This review is written by Dai Woosnam, daigress@hotmail.com, 4/04
This is the fourth album from a veteran of the UK folk scene. But
it is the first of Jim’s that has come my way.
The first obvious question: does it make me wish I’d encountered the
previous three? The honest answer is I am not entirely sure, but
let’s put it this way: there are plenty other artistes I review at
3rd/4th album stage, and some of those would need to pay me serious
money to investigate their back catalogue. Not so Jim
Donaldson. There is much to enjoy in his work.
First of all the voice. As I write, the great Gordon Lightfoot
still is battling with serious illness. Perish
the thought that he should be no more, but when that day arrives, Jim
has an assured future doing Lightfoot impressions all over the
English-speaking world.
And it is not just the voice. This is an album of
high quality musicianship, and amazingly it is all the work of Jim with
his trusty 8 track. Guitars, dobro, banjo,
mandolin. Remarkable.
So remarkable in fact that on some of the up-tempo numbers one could
swear that it is the great Red Shea one can hear with those glorious
guitar runs in the background.
Not only has Jim Donaldson provided all the input, he has also produced
the album too. And a very crisp and clean sound it
is. It would be a credit to a major studio.
So should you buy it? I’d say, perhaps, however there are a few provisos.
For one thing you had better not have a hang-up on people needing to
sing in the same accent with which they speak. If you
passionately feel this way, then don’t take your money out of your
pocket. For the fact is that I can safely bet that
Jim speaks in a British – probably Scots – accent, but he emphatically
sings in North American. (The liner notes tell me he is
living in the Great Glen, south of Inverness in the Scottish
Highlands. Had I read that he was living in the
Canadian Rockies, I would not have been surprised!) Up-tempo he has the Canadian cadences of the aforementioned Gordy;
slower numbers I detect the vowel sounds and tonal quality of the late
Marty Robbins.
(Don’t get me wrong: his is a very fine voice. And he shows
remarkable breath control. Just listen to the final note of
“Time for movin’ on”, if you want proof of the latter.)
Another proviso before you buy it is that you shouldn’t expect ace
songs. Oh sure these are pretty decent songs – all
but two from his own pen – and they use rhyme and scan and make
sense. One or two might be a bit too agitprop for some
people’s tastes, but I reckon his heart is in the right place, so they
didn’t offend me.
Of the non-Donaldson numbers, I’d like to say that it was so nice to
see a song from the great forgotten man of the British folk scene, Jack
Hudson. The British folk scene should hang its head
in shame at the way it has treated him.
Also Jim does a John Gorka song, with the sweetest of
melodies. Although that said, I fancy his own attempt
at a “Gorka” – track 9, “Two Lives on the Slide” – outgorkas the real
thing! The best track on the album.
Also there is a decent stab at telling the James Dean life-story, “Boy
From Fairmount”. Pleased to say he doesn’t do this
with a Jimmy Dean delivery.
And if all this was not enough, he throws in a few very accomplished
instrumentals: one (track 11) he colours with interesting
sound-effects: I won’t spoil the surprise by letting the secret out of
the bag.
Buy it from Jim’s e-mail address: jimf.donaldson@btopenworld.com
Dai Woosnam
Grimsby, England
daigress@hotmail.com
All songs (unless stated) by Jim Donaldson.
Copyright © 1998-2008 Kevin & Maxine’s Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews. All rights reserved.
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