Gary Nicholson – Common Sense
Texas native Gary Nicholson is a 2-time Grammy winner who has worked with major artists through his 4-decade career. In this recording, he focuses on politics & the divisions in our country through his sparkling country-rock songs. Gary uses hope, humor & perspective wisely.
Produced by Kevin McKendree (piano/organ/electric guitar/bass) & Gary (vocals/acoustic & electric guitars) the showcase has 12 cuts of Common Sense (Drops Nov 22/Qualified Records/44:30) that starts fast & furious with “What A Little Love Can Do” with its Del Lords energy that coalesces immediately.
There are some Hot Tuna acoustic impressions & well-chiseled tales ala The Band. This is an enjoyable set for admirers of the genre where it’s not country-sweet but country-Americana commanding like Buddy Miller, John Hiatt & Guy Clark.
“Bob Dylan Whiskey” with its harmonica & Nicholson’s well-punctuated vocal has all the necessary country-rock flair. With a Tim Hardin style “The Truth About a Lie,” has clever lyrics & J.J. Cale’s snaky-type musicianship. A good combination. Gary fills it with his imaginative rootsy-ballad vocalizing. Excellent stuff.
Nicholson has a well-articulated sound as he wraps his vocals, arrangements, lyrics & compositions around each number. The music motivates, makes one feel provoked by the music & has a pervasive quality. “Make Good Trouble” shuffles on in deep-grooved ‘60s idiom.
“Everybody” comes with a harmonica-driven hoe-down in a John Mellencamp cum John Hiatt melodic romp. This goes on repeat. You could almost call this LP a Greatest Hits collection because every tune is mainstream rich, commercially ingenious & everything is as good roots music should be.
The set is filled with sensible songs, but they’re filled with entertaining creations & on some it’s soulful, down to earth & funky — as if Gary recorded it in a Muscle Shoals environment. Then it’s back to a J.J. Cale groove on “Worry B Gone” a side-slapping good tune while “All That Makes Me Happy Is The Blues.” John Lee Hooker or Chuck Berry could’ve covered these if they were still with us. Maybe they are…through Gary Nicholson.
Highlights – “What A Little Love Can Do,” “Bob Dylan Whiskey,” “The Truth About a Lie,” “Make Good Trouble,” “Everybody,” ”We Don’t Talk About It,” “Worry B Gone,” “All That Makes Me Happy Is The Blues” & “There’s No Them.”
Musicians – Jim Hoke (harmonies/dobro/saxes/steel & acoustic guitar), James Pennebaker (electric & acoustic guitars), Lynn Williams & Kenneth Blevins (drums), Mike Joyce (bass), Harry Stinson (bgv) with Rick Vito (slide guitar/electric 12 string guitar), Anson Funderburgh (electric guitar), Yates McKendree (electric guitar solo on “Worry B Gone”), Colin Linden (acoustic guitar), The McCrary Sisters (bgv), Chris Carmichael (all strings/arrangements), Luke Bulla (fiddle/mandolin), Richard Bailey (banjo), David M. Santos (acoustic bass) & on “Make Good Trouble” – Mike Finnegan (electric piano/Hammond organ), Hutch Hutchinson (bass), Tony Braunegal (drums), John Jorgensen (guitar), The McCrary Sisters & Perry Coleman (bgv).
Color image courtesy of Vanguard Audio Labs. CD @ Bandcamp & https://garynicholsonmusic.com/common-sense
Enjoy our previous coverage here: Video Premiere: Gary Nicholson”s Thank You George Floyd