Steve Dawson – Ghosts
This is Chicago-based Steve Dawson’s 6th solo LP & while it starts off sounding a little like a cross between Vince Gill & Lyle Lovett by the time of the arrival of “Leadville” he asserts himself as his own man. This is a great song with a raw distinguished lead vocal.
Produced by Steve (guitars/vocals/organ) with John Abbey (bass) this LP features 10 tightly arranged apparitions on Ghosts (Drops June 7/Pravda Records/42:00) that explore human connections, desert vistas, intimate confessions. A song like “It Was a Mistake,” is soaked in a nostalgic arrangement with a dash of ’50s-styled brass sculpted into the tune. It’s an absorbing country-easy listening hit song that’s well-crafted.
Dawson manages consistently to provide melodic, commercially viable alt-country confections but they’re not exactly sweet mainstream fodder. It’s just that these songs do encapsulate an instantly likable charm. These could’ve been covered by Willie Nelson, the late John Hartford, or as easily as Bobby Rydell. Dawson’s songwriting casts a wide enjoyable net.
The album was recorded as a live-in-studio performance. The sound is engaging & is captured well on songs like “A Mile South of Town” & “When I Finally Let You Down,” where the Lyle Lovett feel is evident in each song. The showcase is played with skill & the song creates a radiant atmosphere as Dawson’s vocals fuel every word. Excellent stuff.
With the ballad “When I Finally Let You Down,” Steve records a heavy-duty expressive piece. It’s one of the best on the set. There isn’t a single song that replicates itself through a previous song’s performance. Repetition is not evident. The originality is consistent & the songs in their way reflect a breezy rain of acoustics. All 10 deserve the replay button more than once.
Highlights – “Oh, California,” “Sooner Than Expected,” “Leadville,” “It Was a Mistake,” “I Am Glad To Be Alive” (with Diane Christiansen – vocals), “A Mile South of Town” & “When I Finally Let You Down.”
Musicians – Alton Smith (piano/Wurlitzer/accordion/harmony vocals), Brian Wilkie (pedal steel), Gerald Dowd (drums/harmony vocals), Nora O’Connor (vocals), the late Ingrid Graudins (vocals), Chris Greene (tenor & baritone saxes), John Moore (trumpet) & Tommi Zender (baritone guitar).
Lyrics to songs are included in the 6-panel CD package. Color image courtesy of Steve’s website gallery. CD @ https://stevedawsonmusic.com/ & https://stevedawson.bandcamp.com/album/ghosts