JFitts

I had the pleasure of meeting Jennifer Fitts at the River Oaks Music Festival in Houston in May of this year. I also had the pleasure of hearing her live for the first time! My first impression of her was that she's "easy on the eyes", has a strong voice that is very pleasing to the ear and some good songs. Isn't that about all you can expect from a 30 minute set at a festival where friends are gathered and chatting around you? I had heard many good things about Jennifer through Joe Parsons, the all-knowing Texicana music guru of the south. I knew when I heard her that he was correct in all the kudos he had given to Jennifer Fitts.

When I received a copy of her new CD, "Pleasant Detours", in the mail with a sweet message penned on the cover, I was anxious to get home and put it in the changer. I listened to it several times, each time hearing more wonderful lyrics and/or music I missed the times before.

I didn't know much about Jennifer's background except that she's been playing the local OKOM venues around the Houston area for awhile and is a regular at Joe Parson's songwriter's shindig every week when available. I took a peek at her website for more insight. Jennifer's story is pretty typical of many Texas songwriter/singers. She grew up listening to all the country greats her parents liked. She took piano for a while, but it wasn't her passion. Singing was her passion. With singing usually comes song writing, as was the case for Jennifer. Upon moving to Austin, her homesickness and broken heart inspired her to start writing songs, and she bought a guitar to help accomplish her songwriting goals. She eventually moved back to Houston, started her own band and the rest, as they say, is history.

Jennifer's new CD is a really nice first effort of mainly country tunes, which to my delight, were all penned by Jennifer. Although her voice emits a naturally country sound, I get the feeling she can belt out some blues when the mood hits her. Prominent Texas artist and producer, Clay Blaker produced this CD for Jennifer, and some fine musicians accompanied her such as: Tommy Detamore on pedal steel, electric and acoustic guitar and dobro, Ronnie Huckaby on piano and organ, Bobby Flores on fiddle, mandolin and back-up vocals, and even David Lee Garza sitting in on "It Was Only The Wine". Dan Dreeben provided drums and Al Quaid played bass guitar. Detamore also engineered and mixed this CD, and he and Clay together did the mastering.

The first cut is the title track "Pleasant Detour" is an upbeat tune looking back at a past relationship as a "pleasant detour", a little different twist with an optimistic view of having a broken heart. Really nice tune to feature as the title of this CD, I thought.

"Southern Comfort" is more of a country sound with the more typical country chorus:

"I'm looking for some southern comfort

And I'm not talkin' about whiskey

Cause when you get down to the bottom of the glass

All you feel is empty

Our love is fallin' apart

And we don't know why

So come home baby let's give it one more try."

It's sung to a three-stepping beat and became one of my favorites on the album. This is a country song, plain and simple...and good!

David Lee Garza adds his accordian to "It Was Only The Wine" creating a Tejano sound to this track that spices up the song with lyrics that are accusing the wine of talking instead of their person. It's full of barbs that bring out the hurt behind the pride of humanity, and it's nicely done (sounds like an oxymoron, I know, but that's partially what's makes our music great, isn't it?)

"Time I Stopped Lyin" is a country love tune, but has a sad twist since she is coming clean to her lover about her love for another man. The chorus sums it up, but the entire song is solid.

"I can't give you what you deserve

And I still think about him when I'm with you

I'm not gonna' lie to myself anymore

And it's time I stopped lyin' to you".

Jennifer has a country heart, which may be broken, or perhaps it's mended and we are the ones that are benefiting from it with another artist from Texas that we can brag on.

"Just Like A Country Song" is a faster tune but is definitely country with some great fiddle solos and lyrics that are simple but true. It's about how life "turns out just like a country song". It made me think that maybe all of our lives have, in some way, become like a country song. If you have ever had a broken heart, a cheating lover, been in a drunken brawl, or spent a night crying in your beer, your life is like a country song in some respect.

The sixth track is probably my favorite, at least today. "Everything He Said", a catchy melody with some great guitar licks and words that will make you stop and listen, especially if you're female. It's just one of those songs that a woman relates to immediately with a tune that she'll always remember. I bet even some men like it, too.

Cory Morrow joins Jennifer on the last song, "It Feels Like You're Still Here" which is a song about two lovers defending their own feelings and actions but ends with them making up and him going home to her. They do a good job on the vocals, the lyrics are great and the music is more than adequate throughout this entire CD.

I am always pleased when I see a female singer who writes her own songs, especially good ones like these. I'm one of those who think women have as much to give in music as men, but that's another story for another time. Jennifer Fitts did a very admirable job on her first album. It was truly a "pleasant detour" for me, and Jennifer fits into my kind of music quite well, thank you.

"Pleasant Detour" was released August 21, 2001.

Written by Lana Hughes, August 12, 2001

Visit Jennifer Fitts' website