Nashville City Blues

by James Talley

Overview

For the uninitiated, placing an album like Nashville City Blues in the CD player will be a pleasant surprise. Pleasant because it is a country album that, despite its title, has nothing to do with Nashville, and pleasant because James Talley's approach to country is shot through with the blues. There are no retro-honky tonk songs in sight, and while Talley does wear a hat on the CD cover, it isn't a cowboy hat. The album kicks off with the title cut, a rocking kiss-off to Nashville and all it's cookie-cutter sameness. "I've Seen the Bear" is a long-running narrative with a late-night feel and insightful observations, while "Workin' for Wages" lays down a few honest words about the blue-collar life. "You Can't Get There From Here" and "House Right Down the Road" are fun rockers that give Talley a chance to cut loose with some nice guitar work. A number of songs like "Don't You Feel Low Down" and "If It Wasn't for the Blues" emphasize the "blues" in the album's title. The arrangements throughout Nashville City Blues are pure country, meaning guitar, mandolin, steel, Dobro, and an occasional piano. The instruments blend well together, and the overall production is spare. Talley, who has penned all of the songs, writes intelligent lyrics and has a pleasant singing voice. He remembers and celebrates country music's working-class roots. For fans of "real" country music, Nashville City Blues will be an ear-opening experience, leaving them anxious for upcoming reissues of Talley's earlier work. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/11/2000
Label:	Cimarron Records
UPC:	0693249101029
Rank:	106553

Tracks

1. Nashville City Blues
2. Down on the Corner
3. Don't You Feel Low Down
4. Rough Edge
5. Baby Needs Some Good Times
6. Streamline Flyer
7. When I Need Some Love
8. If It Wasn't for the Blues
9. You Can't Get There from Here
10. So I'm Not the Only One
11. House Right Down the Road
12. Workin' for Wages
13. I've Seen the Bear

Album Credits

Performance Credits

James Talley   Primary Artist,Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic)
Larry Freedman   Piano
Richard Hardy   Mandolin,Mandocello
John Griffin   Bass,Bass (Acoustic),Bass (Electric)
Jono Manson   Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Electric)
Kevin Zoernig   Piano
John Nieto   Vocals,Harmonica,Vocal Harmony
David Paul   Piano,Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Greg Thomas   Drums

Technical Credits

Gregg Thomas   Producer
Greg Thomas   Producer
Jim McGuire   Photography
Clark Thomas   Photography
Tim Stroh   Mixing,Engineer
Carl Thomas   Photography
James Talley   Composer,Producer,Liner Notes
Peter Guralnick   Liner Notes
Hollis Flatt   Mastering
Cavalliere Ketchum   Photography