Spencer Bohren
Solitaire
Valve - 8082
Released - 2002
available on Spencer's website
This disc is Spencer Bohren playing solo using a variety of instruments including his voice, which is getting stronger and more expressive with each outing. His singing is enhanced and supported by his often understated and outstanding handling of his instruments. These include the electric lap-steel, acoustic guitar, acoustic lap-steel, electric guitar, and a variety of rhythm instruments. He wrote or co-wrote 5 of the 11 songs featured here, and works them with the others he has selected into a cohesive whole. His selection of songs written by others and what he does with them is extraordinary. There is a version here of the Jagger-Richards classic No Expectations, that brings whole new dimensions to this gem of a song. His restrained, but eerie electric lap-steel augments his expressive and haunting phrasing that brings a level of agony and distress to this song that was only hinted at prior to this. His version of Hank Williams oft done Long Gone Lonesome Blues, holds with the very country feel of the and shows another dimension that his voice can hold with authority. There are times when his big Guild guitar seems to whisper behind his vocals as if it was another voice. Other times he cuts lose with some dazzling bottleneck guitar (Been ‘Round This World), uses the lap-steel guitar to heighten the tension created by the vocals of a song like Witch Doctor. This disc gives us a wide range of styles held together by the sense of mood and space he creates with his music and the spaces he uses to frame that music.
Spencer Bohren – all instruments
Produced by Spencer Bohren and Reinhard Finke
Songs and writers (times not given)
Down the Road - Spencer Bohren
Born In A Biscayne - Spencer Bohren /Michael Carson
In-Between Friends - Spencer Bohren
Hard Time Killin’ Floor – Nehemiah James
C’mon Down - Spencer Bohren
Witch Doctor - Spencer Bohren
Broke Down Engine – Willie McTell
Been ‘Round The World – Johnny Littlejohn
Long Gone Lonesome Blues – Hank Williams
No Expectations – Jagger/Richards
Dirt Road Blues – Charlie Patton