Mary Flower
ROSEWOOD & STEEL
Bluesette Records
P.O. Box 102222
Denver, CO 80250-2222
visit Mary's website
available on cd baby
This is a subtle album that kind of creeps up on your head and says, "Whoa buddy! Let's run what we just heard another time. That sure was some fine playing." This is a blues based album, but suffused with a large dollop of the folk music that used to come out of the Boston area, i.e. the Jim Kweskin Jug Band and all its various members. In fact Geoff Muldaur contributes vocals to ARRANGEMENT FOR ME BLUES, and Banjo on another cut. In fact this album has sizable contributions from a number of illustrious musicians whose names are synonymous with top quality work, and their work here does not disappoint, nor does it overshadow the fine work that we are getting from Mary Flower herself. She does some beautiful playing on her Lap Steel Guitar, Guitar and Resonator Guitar. Amos Garrett contributes his usual mighty fine work on both vocals and Electric Guitar. Special mention to Paul Geremia for his 12 String Slide Guitar playing, just give a listen to PONY BLUES. He has to be one of the finest practitioners, and also one of the most overlooked Acoustic Blues guitarists around.
This is one of those little gems that pops around every now and then just to surprise you. I won't say I like all the cuts here (personal taste), but the playing is consistently superb, and at times it exceeds itself and makes you stop and push the return button to hear it again. I look forward to the next issue from Mary Flower, or better yet I like to see her live.
Songs and Writers
1. Your Baby Gave You Nuthin' But The Blues - Mary Flower - 3:19
2. Midnite Blue - Mary Flower - 3:36
3. Stomp Down Mama - Claude Long - 4:20
4. Arrangement For Me Blues - Bo Carter (arranged Mary Flower)- 3:18
5. Hannah's Song - Mary Flower - 5:01
6. Mystery Train - Sam Phillips and Junior Parker - 5:11
7. Pony Blues - Charlie Patton (arranged Mary Flower) - 3:44
8. Cock-A-Doodle Blues - Mary Flower - 3:21
9. Two days Straight - Mary Flower - 3:53
10. Cypress Grove Blues - Skip James - 4:53
11. Can't Sleep For Dreaming - Brooks Berry (arranged Mary Flower) - 3:35
12. Roll On, Mississippi, Roll On - Eugene West, James McCaffrey & Dave Ringle - 2:38
13. Old Guitar - Mary Flower - 3:18
Produced by Mary Flower
Musicians
Mary Flower - Vocal, Guitar, Foot, Electric Bass, Lap Steel Guitar, Resonator Guitar
Amos Garrett - Vocal, Electric Guitar
John Magnie - Piano, Accordian
Duane Webster - Vocal, String Bass
Steve James - Slide Guitar - Mandolin
Dave Moore - Accordian, Harmonica
Geoff Muldaur - Vocal, Banjo
Spencer Bohren - Lap Slide Guitar
Paul Geremia - 12-String Slide Guitar
Pat Donohue - Vocal, Guitar