[FM] review of the Darryl Purpose CD "Live at Coalesce'

[John Q Public]

Below is my review of the Darryl Purpose CD "Live at Coalesce"

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"Live at Coalesce"
by Darryl Purpose, with Julie Beaver
copyright 2006
http://www.darrylpurpose.com

This review is written by Kevin McCarthy, 5/06
"Kevin's Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews"

If "Gong Show" host Chuck Barris was able to get his autobiography, 
"Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," filmed by George Clooney, then 
imagine what an innovative director could do with the life story of 
Darryl Purpose.

The various sections on Purpose's resume include episodes as a 
professional gambler, an anti-nuclear activist and participant in the 
1986 Great Peace March for Global Disarmament, a charity founder, of 
course, a musician, and probably a few roles he has not shared or yet 
to inhabit. Is that Quentin Tarantino on line one?

For Purposes' latest release, two types of media are available--both 
a CD amd a DVD recording of him and violinist/singer Julie Beaver in 
concert at the Coalesce venue in Morro Bay, CA. It is a 'Best Of' 
offering, combining cuts from Purpose's previous releases with a new 
song and a Dave Carter cover.

The latter song, "Red," first appeared on Carter's initial release, 
"Snake Handlin' Man," and as Purpose says, it's the creepiest entry 
in the repertoire of the genius singer-songwriter who died in 2002. 
Carter's former partner, Tracy Grammer, apparently also has a version 
of "Red" coming out sometime this summer.

The newest Purpose song, "We Become The Stories That We Tell," is an 
engaging one. Sung by Beaver and portraying the times we currently 
live in, Purpose frames the choices we have in either drawing the 
world closer together or in building lines of demarcation. He takes 
particular umbrage at the political fabulists who, for nefarious 
purposes, create the public alternative universe they need to influence others.

"Late For Dinner," also sung by Beaver, ranks right up there with 
John Prine's "Sam Stone" as one of the best Vietnam War song ever. 
The ambivalent woman character in the song perfectly illustrates the 
divide in our country during that turbulent time.

"Singer/Songwriter Heaven" sadly contains a new name, Dave Carter, 
but it's a classic tour involving so many of the musical talents who 
departed this earth far too soon. Mentioning Jim Croce, Harry Chapin, 
Graham Parsons, Kate Wolf, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Goodman, Nick 
Drake and Stan Rogers, Purpose cleverly situates them all on cloud 
nine and, in particular, on writer's block.

"Mr. Schwinn" is and always will be a tear-inducer, effective as 
Purpose slowly builds to the unrequited, somber finish. Originally 
recorded with Lucy Kaplansky, Purpose and Beaver do a touching job 
this time on the marriage ceremony fave "Ring On My Hand." "The 
Fourth Chair" compares the good times to be had with friends but 
laments how they can't quite replace the absence of a loved one.

"Dangerous Game" depicts some of the precarious positions Purpose has 
encountered through his many 'lives."

Beaver, a heretofore unknown, displays remarkable talent both with 
the violin and a very fine singing voice.

To the uninitiated, this will be an exceptional introduction to the 
artistry of Darryl Purpose while also serving as a handy collection 
for those already familiar with the man and his music. So which to 
purchase, the CD or DVD? More than likely that depends on whether one 
is visually or aurally dominant. But for those already a member of 
the Purpose flock, the DVD provides the unique offering of sound and picture.

Track List:

     * The Ghost of Crazy Horse (5:03)
     * California (Rutherford Hayes In The Morning) (4:24)
     * Red (3:15) Dave Carter
     * I Can Get There From Here (3:05)
     * We Become The Stories That We Tell (3:53)
     * The Fourth Chair (3:54)
     * Colorado Intro (1:14)
     * Colorado (The Story Of The Hayman Fire) (5:15)
     * Goin; Nowhere Fast (The Train Song) (2:57)
     * Ring On My Hand (3:24)
     * Old Rock And Roll Song Intro (0:39)
     * Old Rock And Roll Song (Karen's Song) (8:00)
     * Late For Dinner (4:11)
     * The Stars All Live At Sunny's House (5:01)
     * Singer/Songwriter Heaven (5:29)
     * Mr. Schwinn (4:52)
     * Dangerous Game Intro (4:11)
     * Dangerous Game (5:25)

All songs by Darryl Purpose, unless otherwise noted.