Edie Brickell
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Folk-rock/pop
Status:
Most recent release, Edie Brickell (2011)
See also:
Edie Brickell's siteWikipedia's page for Edie Brickell
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians' Ectoguide page
The Ectophiles' Guide's page for her collaboration with Steve Martin
Comparisons:
Maybe like a cheerier, quirkier 10,000 Maniacs. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
Edie Brickell has a unique voice, sort of in the vein of Rickie Lee Jones and Natalie Merchant, but direct comparisons are difficult. Her songs are mostly folk-rock and folk-pop with slight jazz and blues influences. (JoAnn Whetsell)The CDROM distribution of Microsoft Windows95 contained in the "extras" folder of the installation CDROM a video of Edie's "Good Times Bad Times," and I was mesmerized enough by this video and tune to rush out and find the disc. At the time I had no clue who Edie Brickell was, but Edie's "Good Times Bad Times" tune has become one of my favorites. Some people that I have talked to who are familiar with Edie's earlier works seem to like the earlier work better, under the premise of "less pop, more rock"; but to me her later stuff is definitely more ectoish, even if a bit more poppish than the earlier stuff. "Good Times Bad Times" is also a worthy buy. (bill@wagill.com)
Recommended first album:
Either
Recordings:
- Picture Perfect Morning (1994)
- Volcano (2003)
- Edie Brickell (2011)
Picture Perfect Morning
Release info:
1994—Geffen Records—GEFD-24715
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Edie Brickell—acoustic guitar
Guest artists:
Bill Dillon—electric guitar (1-5, 7-9, 11)
Brian Soltz—electric guitar (1, 4, 5)
Tony Hall—bass (1, 4, 5)
Willie Green—drums (1, 4, 5)
Cyril Neville—percussion (1)
Paul Simon—acoustic guitar (2, 3, 10)
John Levanthal—acoustic guitar (2), electric guitar (7,11)
Larry Campbell—pedal steel guitar (2, 6) violin (2)
Butch Amiot—bass (2, 6)
Steve Gadd—drums (2)
Leon Pendarvis—synth (2)
Cyro Baptista—percussion (2)
Kenny Withrow—electric guitar (3. 7-9)
Brad Houser—bass (3, 9)
Shawn Pelton—drums (3, 7-11)
Mingo Araújo—percussion (3)
Art Neville—keyboards (4), electric piano (5)
Crusher Bennett—percussion 5)
Dr. John—piano (6), synth (10)
David Bromberg—slide guitar (6)
Jerry Douglas—dobro (6)
Richard Crooks—drums (6)
Joel Diamond—organ (6)
Herb Besson, Mike Davis, James Pugh, Keith O'Quinn—trombones (6)
Bakithi Kumalo—bass (7, 8, 10, 11)
Michael Bearden—synth (7)
Dave Samuels—vibes (7)
Bashiri Johnson—conga (7), percussion (9, 11)
Nelson Gonzalez—tres guitar (8)
Michael Brecker—EWI (9)
John Bush—triangle (9)
Steve Riley—accordion (10)
Skip LaPlant—percussion (10)
Madeleine Yayodele Nelson—chakeire, background vocals (5)
Barry White—spoken instrumental (4)
The Dixie Cups—background vocals (1)
Rosa Hawkins—background vocals (1)
Barbara Hawkins—background vocals (1)
Dale Mickle—background vocals (1)
Charles Elam—background vocals (4)
Terrance Manuel—background vocals (4)
Earl Smith, Jr.—background vocals (4)
Phyllis Bethel—background vocals (5)
Victor Cook—background vocals (7)
Dennis King—background vocals (7)
Maurice Lauchner—background vocals (7)
Vivian Cherry—background vocals (11)
Produced by:
Paul Simon & Roy Halee
Comments:
It's a well done album. Paul Simon is listed as producer along with Roy Halee. I can hear Paul's influence on the album; in fact he plays guitar on a few of the tracks. It's just nice, breezy, easy-going music that's easy on the ears. Edie is credited with all the lyric and music writing. I like most of the tracks on the album, no real throwaways here. There's even a song that brings back the sound of the late '60s or early '70s called "Good Times" that makes me look back fondly on those days. Yeah, I'm that old to remember some of that stuff. ;-) Barry White does a spoken instrumental on the song and they make it work. I haven't seen Edie spoken of here on ecto very often but I think this CD could qualify as ecto-fodder or close enough not to matter. (kcd@bull.cray.com)One of my favorites. (bill@wagill.com)
An easy-going album, like lemonade and a cool breeze on a summer's day. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Volcano
Release info:
2003—Universal Records—B0000963-02
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Edie Brickell—vocals, guitar
Guest artists:
Charlie Sexton—guitar, acoustic guitar, gut string, and electric guitar, lap steel guitar, mellotron, cello, viola, violin, percussion, keyboards, background vocals
Pino Palladino—bass
Carter Albrecht—piano, keyboards, vibes, clarinet
Steve Gadd—drums, percussion
Tony Garnier—bass (6, 11), upright bass (13)
George Recile—drums (6, 11)
Andy Fairweather-Low—high string acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Produced by:
Charlie Sexton
Comments:
Good to see Edie back in the game. This is a solid, polished piece of work. Lacks the charming funkiness of her work with the New Bohemians, but I like it a lot. (edcole@halcyon.com)I think Volcano is a much better album than Picture Perfect Morning and finds Edie on more solid footing as a solo artist. The songs are still very laid-back, but more mature. You can definitely hear the influence of the musicians who have worked extensively with Paul Simon, but rather than making Edie sound like an imitation of her famous husband, they simply add a new flavor to what is still very much her own sound. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Edie Brickell
Release info:
2011—Race Carlotta Records
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Edie Brickell—vocals, guitar, hand claps
Guest artists:
Carter Albrecht—piano, fuzzy keys, Wurlitzer, B-3 organ, harmony & backing vocals, hand claps
Jim Oblon—drums, hand claps, programming
Dave Monsey—bass guitar, hand claps
Charlie Sexton—tambourine, electric, 6- and 12-string acoustic guitar, electric mando guitar, backing vocals, clavinet, octave guitar, acoustic guitar, baritone guitar, drums, percussion, singing the oohs, piano, electric Hepinstill, organ, mellotron strings, double bass, mellotron, hand claps
JJ Johnson—drums (10)
David Boyle—mellotron (9, 10); piano, Chamberlin samples (9); Wurlitzer, Chamberlin vibes and keys (10)
Dave Palmer—grand piano (10)
Comments:
I love this album. It just breezes along, so when it's over I'm always surprised. Not in the sense that I wasn't paying attention, but in the sense that I was so enjoying myself I didn't notice where the time went. (JoAnn Whetsell)
Further info:
Edie Brickell appeared in the 1989 film Born on the Fourth of July and recorded the song "A Hard Rain's A Gonna Fall" for its soundtrack. Other compilation work includes:*Track not available elsewhere. Collaborations include:
- live versions of "Ghost of a Dog"* and "Woyaho"* on The Bridge School Collection, Vol. 2 (Live) (2006)
- a live version of "Take a Walk"* on WFUV: City Folk Live VII (2004)
- a cover of Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" on the Flashback soundtrack (1990)*
- "Here I Am Now" and "Down" with Steve Gadd on his album Live at Voce (2010)
- "Honest I Do" with Jim Oblon on his album Hot Time in the Old Town(2009)
- "I'm Down" with Yarn on their album Empty Pockets (2008)
- "Music Like a Memory" and "I Feel Awake Even Though This Is a Dream" with Suphala on her album Blueprint (2007)
- "Like I Do Now" with Chris Botti on his albums The Very Best of Chris Botti (2002) and First Wish (1995)
Thanks to JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.
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