Scott Merritt
Country of origin:
Canada
Type of music generally:
Folky pop/rock
Status:
Most recent release, Of (limited edition vinyl + CD, 2015)
See also:
Scott Merritt's site
Comparisons:
Bruce Cockburn, Bruce Springsteen
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
Scott Merritt is the kind of folk/pop/rock singer you don't think has really impressed you at first but later you find yourself humming his songs and his lyrics haunting you. All of his albums are good; Violet and Black in particular is a masterpiece. Scott Merritt is kind like Bruce Cockburn, but something about his songs have worn longer on me. It's strange—he starts off sounding quite derivative of other artists, but there's a haunting, catchy taste to it and soon you realize only Scott Merritt could have produced this music. (Neile)
Recommended first album:
Violet and Black
Recordings:
- Desperate Cosmetics (1979)
- Serious Interference (1983, reissued 1986)
- Gravity is Mutual (1986)
- Violet and Black (1989)
- The Detour Home (2002)
- Of (limited edition vinyl + CD, 2015)
Serious Interference
Release info:
1983/reissued 1986—Duke Street—DSRBD 31017
Availability:
Unknown; probably only available used in Canada
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Scott Merritt—vocals, mandolin, guitar, piano, acoustic instrument
Guest artists:
David Woodhead—bass
Carl Otway—drums
Doug Reansbury—guitar, acoustic instrument, chorus voice
Stacey Hersh—marimba
Matt Zimbel—percussions
Greg Roberts—percussions, pipes
Cherie Camp, Jeff Kahnert, John Welsman—backing vocals
Bob Disalle—drums
Ed Roth—Prophet, Hammond
Bob Becker—percussions
Ian Tamblyn—piano
Produced by:
Scott Merritt and Greg Roberts
Comments:
Even this early in his career Scott Merrit shows his huge skill in creating familiar yet fascinating songs that never wear out their welcome. The production here is fascinating, small sounds that add up to something that doesn't overwhelm you with its virtuosity but that sneaks into your subconscious. (Neile)
Gravity is Mutual
Release info:
1986—Duke Street Records—DSRBD 31026
Availability:
Not sure—may only be available used in Canada
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Scott Merritt—vocals, guitar, mandolin, dulcimer
Guest artists:
Bob DiSalle—drums
David Woodhead—bass, backing vocals
Doug Wilde—keyboards
Matt Zimbel—percussion
Adrian Belew—guitar
Ron Searles—violin
Doug Reansbury, Daisy Debolt—backing vocals
Jimmy Bralower—additional percussion
David Van Tieghem—fairlight SMI
Produced by:
Roma Baran
Comments:
This album is almost a prefect example of 80s pop/rock. You'll find the songs slipping into your mind when you don't expect them to. Again, the production is nearly perfect: subtle, not overdone, but helping make the songs so infectious. The great songwriting here approaches the brilliance of Violet and Black. (Neile)
Violet and Black
Release info:
1989—Duke Street records—DSRD-31057
Availability:
Not sure—may only be available used in Canada
Ecto priority:
Highly, highly recommended
Group members:
Scott Merritt
Guest artists:
Bob Di Salle—drums
David Woodhead—bass, backin vocals
Doug Wilde—keyboards, piano
Matt Zimbel—percussion
Willie P. Bennett—harmonica
Robert Arthur Williams—drums, percussion
Arthur Barrow—keyboards, bass, percussion, key program
Greg Roberts—keyboards
Doug Baynham—backing vocals
Rob Gusevs—Hammond, keyboards
Brian Leonard—additional percussion
Mike Sloski—additional percussion
Produced by:
Arthur Barrow except "Blue Field" produced by Greg Roberts
Comments:
This is a wonderful collection. The first time you hear it you find yourself thinking how all his influences show—then later you find this a collection you play again and again. Particularly fine is the title track, "Violet and Black," about Diane Arbus and her work. This album has worn well over the nearly 20 years it's been playing in our house. It's an unrecognized classic. (Neile)
The Detour Home
Release info:
2002—MCA Records—MRCD 6403
Availability:
Unknown
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Scott Merritt—vocals, guitars, keyboards, beatbox, reed organ, wurlitzer, glockenspiel, pisno
Guest artists:
Peter Von Althen—drums, percussion
David Woodhead—bass
Dennis Pendrith—bass
Ian LeFeuvre—octave guitar, fuzz guitar, resonator, slide guide
Ed Roth—accordion
Paul Intson
Bill Dillon—electric guitar, dulcimer
Jeff Bird—synth
Richard Bell—Hammond
Gary Craig—drums, percussion
Anne Lindsay—violin
Gavin Brown—percussion
Produced by:
Scott Merritt
Comments:
Even 13 years on Scott Merritt shows his ability to give pop music an individual twist. This has some amazingly catchy moments, which make me glad that he's releasing music again. (Neile)
Of
Release info:
2015
Availability:
See Scott Merritt's site
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Scott Merritt—vocals, tenor uke, reed organ, vibraphone
Guest artists:
Jeff Bird—double bass, octave mandolin, psaltery
Andy Magoffin—baritone horn
Produced by:
Scott Merritt
Comments:
Very stripped down. It starts off a little playful, with "Meteor," then goes a little more subdued with "Bragging Right" and wistful on "Everwill" and "Repo." "Willing Night" is a little mournful, while "Indispensable" is almost a dirge. It ligthens up some again with "Candletray," probably my favourite track. It ends with "Solomon," wrapping up this wry, somethat sad, but also rich and human album. (Neile)
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