Kimmie Rhodes – West Texas Heaven
This is a rather cool 1996 collection from Texas-born Kimmie Rhodes with some songs featuring Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Joe Ely, Emmylou Harris, Beth Nielsen Chapman, & Townes van Zandt. Some songs are pulled generously from a box in the attic & have been remixed & remastered. Worth listening to again for sure. They’re not drenched in country-isms but do possess the faithful steel guitar & other Country-inspired instruments & voices.
Kimmie (vocals/rhythm guitar) on the first few tunes, “West Texas Heaven” & “Just To Be Near You” sounds a bit like the ‘60s pop-country singer Sue Thompson (“Paper Tiger,” “Norman”). A “juvenile with a good voice” on the cusp of a mature voice. It’s a style often dragged out by talented pop-country singers like Kellie Pickler (“Red High Heels”). 18 hot currents run down this album’s wire in West Texas Heaven (Drops Sept 12/Sunbird Records/74:29). It’s a remixed & remastered issue with outtakes & a good French-sung bonus track. Recorded in Austin, Nashville & produced by Kimmie with Joe Gracey (rhythm guitar), & “Send Me The Sun” produced by Gabriel Rhodes (lead guitar).
Kimmie applies her formula with capability on “Git You A Job,” — a little rockier & she seduces the lyrics. Nice guitar throughout. She uses the opposite temptation on the slower, sincere & lovely “I Never Heard You Say” (the outtake is better) where she’s joined by Willie Nelson (who vocally isn’t needed here). The song, along with Ms. Rhodes, would’ve been fine without Willie’s reedy voice. But Willie’s guitar is worth pinning to the melody since its distinctive sound & the Mickey Raphael harmonica convey the sadness of the lyric.
“Corner of the Bar” is stronger; she has vocal prowess that works seamlessly. A perfect story song with the light Mike Maddux’s Euro-accordion touch that adds character. More theatrical is “Home John” with a Hoagy Carmichael-type piano interlacing. It’s a cool score, a jazzy intonation that doesn’t lose its Country edge. One of Kimmie’s drummers was the late Barry “Frosty” Smith, who originally played with CA rocker Lee Michaels.
The outtake of “I’m Gonna Fly” features the late Townes van Zandt & Kimmie’s Emmylou Harris-type vocal. Engaging.
Highlights – “West Texas Heaven,” “Just To Be Near You,” “Git You A Job,” “I Never Heard You Say,” “Corner of the Bar,” “Home John,” “I’m Gonna Fly,” “I’m Not An Angel,” & “Send Me The Sun,” “Les Roses Sauvages,” & an outtake “I’m Gonna Fly.”
Musicians – Spencer Starnes & Joe Allen (bass), Barry “Frosty” Smith & Freddy Fletcher (drums), Waylon Jennings (rhythm guitars), Wes McGhee & Jesse Taylor (lead & rhythm guitars), David Zettner (steel guitar), Beth Nielsen Chapman, Floyd Domino & Jeremie Rhodes (keys), Jack Clement (dobro/rhythm guitar), & John Gimble (mandolin).
Color image courtesy of Jme Lacombe. CD @ Amazon & https://kimmierhodes.com/album/west-texas-heaven/ & https://kimmierhodes.com/
