Lately, many of us have been re-listening to the Everly
Brothers’ timeless catalog in remembrance of Phil Everly, who passed away last
Friday.
Although the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famers’ music wasn’t
in my regular playlists, a lot of hit song lyrics by the siblings and their frequent
co-writers The Bryants, were still emblazoned in my brain.
Back in November, Green Day leader Billie Joe Armstrong
and Norah Jones put out a sublime Everlys tribute album, Foreverly on Reprise Records. The dozen traditional Americana tracks were inspired
by The Everlys’ 1958 acoustic release, Songs Our
Daddy Taught Us.
Armstrong first discovered the LP a couple years ago, decided
to recast it with a female duet partner and cold called Jones. A multi-faceted
musician, she is no stranger to what we now call alt-country, having done two
albums with her side band Little Willies. Their voices gel perfectly here. Most
of the time the harmonizing is done together, but occasionally one will take
the lead before the other seamlessly chimes in.
Backed by fiddler Charlie Burnham, pedal steel guitarist Johnny
Lam, drummer Dan Rieser, bassist Tim Luntzel, Armstrong and Jones both played acoustic/electric
guitar and piano. There are also well-placed pump organ, banjo, chimes,
mandolin and harmonica accents. Classic Sun Records songs would be apt
comparisons or for a more modern example, She & Him.
Among the standouts are the sparse, Jones-led “I’m Here to Get My Baby Out of Jail,”
haunting murder ballad "Down In The Willow Garden," the yearning “Lightning
Express,” reverb-drenched "Long Time Gone" (with sprightly piano) and
fine harp/stunning vocal blend in “Roving Gambler.” Elsewhere, are notable compositions
from Gene Autry and Tex Ritter.
The whole project was recorded in a little over
a week.
Highly recommended.
No comments:
Post a Comment