This is the second in a continuing series of posts that will explore GPTN influences. A few months ago Grace Potter submitted her list of Top 10 CD’s to radio station WTMD. In this series, I’ll explore some of these recordings in more detail.
Amongst the raucous guitar driven music in the Top 10 sits “Time (The Revelator)” this quiet reflective record by Gillian Welch and her longtime collaborator David Rawlings. Produced by T-Bone Burnett, the record offers quiet haunting pieces of atmospheric folk, country and gospel.
“Time (The Revelator)”
Gillian Welch burst on the scene in 2001 with her recording “Revival” featuring a depression era photo of Gillian that looked like a long lost Dorothea Lange image. Even with my bluegrass/gospel upbringing I found it hard to recognize “By The Mark” as anything other than a 80 year old Pentecostal church song. Lyrically, Gillian brings together a fascinatingly complex vision of the old south and traditional folk influences combined with modern themes of female strength and complexity.
“My First Lover”
In short, listen to this record and you’ll begin to see the gospel and lyrical underpinnings to songs like “Big White Gate” and “Jesus Was A Runaway” a bit more clearly.
Finally, “Red Clay Halo”
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Vtshome 05.21.08 at 11:53 am
This is a great topic, after the interview I went out and bought several of these cd’s. I had heard them all and owned most at one point in time but hadn’t listened to them in many years. These have become on my regular play list while traveling the highways and byways.
k. cortez 05.21.08 at 1:37 pm
Always hard not to post “The Weight” - Gillian Welch, David Rawlings and Old Crow Medicine Show . . .
Bill Mill 05.21.08 at 9:11 pm
Thanks for that, k. cortez, that was marvelous.
snowbird 05.22.08 at 4:05 am
Yes - thank you - that was a really marvelous version of that favorite and even better to watch and listen and take a load off . . .
Saygracenow 05.22.08 at 8:26 am
Mojo strikes again. As always much thanks.