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I first heard Scott Walker at Larry Joe Taylor’s
Music Festival this year. He played on the acoustic stage, and I was
sitting there listening and watching him and thinking to myself, “Why
haven’t I heard this guy before?” As the set went on, I realized
that there would probably be more artists I would see and hear for the
first time during this event. And there was. But none impressed me
more than Scott Walker.
That night after the show, Scott and his wife, Debbie, just happened to
pass our way as we were getting ready to make the campfire trek. I
took the opportunity to tell Scott that I enjoyed his set and to find out
more about him. As it turns out, Scott is from East Texas. We
chatted a few minutes and went our separate ways to the campgrounds
looking for a song circle.
The following month, I ran into Scott again at Pickin’ in the Pines.
Of course, it’s held right there in his backyard, so to speak, as Pine
Mills is a "suburb" of Mineola. Scott was kind enough to
visit our
campfire one night during this wonderful event, and I enjoyed
hearing Scott’s stories about his musical experiences and background.
For instance, did you know that Scott Walker and Davin James are childhood
buddies and have written several songs together, including “It’s A Real
Good Night”? Another thing that may surprise you is that Scott has
his own recording studio in Mineola called Coyote Tracks and produces his
own recordings as well as for others. This album is totally self
produced, and it sounds as good as any "professional job", so I
guess that makes him a "pro". Scott also produced the album for the
14th Annual LJT Music Festival.
In fact, the title cut off of his “Wanderin’ Mind” CD was co-written by
Scott and Davin, as was “Easy Money” which is also included in this album.
As Scott sang his songs around the campfire that night, he would share
stories about how they came up with the idea for the song, etc.
Scott had us all rolling with laughter as he graphically told of some of
the antics they experienced. It was a very entertaining night.
That said, let’s move on to the review of “Wanderin' Mind”.
Scott Walker has put together a wonderful menagerie of musicians for this
album. I was amazed when I started reading the credits and realized
that someone different plays on almost every tune. I’ll try to
highlight some of those credits in the review, so you will see what I’m
talking about.
“Wanderin’ Mind” – The title cut is a driving country tune with a fast
tempo that will have your foot tapping while the lyrics catch your
attention from the beginning.
”Ever since I was a child
I had a way of running wild
My momma said I was born
The ramblin’ kind
I never stopped to think
About the things I left behind
My heart was in the right place
But I had a Wanderin’ Mind.”
The
wailing harmonica, by Paul Harrington, adds depth to the song, and Hank
Riddle sings background vocals. Eric Tucker on the drums, who has
recently played concerts with Jesse Dayton and Davin James. Eric can
play with anyone, as I see it, as can Chris Schlotzhauer, who provides
pedal steel on this project.
Track 2, “Brother Tumbleweed”, has an upbeat western swing sound and
compares life to that of a “tumbleweed”. The lyrics certainly paints
a picture of the West Texas plains, and I can’t help but think he must
have been inspired to write this as he was driving through that part of
Texas. If not, he’s been there before and has seen the tumbleweeds
dancing in the wind. Chris Schlotzhauer adds pedal steel and Heather
Woodruff plays fiddle with Dwayne Dupuy on piano and make this song both
“country” and “western”.
“Déjà vu” is a hot little number with a Latin beat about a dance he and
his lover do called...uh, “Déjà vu”. A flute (Chris Browning) and
percussion (Zach Taylor) add the style Scott wanted for this song.
It’s a love song done in a sultry way and just a little different than
most.
“Alone with my love and the night sky above
So close I can’t tell where you and where I begin
You move like the tide, I can feel you inside
We are flying together higher and higher again.”
This
is a nice addition to this album that adds a different twist to an otherwise country
sound.
“I Tell Myself” is one of my favorites on this CD. It has a slower
beat and relays a sad tale about a love gone wrong that Scott
delivers with a bleaker tone. That is what makes Scott such a
well-rounded "artist", he can portray the mood he wants just by the tone
he uses when he sings. He keeps telling himself “she’s coming home”,
but in his heart “he knows she’s gone”. With Joe Forlini on acoustic
guitar, Chris Schlotzhauer on pedal steel, the music is as good as the
lyrics.
“Easy Money” is a great song that the writers (Walker and James) can be
proud to say is one of theirs. The piano in this version really adds
the “umph” this tune seems to have with the harmonica riffs and slide
guitar blending in oh so well. Then when you stop to listen to the
words….
“Make a nickel, spend a dime
Easy Money is hard to find
Just when I’m thinkin’ I got it made
Along comes a bill I still ain’t paid
Easy come, Easy go.
Don’t say I never told you so
One more thing you should know
can’t take it with you when you go
Easy Money…”
Another Walker/James tune, “It’s A Real Good Night”, which is also
featured on one of Davin’s CD’s, is probably the best song on the disc, in
my opinion. Maybe it’s because it’s one of my favorites, but it’s
more because it’s just a damn good song. Scott does a different
version than Davin, slowing down the tempo and giving it a more “laid
back” feeling that Davin’s more revved-up version. Both are great
versions of a great song.
The next track, “Devil, You Ain’t Takin’ Me Tonight” is a slow ballad with
eerie background music that sets the mood for the lyrics and the story.
Scott not only shows his musical talent throughout this album, but his
songwriting abilities shine brightly in every track.
What is a “country” album without a song about “losing the farm”, only in
this case, it’s a ranch. “Goodbye To The Broken W”. Hmmm…was
this Scott’s ranch, perhaps?
“After seventeen summers, it’s plain to see
the old Broken W has finally broke me.”
Randy
Brown plays mandolin and Dirje Smith plays cello on this country ballad.
Now if there was a drinkin' tune on here, we'd have "the perfect country
and western album"...oh, that was a song, wasn't it? Never mind, but
this disc is a pretty damn good country album, for the record, even if it
doesn't mention mama...or trains...or prison. It still has enough
subject variety
to deem it a viable asset to hard country music.
“The Wheels”, a tune Scott wrote in 1997, is basically about the “wheels
of life” that keep on turning. Scott uses a catgut guitar, and it
really adds ambiance to the music.
Scott adds an instrumental here, “Siempre”, that he performs with a catgut
guitar along with Rhandy Simmons on a fretless Electric Bass...that's it,
nothing else. Instrumentals aren’t normally my thing, but this is a
beautiful song, simplistic yet captivating, just wonderful listening
music...a really nice touch and also written by Scott Walker.
This song really impressed me and gives me even more respect for Mr.
Walker.
Scott ends the CD with “Love Don’t Hurt So Bad After All”, that I wouldn’t
consider so "country" except for the honky tonkin' piano riffs,
again by Dwayne Dupuy. It has a melancholy beat with some uplifting
lyrics that puts a positive spin on love.
All in all, this is a quality album that would please the country music
listener who appreciates a great songwriter with all the musical talent it
takes to express the music "his way”. He stays true to himself and
his music, and I respect that in an artist. He performs with a
comforting ease and thoroughly enjoys and believes in what he does.
I highly recommend it for your collection, and I feel fortunate to have
met him and to get a glimpse of the man behind the music that has aroused
my musical senses.
Happy Trails,
Miss Lana
Written by Lana Hughes, November, 2002
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