Various Artists — Going Driftless: An Artist's Tribute to Greg Brown

Release info:

2002—Red House Records—RHR CD 145

See also:

Going Driftless page at Red House Records

Type of music generally:

Contemporary folk, country-folk

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Tracks:

1. Lucinda Williams—"Lately"
2. Ani DiFranco—"The Poet Game"
3. Iris DeMent—"The Train Carrying Jimmie Rodgers Home"
4. Ferron—"Where Is Maria?"
5. Eliza Gilkyson—"Sleeper"
6. Pieta, Zoe & Constie Brown—"Ella Mae"
7. Gillian Welch—"Summer Evening"
8. Lucy Kaplansky—"Small Dark Movie"
9. Mary Chapin Carpenter—"Spring & All"
10. Shawn Colvin—"Say a Little Prayer"
11. Victoria Williams—"Early"
12. Karen Savoca—"Two Little Feet"
13. Robin Lee Berry—"Hey Baby Hey"
14. Leandra Peak—"Wash My Eyes"

Produced by:

Bob Feldman, executive producer; individual tracks produced by Bo Ramsey & Lucinda Williams (1); Ani DiFranco (2); Jim Rooney (3); Ferron (4); Eliza Gilkyson (5, 10); Pieta Brown (6); Gillian Welch & David Rawlings (7); Larry Campbell & Lucy Kaplansky (8); John Jennings (9); Mabel Allbright (11); Pete Heitzman & Karen Savoca (12); Robin Lee Berry (13); Marc Anderson & Neal Hagberg (14)

Comments:

I had never heard of Greg Brown before this album, which I bought because of its stellar group of contributors, the majority of whom have Ectophile's Guide entries. He is, apparently, a singer with 28 albums released between 1974 and 2007. Since I'm not familiar with his music, I can only comment on these songs as individual recordings and not as covers.
     With that said, the album is an excellent one and I'm glad to be introduced to these songs. It's cliché to say there's not a bad track on the album, but it's true. Some of my favorites are the quiet and lovely "Sleeper," the rollicking "Where Is Maria?"; "Spring & All," "Say a Little Prayer," and "Two Little Feet" by the previously unknown-to-me Karen Savoca. Ani DiFranco is perfectly suited to "The Poet Game" which lyrically echoes much of her own politics. The most affecting is probably the recording of "Ella Mae" by Greg Brown's daughters. (JoAnn Whetsell)

Thanks to JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.