Gerry Spehar & Friends – Other Voices (2 CDs)
Usually, a double album is reserved for big artists who either have too much saved up for one album, have a live performance worthy of being captured, or an album of oldies & outtakes. But Colorado’s Gary Spehar has an exquisite voice & extensive repertoire – his singing & playing guitar came early.
To keep the album diversified & moving at a brisk pace Gerry has a talented slew of performers to sing many of his 4-decade rich showcase of songs. The production is pristine & the songs themselves, individually, are a cross between John Prine & Merle Haggard, with a generous dose of country-pop that would’ve gone over well by country singers like Skeeter Davis, Jody Miller & Diane Renay. The music has a wide range of genres attached to each. Some are more country-fried, some are rural ballads & others are even Willie Nelson-charged.
CD 1 (37:42) & CD 2 (34:27) feature 20 of the finest Spehar story songs captured on Other Voices (Drops June 21/Independent). Produced by John David (“Joanne” + fiddle/dobro/harmonica/mandolin/bass/acoustic & electric guitars) & all others produced by Gerry (acoustic guitar). It spotlights the voices of the Brenda Lee smooth Teresa James, Gary L. Floyd, the exceptional Dale Watson, the rocking Lisa McKenzie, Lisa Daye & Gerry himself. All superb.
Anyone who likes country narratives, clever anecdotes, some dusty accounts of love, dancing, reminiscing & remembering the old folks – this will get your toes to tap & your ass to polish the stool. All the musicians, singers & duets are performed with motivated country bliss.
These CDs are a good representative of the music of Gerry Spehar. The variety is wonderful & consistent. I’m not a big country fan but I always liked the stories – just like sax legend Charlie Parker. When in a bar having beers in NYC, he often pushed buttons on the jukebox to play country songs – because he said to another musician – “listen to the stories, man.” There are many such splendid pieces right here in this collection.
Highlights – “Grandpa’s Daises,” “Pull On Your Boots,” “Joanne,” “Both Ends of the Rainbow,” “Rockin’ On a Country Dance Floor,” (both versions), “Love to the Rescue,” “Lovin’ Proof,” “Normandy,” “The Problem With Love” & “Angel.”
Musicians – Lonnie Wilson, Vince Santoro, Stephen Croes & Michael J. Dohony (drums), Michael Rhodes, Mark Prentice, Ray Wilinski (bass), Jim King (piano/bass/synth), Pete Wasner & Mike Carr (piano), Chris Tuttle (organ/Wurlitzer/synth/accordion), Dennis Wage (organ), Greg Leisz (acoustic guitar/mandolin/pedal steel), John Thomas, Rick Plant & George Marinelli (electric guitars), Dan Dugmore (dobro/mandolin/pedal steel), Jay Dee Maness (pedal steel) & all singers with Lynn Fanelli (bgv).
12pp color lyric insert included. Color image courtesy of Gerry’s Bandcamp. CD @ Bandcamp & https://www.gerryspehar.com/
