Word: pedale
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...yourselfers who couldn't stop asking "What if..." and who had the drive - and thick enough skins - to follow through on their hunches. From the basements and garages of the heartland came the electric guitar, the electric bass, the five-string banjo, the multitrack tape recorder and the pedal steel guitar. Perhaps it's our penchant for excess that leads us to make it louder, faster, different - especially different - and not everyone may see the results as signs of progress. But these brash creations are as accurate road maps of the American soul as can be found in any history...
...with, as only Jones can do. Some lines are almost whispered; others cried out - all beautifully set up by man who really understands what to do with lyrics. It's a pity that this is not a better recording, because the musicianship is also mighty tasty, with some pulsating pedal steel, a well-stroked fiddle and a finely fingered Fender. I would love to locate a better version...
...Jones' lips are so close together it's amazing that any notes come out at all.) Adding to the pleasure is some excellent session work, in particular a well-plucked dobro - an instrument not used much by country singers of the period - as well as some great fiddle and pedal steel. "Sings Like the Dickens" was rereleased in 1995 by New York City?based reissue specialists Razor & Tie, who have done a fine job delving into the archives to find old stuff from Jones and other country greats. It's still available at your friendly neighborhood Internet store...
...Flavored with organ and pedal steel guitar, the performances explore a range of sultry rhythms with an assured, relaxed warmth perfectly suited to Williams' stylized, empathic singing. Indeed, it's hard to come away from this record without feeling that one has been in the presence of an exceptionally compassionate, tactile individual. The songs speak of serendipity, optimism and love, and many of them have people's names in the title; for Williams, making connections and spreading good karma is clearly as primal an urge as making music, and is actually undistinguishable therefrom. One of the album's major achievements...
...label seems to have reinvigorated Jones, who is at his vocal peak on this and the several albums that followed over the next couple of years. He also receives just the right amount of studio support. On "Three's a Crowd," in particular, there is great piano and pedal steel work as well as a judicious use of backup singers. This is exactly the right amount of lushness for Jones - just enough to create atmosphere and not too much to overwhelm him. If you like this period in Jones' career, you should check out "She Thinks I Still Care...