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Kacey Jones - Sings Mickey
Newbury (IGO Records)
Released July, 2006
You know Mickey Newbury, even if you don't know who he is. He's the guy
who wrote "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In),"
the first hit for Kenny Rogers; "Funny, Familiar,
Forgotten Feelings," a mid-sixties hit for Don Gibson, and made the pop
charts himself with "American Trilogy" in 1971. Allmusic says he was one
of the people who helped "revolutionize" country music in the sixties and
seventies.
And he was clearly a friend to Kacey Jones. She's probably best known as a
musical comedian - singing funny ditties such as, "Never Wear Panties To A
Party" on everything from "Prairie Home Companion" to nightclubs to
syndicated morning radio. Hers is defined as "observational humor."
He died in 2002. In the liner notes, Ms. Jones says 2005 was a bad year
for her, and she says there was comfort in Mr. Newbury's songs.
You should listen to a track or two at iTunes first. This won't be for
everyone. Ms. Jones conveys much with her voice - full of emotion, and
feeling. I'm glad I didn't listen to her comedy material
until after I'd listened to the disc.
I was transported back to my own country music days in the seventies, when
Kris Kristofferson, Waylon and Willie, and Tom T. Hall were telling
stories about people that were more than divorce, trains, trucks, and
Mama.
Highlights for me included, "Lie To Me Darlin'," Mr. Newbury's signature
tune by one account, "San
Francisco Mabel Joy," and "Amen For Old Friends."
This is a heartfelt tribute from someone who clearly loved Mr. Newbury and
his work very much.
Recommended.
  Two
and one-half microphones (out of four)
- Doug Boynton
(8/22/06) |
