Tag: Song of the Day

Allison Russell: “The Returner” (Song of the Day)

The title track to Allison Russell’s album “The Returner” is a powerful (and catchy) song about empowerment and loving yourself and others.

Allison Russell has followed up her outstanding solo debut album Outside Child (2021), showing no sophomore slump, taking us to new heights with the wonderful album The Returner (2023). In her solo work, she continues to explore what makes us human, facing trauma, and finding ourselves.

American Songwriter summarizes the new album as “a 10-song collection woven together with surprise, gratitude, pain and musical beauty the world has never quite seen before.” Ken Tucker of NPR explains that while Outside Child made “stirring music out of the harrowing details of Russell’s youth as a survivor of sexual abuse and homelessness,” The Returner features “songs about a more uplifting adulthood.” While there is some truth to that album comparison, it may be a little simplistic to draw a sharp line between the two albums that way. Both albums convey struggles and strengths that are not often encountered with such poetry and grace in pop music.

Regarding the title track of the album, Allison Russell creates music that sounds like a lost classic from the 1960s. When I first played the song, I felt like I had heard it many times, and I had to stop everything so my ears could give it my full attention. And then once you pay attention to the lyrics, you realize this song is really something special.

“The Returner” is about turning over a new leaf and finding a better and stronger person within yourself, despite the struggles and pain you’ve been through. It’s as inspiring as “We Will Rock You” or the theme from “Rocky,” with this fighter taking on something larger and darker and coming out on the other side.

In “The Returner,” the singer proclaims one of the most life-affirming things one may say: “I’m worthy.” But she is not keeping the newfound worthiness and strength for just herself; she aims to spread the power and the love to everyone she can. And that is what Russell does with these songs.

Goodbye, so long, farewell, all I’ve been;
Ooh, oblivion,
Throw me in the ocean,
Ooh, see if I can swim;
I’m wild again, I’m a star child again;
I’ve come ten million miles, ooh, I’m burning;
I’m a summer dream, I’m a real light beam, I’m worthy
Of all the goodness and the love that the world’s gonna give to me;
I’m a give it back ten times, people, are you ready?
If you think you’re alone, hold on, I’m coming.

Check out “The Returner” from Allison Russell.

Russell incorporates different genres in her music, including elements from Americana, R&B, Country, Soul, and Folk. Even the lyrics to “The Returner” show her broad embrace of music, referencing jazz great John Coltrane and country legends the Carter Family in the same sentence: “I can’t think of a thing / That hasn’t been born of a dream / Like a love supreme / Like a circle unbroken.” Another example of the lack of limits on her music is that musicians on the album include Americana artist Brandi Carlile and Wendy & Lisa (Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman). The latter are known for their work with Prince in the 1980s.

As one may note from the results, Russell is not aiming to make ordinary music. Russell, who before these two albums was in Birds of Chicago and Our Native Daughters, highlights on the liner notes the importance of the studio where she recorded The Returner. She recorded the album in the same studio as Joni Mitchell’s Blue and Carole King’s Tapestry, two of the greatest singer-songwriter albums of all time. With such artists, Russell continues to carve out a significant place among the stars.

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Allison Russell’s “Nightflyer” (Song of the Day)

Allison Russell’s song “Nightflyer” is a powerful and beautiful song about strength and resilience in the face of trauma.

One of the outstanding songs of 2021 is Allison Russell’s “Nightflyer.” During some of the dark days of the pandemic, it was a comforting and powerful song of confronting dark days and going forward.

Allison Russell, who is French Canadian and lives in Nashville, released the album Outside Child, which includes “Nightflyer,” to wide acclaim in 2021. This solo debut followed her work with her husband and songwriting partner JT Nero called Birds Of Chicago.

In “Nightflyer,” the singer addresses her abuse and sings of her hope and resilience: “His soul is trapped in that room; /But I crawled back in my mother’s womb,/ Came back out with my gold and my greens, / Now I see everything.” The song is a powerful statement, inspired by Russell’s own journey in becoming a mother.

I’m the moon’s dark side, I’m the solar flare,
The child of the earth, the child of the air;
I am the mother of the evening star;
I am the love that conquers all;
Yeah, I’m a midnight rider,
Stone bonafide night flyer;
I’m an angel of the morning too,
The promise that the dawn will bring you.

The rhythm and structure of the song echoes he gnostic poem “The Thunder: Perfect Mind,” which Russell read when she was sixteen and which stayed with her. Having suffered trauma, including an abusive stepfather, Russell has explained: I’ve been meditating on the nature of resilience, endurance, and grace more deeply since becoming a mother. I was trying to bridge the divide and embrace shame and my inner divinity equally with this piece.”

While the background gives some additional depth to the song, “Nightflyer” flies on its own wings even if you do not know anything about the inspirations. Check it out.

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  • Allison Russell: “The Returner” (Song of the Day)
  • Allison Russell and Brandi Carlile Remind You That “You’re Not Alone”
  • Connie Smith: “Once a Day” (Song of the Day)
  • Etta James: “Almost Persuaded” (Song of the Day)
  • Cover of the Day: Mo Pitney Sings “If Hollywood Don’t Need You”
  • Adia Victoria: “Horrible Weather” (Song of the Day)
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    Connie Smith: “Once a Day” (Song of the Day)

    In 1964, Connie Smith recorded “Once a Day,” creating one of the perfect county records out of the song written by Bill Anderson.

    Connie Smith’s 1964 recording of the song “Once a Day” is one of those perfect moments in country music. Smith is one of the great voices in country music, and here she has a perfect song. “Once a Day” was written by Bill Anderson specifically for Smith. The song features catchy music and country heartbreak wrapped up with a clever chorus that would be humorous if were not for the aching it describes.

    Connie Smith released “Once a Day” on August 1, 1964 when Smith (born in Indiana in August 14, 1941) was barely twenty-three. According to Wikipedia, the record become the first number one debut on the Billboard Hot Country songs by a woman. It stayed at number one for eight weeks, a feat not duplicated by a female artist until Taylor Swift did it in 2012.

    The clever hook in the song is that the singer misses a former love and cries only “once a day.” That does not sound too awful. But then she reveals that the “once a day” is “all day long.”

    Once a day, all day long;
    And once a night from dusk ’til dawn;
    The only time I wish you weren’t gone,
    Is once a day, every day, all day long.

    Below, a young Connie Smith performs “Once a Day” in 1965 on the WSM Nashville syndicated TV show The Bobby Lord Show. Check it out.

    Smith, who is married to Marty Stuart, also played guitar on the hit recording of “Once a Day.” She recorded a number of wonderful songs through her career. But she never had a song that was as big of a hit as “Once a Day.”

    Pas Souvent

    “Once a Day” has been covered by artists such as Dean Martin and Van Morrison. After Smith initially released her original version, the song was so popular that Smith recorded a French version of the song.

    Smith released the French version, “Pas Souvent,” credited to both Bill Anderson and French lyricist Pierre Delanoë, in 1966. Give it a listen.

    Great stuff, no matter the language. Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • Allison Russell: “The Returner” (Song of the Day)
  • Allison Russell’s “Nightflyer” (Song of the Day)
  • Etta James: “Almost Persuaded” (Song of the Day)
  • Cover of the Day: Mo Pitney Sings “If Hollywood Don’t Need You”
  • Marty Stuart’s Celebration of “The Pilgrim” Through A Wall-to-Wall Odyssey
  • Adia Victoria: “Horrible Weather” (Song of the Day)
    • ( Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

    Etta James: “Almost Persuaded” (Song of the Day)

    Etta James took “Almost Persuaded,” the hit David Houston song, and made it her own.

    Etta james almost persuaded

    The country song “Almost Persuaded” has been recorded by some great singers. Two of the greatest country singers of all time — George Jones and Tammy Wynette — each recorded wonderful versions. But Etta James, not usually thought of for country music, has the greatest version of the song.

    “Almost Persuaded” was written by Glenn Sutton and the famous country producer Billy Sherrill. David Houston first released the song in 1966, and his version of “Almost Persuaded” was a number one country hit. It also was top 40 on the pop charts.

    The song’s topic is somewhat unusual, as it is not celebrating love or reporting a heartbreak. In “Almost Persuaded,” the singer is married but finds an attraction to another. The singer considers having an affair, but ultimately sees the wedding ring and remembers to be faithful to his or her spouse.

    In Houston’s version, the song is slow and sort of sad. In the version by Etta James, she takes the song and stretches out the anguish in the tale while also finding empowerment.

    James released her version two years after Houston scored a hit, releasing her version of “Almost Persuaded” in December 1968.

    What is interesting about the lyrics is the singer’s decision to be faithful is based on more than one reason. There is the obvious reason, that the singer does not want to lose the “sweet love” she has. But she also recognizes that cheating will change her.

    And I was almost persuaded to strip myself of my pride;
    Almost persuaded to push my conscience aside.

    “Almost Persuaded” is a beautiful song, maybe the best one about struggling to be faithful to the one you love. Some have noted the song’s connection to gospel music, noting also that the title comes from a hymn from the ninth century, “Almost Persuaded” by Philip Bliss

    Interestingly, the song started out as a B-side. When David Houston recorded a song called “We Got Love” as his A-side, he didn’t have a B-side song. So his producer Billy Sherill worked with Glenn Sutton to write the B-side song (although another source reports that the song was originally written for Charlie Walker). They came up with “Almost Persuaded.” But after the single was released, a DJ in Atlanta started playing Houston’s B-side and soon “Almost Persuaded” became the hit.

    Sometimes a great song finds its own way. And sometimes a great song finds another great version in an artist like Etta James.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • Etta James and Dr. John on the Classic Heartbreak Song Written in Prison: “I’d Rather Go Blind”
  • Allison Russell: “The Returner” (Song of the Day)
  • Allison Russell’s “Nightflyer” (Song of the Day)
  • Connie Smith: “Once a Day” (Song of the Day)
  • Cover of the Day: Mo Pitney Sings “If Hollywood Don’t Need You”
  • Adia Victoria: “Horrible Weather” (Song of the Day)
    • ( Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)

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    Cover of the Day: Mo Pitney Sings “If Hollywood Don’t Need You”

    Singer-songwriter Mo Pitney performs an acoustic cover of Don Gibson’s classic song “If Hollywood Don’t Need You.”

    Mo Pitney Hollywood

    You may never have heard of Mo Pitney or the Don Gibson record “If Hollywood Don’t Need You.” But if that is the case, and you love a great country ballad, you need to watch Pitney’s acoustic performance of the song alone with his guitar in the woods.

    I recently discovered Pitney and his wonderful voice. So I only recently ran across this pandemic video he posted on Facebook in October 2020. The young Illinois native is early into what looks to be a promising career. The singer-songwriter has released two studio albums:  Behind This Guitar (2016) and Ain’t Lookin’ Back (2020). Both are worth checking out for both Pitney’s voice and his songwriting.

    This performance of “If Hollywood Don’t Need You,” with nothing but a guitar and the trees behind Pitney, reveals the depth of Pitney’s talents. He takes a great song, which has been one of his favorite songs since he was a kid, and he breaks your heart.

    Don Gibson released his version of the song — also known with a parenthetical as “If Hollywood Don’t Need You (Honey I Still Do)” — in 1982. Originally appearing on Gibson’s album Listen to the Radio, “If Hollywood Don’t Need You” went to number one on the country charts for Gibson, who passed away in 2003.

    Pitney made a video for the song back in 2016. But in this 2020 performance and video, the setting in the woods highlights the aching in the song’s tale. The singer professes his love in a letter to the woman who left him to pursue her dreams. He knows he has to let her go, hoping  she makes “the big time” and that her dreams come true. But, he reminds her, if Hollywood doesn’t need her, he will be there waiting for her.

    The song was written by Bob McDill. The songwriter wrote country classics, including Gibson’s “Good Ole Boys Like Me,” which we previously wrote about.

    Here,”If Hollywood Don’t Need You” has several layers. On the surface, the singer is wishing the best to his former lover while letting her know he misses her. But underneath it all one may hear the words as an appeal asking her to return.

    And no matter how you interpret the lyrics, there also is a cool reference to actor Burt Reynolds: “Oh, and if you see Burt Reynolds / Would you shake his hand for me? / And tell old Burt, I’ve seen all his movies.” Check it out.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.