[FM] review of Jimmy LaFave's CD "Texoma"

[celtic-folk@surfnetusa.com]

Below is my review of Jimmy LaFave's CD "Texoma".

To see the review nicely formatted in your web browser, please view
the version on my web site at:

http://www.surfnetusa.com/celtic-folk/fr-JimmyLaFave.htm

To go to my CD review index:

http://www.surfnetusa.com/celtic-folk/index.html
-------------------------------------------------------------------
                            A Review of the CD
                                  "Texoma"
                              by Jimmy LaFave
------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Texoma"
by Jimmy LaFave

copyright 2000
Bohemia Beat Records 65223-0010-2
2300 S. Cook Street
Denver, CO 80210
ph: (303)691-8218
http://www.bohemiabeat.com and
mailto:shubobeat@earthlink.net

Jimmy LaFave
P.O. Box 2500
Austin, TX 78768
http://www.jimmylafave.com

This review is written by Kevin McCarthy, 3/01
mailto:celtic-folk@surfnetusa.com
"Kevin's Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews"
http://www.surfnetusa.com/celtic-folk/index.html

Mix a shot of Norman Vincent Peale with a generous splash of Jimmy
Swaggert. Shake, then pour.  Sip or swallow, you've got a Jimmy LaFave,
equal parts reverent and raucous.  LaFave's latest release continues his
usual amalgamation of acoustic introspection and rocking good times,
optimistic faith swimming with tales of elusive women and maybe a drop or
two of whisky.

On "This Glorious Day," he's Peale to the hilt:

     "Take the weight of the world
     Off your shoulders
     And throw it away
     Because miracles are happening
     Every day
     Every dream or treasure
     That you're hoping to find
     Is out there waiting for you
     It's just a matter of time..."

He continues his optimism with the happiness-regardless-of-one's-wealth
offering, "Poor Man's Dream":

     "...Find peace and harmony
     With the lay of the land
     Stand beneath the big sky
     And count all the stars
     That you can
     Take off your clothes
     Jump in a clear running stream
     Soon you'll be living
     The poor man's dream"

"Red Dirt Songs" is in the same vein. LaFave, with a sly Dylan reference,
opens with:

     "Persimmon wine, tupelo honey
     I feel fine, don't need money
     Sip a little wine, taste my honey
     Bobby says you gotta serve somebody..."

He also includes tributes to Woody Guthrie with a tune of the same name and
to Elvis, with "Elvis Loved His Mama." The latter is played like a Jerry
Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry collaboration.

"On The Road" is a rocker with a count-the-references appeal:

     ...Rolling Fork
     Frisco Bay
     Asbury Park
     Lost Highway
     You're on the road
     To rock and roll...

     ...Nashville cats
     And you drive and drive
     L.A. woman
     Across the great divide
     On the road
     To rock and roll

     Running on empty
     The road and the sky
     Take it easy
     As the miles fly by
     You're on the road
     To rock and roll"

The best song  is the piano-backed "On a Bus to St. Cloud." Blanketed with
regret, LaFave sings:

     "On a bus to St. Cloud, Minnesota
     I thought I saw you standing there
     Snow falling all around you
     Like a silent prayer...

     ...In a church in downtown New Orleans
     I got down on my knees and prayed
     I wept in the arms of Jesus
     For the choice you made
     We were just getting to the good part baby
     Sliding past the mystery..."

Composing over half the cuts here, he also adeptly takes songs written by
others and stamps his ownership on them with his weathered, emotion-laden
voice. His willingness to tackle "San Francisco" is a prime example.
Written by the late John Phillips, this tune could easily slip into an
overdose of schmaltz. Not with LaFave. Using a faster than usual rhythm,
his vocals charm the listener.

So, now you have the answer the next time you're asked 'what's a Jimmy
LaFave?'.

Track List:

   * Bad Bad Girl (4:45) Jimmy LaFave
   * San Francisco (3:08) John Phillips
   * Never Is a Moment (5:17) Jimmy LaFave
   * This Glorious Day (4:03) Jimmy LaFave
   * Poor Man's Dream (3:12) Jimmy LaFave
   * On a Bus to St. Cloud (5:49) Gretchen Peters
   * Rock and Roll Music to the World (3:34)  Alvin Lee
   * Red Dirt Song (2:58) Jimmy LaFave
   * Woody Guthrie (4:53) Jimmy LaFave
   * Tears (4:24) Jimmy LaFave
   * Love Can Find Its Own Way (2:55) Jimmy LaFave
   * Elvis Loved His Mama (2:35) Bob Childers & John Cooper
   * Emotionally Yours (4:04) Bob Dylan
   * Patient Man (4:35) Greg Jacobs
   * On the Road to Rock and Roll (3:53) Jimmy LaFave
   * The Moon's a Harsh Mistress (4:26) Jimmy Webb

Ownership, copyright and title of this folk music CD review belongs to me,
Kevin McCarthy. Ownership, copyright and title are not transferable or
assignable to you or other parties regardless of how or if you or other
parties use, copy, save, backup, store, retrieve, transmit, display,
publish, modify or share the CD review in whole or in part. Please read the
"Terms, Conditions and Disclaimer" section on my web site for additional
information about using, quoting, or reprinting this CD review.

Send inquiries to: celtic-folk@surfnetusa.com.



================================================
Kevin McCarthy
mailto:celtic-folk@surfnetusa.com
Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews
http://www.surfnetusa.com/celtic-folk/index.html