Grey DeLisle – The Grey Album – Double LP
I find it remarkable when a young country singer who could go the Taylor Swift route establishes her career with vintage-sounding country. “Hello, I’m Lonesome” is dipped into a honey jar of Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette & Patsy Cline. With her Annette Funicello hairdo sufficiently sprayed, at no time does the Grammy Award-winning Grey DeLisle even sound like she’s emulating these classic country singers. She sounds like she was always meant to sing alongside them, except for the timing in birth.
The tune “Who To Love” is drenched in country strings (ala Liberty Records early ‘60s) but the voice is painted brightly with pop-country that was the double lane highway of Sue Thompson (“Paper Tiger”) & Sandy Posey (“Single Girl,” “I Take It Back”). This pop-country rock shakes energetically like a water balloon on “I’m A Wreck.” The double LP Grey DeLisle – The Grey Album (Drops April 4/Hummingbird Records/58:42) & was produced by a former member of Lone Justice — Marvin Etzioni (electric, rhythm & wire guitars/drums/bass/percussion/handclaps/octave mandolin/mandola/cowbell/porch board/Farfisa organ/kick drum).
There are some novelty-oriented Reba McIntyre-inspired type tunes like “Reach For the Sky.” Some Spanish-flavored songs like “Mi Vida” & the expressive “Take Me Dancing Again” both quite good. Some are nondescript but always well-played, entertaining pieces. They don’t break any new ground, but in the hands of Ms. DeLisle, they sound quite refreshing.
By the third cut, Grey falls back on the reliable Dolly Parton balladry style of “A Coastal Town.” Beautiful. Because it sounds like Dolly? No, the lyrics are a wonderful original tale & the music is poignantly DeLisle. This song is a smart blend of ‘60s pop-country & today’s musical sensibility. Sometimes, slow & easy wins the race. A great song. With “Tomorrow (Without You)” & “Daddy, Can You Fix A Broken Heart,” the poignancy that surfaces is like Skeeter Davis’s “End of the World.” Grey has lots of personality in her music & still has a little Parton tonality in her narrative whisper. The song’s approach Timi Yuro’s “Interlude” in beauty. In a perfect world, “Daddy, Can You Fix A Broken Heart” & “Don’t Let Go of My Hand” would both be country classics.
This is Grey’s (vocals/spoken word/autoharp) 7th album & she can rock too. That cadre rears its head with “Sister Shook” & “40 Something Runaway” both have grace, sleekness with milk & whiskey. The blues sneaks in fiery with “I Can’t Be Kind” — a Bessie Smith ghost. Then Grey goes Rolling Stones cool with the Keith Richards conjured “The Last, Last Time.” Bases are all covered.
Many songs have exemplary beauty – “A Promise I Can’t Keep,” with its strings & early ‘60s soft-spoken balladry. Grey is instinctively disciplined in song selection & pacing. This is an ambitious work & the album is one to be adored. One of the year’s best.
Highlights – “Hello, I’m Lonesome,” “Who To Love,” “A Coastal Town,” “Tomorrow (Without You),” “Sister Shook,” “Daddy, Can You Fix A Broken Heart,” “40 Something Runaway,” “A Promise I Can’t Keep,” “Convince Me,” “I’m A Wreck,” “Don’t Let Go of My Hand,” “I Can’t Be Kind,” “My darlin’ Vivian,” “The Last, Last Time” & “Take Me Dancing Again.”
Musicians – Murry Hammond (acoustic guitar), Greg Leisz (steel guitar/12-string Rickenbacker guitar), D.J. Bonebrake (vibes/drums/percussion), Phil Jones (drums), Adam Pike (mellotron), Gideon Klein & Paul Nelson (cellos), Tammy Rogers (violins/violas/strings arranged & performed), Deke Dickerson (guitar/stand-up bass), David Ralicke (trumpets), Cherry Currie & Stephen McCarthy (vocals).
Color image courtesy of Grey’s website. CD @ Apple Music & https://www.greydelislegriffin.com/