Rollo White – Highway 81 Revisited
Rollo White has spent years in the Americana music scene in New York City as a much-needed and sought-after supporting musician, and now Rollo (real name Michael Randall) is offering up his first solo album in his own voice, Highway 81 Revisited. Having surrounded himself with a talented cast of players like Dennis Crouch, Russ Pahl, Fred Eltringham, Barbara Endes and more, Rollo White’s new album is a textured, richly layered, throwback country and old-timey folk-based record with modern ideas.
Several songs on the album sound to listening ears like instant old-timey traditional classics. The opening song “End of June” is a case in point, with fiddle, a two-step rhythm as they’re all headed into town in the truck, but, it hasn’t gotten dark yet, dang it: “It’s the end of June and the sun just won’t go down.” A lot of fun was had in the tale, and horns help bring this to a close.
Vocally, there are shades of Lou Reed here in Rollo’s tones. Sometimes it sounds like a mixture with some Johnny Cash style baritone. It’s a notable, intriguing thing to hear amidst the more traditional musical styles, as the atmosphere is all throwback.
“Natural Born Artist” takes a blues rock turn, with Western darkness and smart lyrical turns of phrase like: “I’m a natural born artist, first thing I ever drew was a gun.”
“Mozart” is a piano-based waltz with a dose of humor: “I’m the Mozart of bad ideas.” Then it’s double time with “Death Ain’t Nothin,” with its advice: “Death ain’t nothin’ brother, it’s only life that’s hard.” Sounds like summary of a Tolstoy novel. Amen.
“Picnic, Lightning” is a lively, kick up your heels and dance at the hoedown song of a picnic and lightning and metaphors for the ups, down, and more ups and downs of life: “we all start out wrong, but we all make it through.”
Later in the album, “Highway 81” is a hushed old style country number with the vocals up close, harmonica and acoustic guitar, and it sounds like it’s spoken word around the campfire, and again there are shades of Johnny Cash era.
13 songs to turn up, kick back and enjoy. Check out his BandCamp page here: https://rollowhite.bandcamp.com/music
All songs on the album were written, arranged and produced by Rollo White. Musicians on the album are Rollo White (lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitar, harmonica), Russ Pahl (pedal steel, acoustic guitar), Jake Clayton (fiddle, viola, banjo, dobro), Chris Walters (piano, organ), Dennis Crouch (upright bass), Fred Eltringham (drums, percussion), Richard Hammond (upright bass on End of June), Jenn Dean (backing vocals), Barbara Endes (vocal on Picnic, Lightning, backing vocals), Luciano Rondini (trombone), John Turner (trumpet), and Michael Waters (baritone sax).
Highway 81 Revisited was recorded by Jack Tellerman at The Bomb Shelter in Nashville, with additional recording by Matt Shane at Joe’s Garage in Brooklyn. The album was mixed by Matt Shane at Joe’s Garage, and mastered by Fred Kervorkian at Kervorkian Mastering, Inc. Cover design was created by Maury Botton.