tracks - (ABC Records) - 1977, Country, Americana.

I commented on Newbury back in "what Frank is listening to #78" in relation to his "His Eye is on the Sparrow" album from 1978.

I said this back then: "It is Newbury's subtlety and thought that put him at the forefront of "progressive country". "Progressive Country" 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 feet 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 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 continues on and eventually became the cornerstones of "alt country" in the 80s and 90s".

Newbury, born 1940 in Houston Texas (died 2002) put out his first album in 1968.

This is his 9th album.

This album is more "country" than others of his I have heard, though it still is "country folk". It is certainly more stripped back than some of his others. The first side was produced by country singer Bobby Bare and side two was produced by Ronnie Gant. Backing him is, amongst others, Norbert Putnam, Bobby Emmons, Bobby Wood, Johnny Christopher, Reggie Young, and an astounding array of backing vocalists including Larry Gatlin, Bergen White (the unknown genius), Buzz Cason and Janie Fricke.

As usual the album contains deeply personal and intimate songs bathed in darkness, or, here, in more darkness than usual. And yes, there is a lot of sadness, regret, and loneliness. He doesn't dwell on these things like some tiresome new wave singer-songwriter but rather the moods seem to grow organically from the narrative of the song.

Best Tracks

They are all good … seriously. But the best are in italics:

Leavin' Kentucky – Newbury – an achingly sorrowful song about unreciprocated love despite some country schmaltz instrumentation.

            God knows I loved her
            Too much I can see
            Much more than she
            Could have ever love me
            If I was the last man
            In East Tennessee

            God I'm just one man
            I wish I was three
            Take a forty-four pistol to me
            Put one in my brain for her memory
            One more for my heart
            And then I'd be free

Makes Me Wonder If I Ever Said Goodbye – Newbury – another song of lost love, this one is straight country.

            Yes she always says hello the way she used to
            But my God she only said goodbye one time
            Heaven knows I live in hell
            Yes a bar room is my cell
            Makes me wonder if I ever said goodbye
            Makes me wonder if I ever said goodbye

Do you see a theme developing . For his sake I hope he's talking about one girl rather than a number, otherwise he is startlingly unsuccessful in love.

Bless Us All – Newbury – Newbury's philosophy in one song? Excellent and quite dark … the "losers", "winners", "dreamers" and "old ones" are all "huddled". Everyone is "huddled".
Hand Me Another of Those – Fry, Newbury – #94 US Country. The dominant theme returns.

            Hand me another
            I'll swallow that mother
            Soon I'll be higher
            Than the sun ever rose
            We've had a shown-down
            I'm feelin' mighty low down
            Hand me another one of those

            Hey there bartender
            I sure ain't no winner
            But I ain't lookin'
            For no sympathy
            Just some way of forgetting
            How long I been letting that woman
            Make a poor fool out of me

People Are Talking – Newbury – A excellent Kristofferson like song with beautiful wordplay … though I think Newbury influenced Kristofferson..

Are we pretending to know more than nothin'

            Are we supposing what we know to be true
            We die every day that we live in
            And we live every day that we do

Tell Him Boys – Newbury – the most country MOR song on the album and with an upbeat message (of sorts) that's not in line with the rest of the album.

The next four songs form a suite much like Newbury did with "American Trilogy" (Battle Hymn of the Republic, Dixieland, All My Trials). Unlike "American Trilogy" the songs here are complete so they can be listened to separately but it is clear from the instrumentation linking one to another that this was meant to be a suite. Also, quite noticeably here, Newbury's suite lends itself to dramatic bombast unlike his "American Trilogy" which would lead me to believe he picked up the idea from Elvis' "dramatic" 1972 cover of his low key original version of "American Trilogy". (The song was a Elvis live staple of the 70s and also appeared on a number of live albums). The suite here is audacious but it works and is incredibly moving if you have any knowledge of American history … it takes me back to the US of my youth ( I watched a lot of American TV as a kid).

Shenandoah – trad – one of the greatest of all country folk song songs as well as of one of the greatest of all songs about "home". Here, Newbury has arranged it into a big ballad – strings, drama, whistling (whistling in country songs always cues loneliness), much as he did on "American Trilogy". In fact I could see Elvis giving this the 70s bombastic treatment. Still, it's one of the best versions of this song I have heard.
That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day) – Gillespie, Smith – a beautiful old song that also became the central piece to Brian Wilson's 2008 album of the same name.
Danny Boy – Weatherly – yep … the old war horse … this must be one of the most recorded songs of all time. Its drama and sadness fits in perfectly with this suite. Elvis' version (another Elvis aside) is from 1976 (though you can also get rough versions from 1959 and 1968).
In the Pines – trad – a very old Appalachian folk song which has been recorded by everyone in a number of guises (Nirvana, Pete Seeger, Bill Monroe, Leadbelly, Gene Clark). A hauntingly beautiful song.

            In the pines
            In the pines
            Where the sun never shines
            We shiver when the cold wind moans

            Little girl
            Little girl
            What have I done
            That has made you treat me so

Allmusic had this to say about the suite: "Mirroring his own "American Trilogy" of half a decade before, Newbury strings together — once more without seams — four pieces of classic Americana with breathtakingly gorgeous arrangements: "Shenandoah," "That Lucky Old Sun," "Danny Boy," and "In the Pines." On this set, the orchestra appears and Newbury's singing is as good as anybody's ever was. He doesn't merely sing these songs — he is them, a part and parcel of the fabric of the notes themselves and what they represent. Just when Americans were trying to forget who they were by embracing European disco and punk rock as well as dumbed-down versions of both country and jazz, Newbury reveals — much to his own commercial detriment — who and what we are as a nation. There is no more stunning finish to a Newbury record — maybe anybody's record".

I agree, the suite is magnificent though cynical punkers are advised to avoid. People who would like to hear Brian Wilson doing Americana step right up.

And …

A keeper.

Chart Action

The album didn't chart.

Sounds

Leavin' Kentucky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6hNjjdL2ks

Makes me Wonder …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz6Rdd9uNCY

Bless us all

attached

Hand me another of those
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9qCx2mTEzk

People are Talking
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZCXIxqNb0w

Shenandoah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FLXsNNgcUs