a m e r i c a n r o o t s m u s i c • t r a d i t i o n a l c o u n t r y • b l u e s • f o l k • a m e r i c a n a m u s i c • a m e r i c a n r o o t s
m u s i c • t r a d i t i o n a l c o u n t r y • b l u e s • f o l k • a m e r i c a n a m u s i c • a m e r i c a n r o o t s m u s i c • t r a d i t i o n
|
One Kind Word Waterbug Records Co-produced by Frank Coakley & Geoff Bartley Recorded & mixed by Eric Kilburn at Wellspring Sound Includes: One Kind Word, Welcome to the Spiral Dance, Noah’s Ark, Natural Law, Snowfall,
Into the Deeper Blue, See That My Grave is Kept Clean, We’re All Alike, Cut by Wire,
A Letter from Prison, The Wealthiest of Men, Let Falling Stars |
||||
| Sing Out! R Warr Sometimes a recording grabs you straight out of the jewel box, and One Kind Word is one of them. Geoff Bartley is no newcomer, he’s been around the singer-songwriter scene for many years, but if this release fails to bring him serious recognition there’s no justice in the world. He wrote, or co-wrote, eleven of the dozen songs here, and performs them with a spirit and grace often missing in the voices of other genre artists. His voice celebrates the music. Blind Lemon Jefferson’s "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" is the only non-original. Bartley and Frank Coakley co-produced the release with ample accompaniment, and tracks such as "Welcome to the Spiral Dance" make you want to get up and dance. Eight musicians in addition to Bartley’s multi-instrumental capability (guitar, electric guitar, harmonica, and ocarina) contribute flavor and zest to each track. A veritable choir of voices, including familiar names such as John Gorka (who co-authored "Cut by Wire" with Bartley), Jennifer Kimball, Greg Greenway, Jonatha Brooke, Catie Curtis, and Les Sampou chime in where desired. With all these forces, Bartley and Coakley resist the temptation to bury the songs in production. There’s not a bad song here; most either subtly or overtly show a social consciousness. "The Wealthiest of Men" joins classics such as Utah Phillips’ "All Used Up" in condemning the system that uses and then abuses working people. Like Phillips’ song, Bartley tells it in the first person. He doesn’t preach it, he lives it. In a more light-hearted vein, "We’re All Alike" with it’s almost skiffle rhythm, lists all the things we have in common, including some rather unusual things. If you can resist tapping your foot to this song, you’re probably the type who can eat only one potato chip. Similarly, "Noah’s Ark" retells the Biblical story in a highly poetic way as a moral lesson for present day. He concludes the recording with the inspirational "Let Falling Stars …" a reflection of life and love that leaves you with a feeling of having made an engaging and enjoyable journey with Bartley. My only complaint is a lack of booklet; there are no notes or lyrics, a pity considering the complexity of some of the songs. This CD belongs on your player. |
One Kind Word Words and Music by Geoff Bartley ©1977 Joshua Omar’s Music (BMI) GEOFF BARTLEY vocal, guitar MIKE RIVARD upright bass SETH CONNELLY dobro BEN WITTMAN drums RealAudio (low q) || WindowsMedia (low q) || MP3 (high q) (691KB) I know a man, never says a word • But he strums his old Gibson, sings like a bird • The dreams in his head, they’re almost gone • The times keep changin’ as the years wear on And it don’t take much to wag my tail • Give me hard-boiled eggs, a little beer in a pail • You’ve got to work pretty hard to drive me away • But one kind word and I will stay So I ride in my car, travel all around • Get up on the stage, here in your town • I used to chase all the women and I guess I still do • But love is best when it’s tender and true And it don’t take much to wag my tail • Give me hard-boiled eggs, a little beer in a pail • You’ve got to work pretty hard to drive me away • But one kind word and I will stay Now I’m up all night and I sleep all day • People ask me how I live that way • Well I don’t call it livin’, I call it just gettin’ by • If I had the ambition I’d be a hell of a guy And I’m about half-crazy, at the end of my chain • Nobody knows how I stand the strain • If you treat me hard I might turn mean • I’m at my best when the times get lean And it don’t take much to wag my tail • Give me hard-boiled eggs, a little beer in a pail • You’ve got to work pretty hard to drive me away • But one kind word and I will stay |
||||
| Let Falling Stars … Words and Music by Geoff Bartley ©1977 Joshua Omar’s Music (BMI) GEOFF BARTLEY vocal, guitar MIKE RIVARD upright bass, fretless electric bass guitar BILL NOVICK transverse wooden flute, pennywhistle SETH CONNELLY piano, lap steel JENNIFER KIMBALL & JOHN GORKA backing vocals RealAudio (low q) || WindowsMedia (low q) || MP3 (high q) (691KB) Everything’s gone that happened yesterday • I barely recall the young and simple things we did • Maybe I’ve lost more of my memory • Or maybe there’s too much useless noise inside my head I wish I knew more of what’s called the common touch • I fall into bed and fight off hot and angry tears • Watching the boy I once was surely disappearing • Rememb’ring you in my arms our bodies joined like hemispheres But I will leave this all behind • Give my possessions to the people in the square • To follow the railroads and the rivers • Let falling stars get tangled in my hair … tangled in my hair And as a one-eyed man becomes a king • Wand’ring into the land where blind men lead the blind • Wouldn’t I take your hand and sit down at the loom again • To gather up all the threads that bind your life to mine? And I will leave this all behind • Give my possessions to the people in the square • To follow the railroads and the rivers • Let falling stars get tangled in my hair … tangled in my hair And at the end we stand with open hands • Maybe this tattooed man’s the only living trace • Of the paradise I found beneath your cotton dresses • And of daring to live our lives with the same wild grace! But I will leave this all behind • Give my possessions to the people in the square • To follow the railroads and the rivers • Let falling stars get tangled in my hair … tangled in my hair |
Cut By Wire Words and Music by Geoff Bartley & John Gorka ©1977 Joshua Omar’s Music (BMI) GEOFF BARTLEY vocal, guitar BILLY NOVICK soprano sax JONATHA BROOKE, JOHN GORKA backing vocals RealAudio (low q) || WindowsMedia (low q) || MP3 (high q) (691KB) The letters stopped in a minor key • A Christmas card that you drew for me • Done by the hand that I knew so well • Disguised a message that you could not tell I see you bent above your potter’s wheel • The piece you’re throwing is the peace you feel • The softest colors and an eye so true • For cups and bowls that are shaped like you You work in porcelain cut by wire • And now as ever lovers walk through fire • When we were breaking we made no sound • The pieces almost touching on the ground And now your silence says there’s someone there • Who stands behind you as you brush your hair • Ah does he hold you like a long-lost friend? • Or are you like me on your own again? So I write you in a minor key • Wond’ring if there’s something left for me • I’m only writing so I can sleep • I never found another love as deep You work in porcelain cut by wire •
And now as ever lovers walk through fire •
When we were breaking we made no sound •
The pieces almost touching on the ground
|
||||
|
"Since migrating from Cambridge,
Mass to Nashville some three decades ago, Mark Brine has carved out a strong
reputation as an uncompromising traditionalist on the country music scene which
has made him one of the elder statesmen of Americana."
-- Shaun Dale, Cosmik Debris Magazine
"I could listen to him sing all night long – he does a good job that boy does." -- Roy Acuff, Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree "A fine young man who I think has a great future." -- Hank Snow, Grand Ole Opry "Brine could easily have been added to the cast of 'O Brother, Where Art Thou' without raising an eyebrow. He belongs to that group of artists whose individuality and quirkiness consign them to the periphery of what's commercially viable. But God bless him for not just being another cog in the musical wheel." -- James McSweeney, Flyin Shoes |
 |
|
"Brine writes wonderful story songs about ordinary people
and ordinary places. To tell these stories, Mark has a voice that is
as comfortable as a favourite coat."
-- Pete Smith, Country Music Round Up "I think what makes Mark Brine such a gifted songwriter/storyteller is the fact that he seems to be such an obvious fan of many genres of music. He's someone who is like a sponge when it comes to reintegrating influences into his own work." -- Gail Worley, Ink 19 "His career has pursued the path of a truly independent artist - someone who follows his soul and does things his own way – his ability to write and produce has made his name synonymous with quality." -- Doug Floyd, AltCountryTab.com ©2004 Mark Brine Music. All rights reserved. |