I posted about this CD in the "newest CD to your collection forum," but wanted to post it here for those of you who might not check that thread.

If you've seen the Cowboy Junkies, Trinity Revisited DVD and liked Natalie on it, I'm sure you'll enjoy this offering of hers. I fell in love with it when I heard her interviewed on NPR either last fall or earlier this spring. It's a collection of folk songs ... old and new ... or, as she calls it ... "a collection of traditional & contemporary folk music." The sound is terrific. All vocals are hers, of course, and some of the musician folk are: Erik Della Penna on guitar and lap steel, Graham Maby on bass, Gabriel Gordon on guitar, Richie Stearns (I may be wrong, but I believe he is part of the husband/wife team that opened some of the "Open" tour) on banjo, Judy Hyman on fiddle, Elizabeth Steen on organ, piano & accordian, Allison Miller on drums, and The Menfolk, backing vocals.

Merchant's voice is simply perfect for these folk music. It was a limited edition CD that was released in 2003. I tried to get it through my local record shop and didn't have any luck, but I did finally find a new copy on Amazon.

Here's a little of what Merchant has to say about folk music:

"I call the collection of songs you'll hear on this album "folk music." They were found in printed and recorded form, written by variety of authors, both anonymous and celebrated. Some are well-weathered and others relatively new. These are the songs to soothe restless babies, accompany the games of children, ease toil, celebrate love or mourn death, they speak of the spirit world and weaknesses of the flesh. Some contain words of fair warning and others simply tell us a good story. What they all share in common is that they remind us of our humanity, of what we share."


Playlist:

1. sally ann
2. which side are you on?
3. crazy man michael
4. diver boy
5. weeping pilgrim
6. soldier, soldier
7. bury me under the weeping willow
8. house carpenter
9. owensboro
10. down on penny's farm
11. poor wayfaing stranger

My favorite would have to be, "sally ann"

sally ann
a woman of beauty
a woman of pain
in France or Jakarta
her shadow's the same
you go home with Sally Ann
you go home with Sally Ann
you go home

a woman of kindness
with bracelets of jade
in China, in Japan
choices are made
you go home with Sally Ann
you go home with Sally Ann
you go home

a woman of chances
with no family or friends
in Argentina
she knows only men
you go home with Sally Ann
you go home with Sally Ann
you go home

a woman or color
with debts to be paid
in Trenton or Detroit
she lives by the blade
you go home with Sally Ann
you go home with Sally Ann
you go home

I hope some of you will discover this gem as well.

Cher

cher, glad you are enjoying this. i love natalie, i've had it since it came out and it's by far my least favorite of her solo efforts, in fact, i really just don't care for it. not sure why, it's just never "hit" me.

Sorry to hear that Bill. Maybe it's just simply where I am at this time in my life. Another of my favorites is "Seven Sisters: A Kentucky Portrait," by The Crooked Jades. I've actually never seen the PBS series that this soundtrack comes from, but the soundtrack is awesome.

Cher

I have just been listening to 'Trinity Revisited' and really liking it. I didn't know Natalie Merchant was doing vocals, but the minute I heard her voice I knew it was her. The odd thing ... among my three favorite bands of all time are the Cowboy Junkies, Natalie Merchant (solo or with the Maniacs) and Over the Rhine. It is so interesting that their careers are intertwined. They are all fantastic artists and have a lot in common.

I love this album, it was the first thing I'd ever heard by Natalie Merchant (never listened to 10,000 Maniacs back in the day). I think I got it after someone recommended it on the CJs' message board years ago.

Cher, I got this album when it first came out and loved it immediately. Txo

maybe this deserves another spin...