[FM] FAME Review: Ellis Paul's "Essentials written by Roberta B. Schwartz

[David N. Pyles]

FAME #3988

Essentials
Ellis Paul
http://www.ellispaul.com
Philo 11671-1250-2

Philo/Rounder Records
1 Camp Street
Cambridge, MA 02140
http//www.rounder.com

A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange by Roberta B. 
Schwartz (rschwart at bowdoin.edu)

Ellis Paul is one of the best singer/songwriters of his generation. And 
for many of us he *is* the face of contemporary folk music - few are as 
smart, as literate and as poetic as Paul. He has spun his story songs 
for nearly twenty years now, and has eleven studio recordings (with an 
additional two early recordings on cassette - now available on CD) to 
his credit. I cannot think of another artist on the acoustic music scene 
who is better-loved by fans, or more respected by his contemporaries.

I suspect that turning forty, having a child and putting down roots all 
had something to do with Paul's taking a look back at his body of work 
in the newly released "Essentials." While Paul's 2000 "Live" recording 
captured Ellis Paul the live performer, 2006's "Essentials" captures 
Ellis Paul the artist.

"Essentials" presents the richness, the range and the beauty of Paul's 
work in a double CD package. Ralph Jaccodine, Paul's longtime manager 
and friend, is named as executive producer. He successfully pulls 
together the many strands of Paul's career here. There are thirty-two 
songs in all - many are the originals available on earlier recordings. 
But this is not simply a "best of" recording. The bonuses include two 
new songs and eight new versions of his classic tunes, some recorded live.

Putting all of the assessments aside for a moment, what impresses most 
is the stunning beauty of Ellis Paul's art. Just listening to the music 
and taking it all in - you become swept away by the songs and immersed 
in the stories they tell.

Classic Ellis Paul songs, like "Conversation with a Ghost," which put 
him on the map, are all here. Hearing the original version of the song 
with Patty Griffin's achingly beautiful harmony, Johnny Cunningham's 
violin, and the haunting melody, brings back the excitement of hearing 
Paul perform it for the first time.

There are also new songs, like "If She's the One," co-written with 
Flynn, who produced the cut as well. It lets us know how you will feel 
when you come across the love you have been looking for. Flynn mixes in 
an electric guitar and a percussive beat to rock the tune to the place 
it needs to go. The other new song is "Welcome Home to Maine, Paul's 
beautiful homage to his home state. No matter where you are from, you 
will find your own sense of home here.

New renditions of Ellis Paul favorites like "Maria's Beautiful Mess," 
and the gorgeous "Words" appear here in lovely new arrangements provided 
by John Jennings.

The recording closes with a live version of Woody Guthrie's "God's 
Promise" from the stage of the Boothbay Opera House in Maine.

"Essentials" contains much of Ellis Paul's best work to date. But unlike 
most retrospective collections, this one clearly shines a light on the 
future. And what we know is this - that the brilliance of his body of 
work tells us that there are great things to come. This is a must have 
collection for music fans everywhere.

Track List:

CD 1

Take Me Down
Eighteen
Paris in a Day
Home
If She's the One (Ellis Paul/Flynn)
Take All the Sky You Need
Maria's Beautiful Mess
The Only Way (Mark Erelli)
Conversation with a Ghost
The World Ain't Slowin' Down
Angel in Manhattan
If You Break Down
Words
Snow in Austin Intro
Snow in Austin
Did Galileo Pray?
Jukebox on My Grave

CD 2
Sweet Mistakes
3,000 Miles
Blacktop Train
Seventeen Septembers
Autobiography of a Pistol
The Martyr's Lounge
Midnight Strikes Too Soon
Alice's Champagne Palace
Roll Away Bed
All Things Being the Same
Deliver Me
Welcome Home to Maine
She Loves a Girl
She Was (Ellis Paul/Slaid Cleaves/Jeff Plankenhorn
Snow in Austin
The Speed of Trees
God's Promise Intro
God's Promise

All songs written by Ellis Paul except where noted

Edited by: David N. Pyles (dnpyles at acousticmusic.com)

Copyright 2006, Peterborough Folk Music Society and Roberta B. Schwartz. 
This review may be reprinted with prior permission and attribution.

-- 
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David N. Pyles
acousticmusic.com
82 Leadmine Road
Nelson NH 03457 USA
http://www.acousticmusic.com/frames
http://www.acousticmusic.com/frames/fame.htm
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