Cottonwood Farm

Jimmy Webb | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 26, 2011)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: PROPER RECORDS US
• ASIN: B002J8Y3SG
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #185,638 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The title track is its peak, January 9, 2010

By 

David Ackerman (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Cottonwood Farm (Audio CD)

Let's start off positive. The title track, COTTONWOOD FARM, is nothing short of brilliant. Another MacArthur Park. Shoulda been cut by Glen Campbell a long time ago. Still could be a hit for him. This is a masterpiece. The music is chilling, sensitive as usual, and the lyric is extremely touching. The arrangement is interesting and the trading off of vocals works. I don't know whether the song is about the maternal or paternal grandfather but there is still irony to hearing Webb's own father at the end of the song. It will put you away if you have half a heart. The cover photo is also fascinating. Another highlight is Webb's SNOW COVERED CHRISTMAS although it feels very out of place here. More a show tune on this very uneven album. Webb also wrote THE HIGHWAYMAN which opens the CD. The song has been heard to death but is not done a service by Webb's sons' vocals. Webb himself performs at the end. Another Webb song entitled IF THESE WALLS COULD SPEAK has also been covered numerous times. With his vast catalog, it's a pity Webb couldn't have chosen something more interesting. WHERE THE UNIVERSES ARE is sung by Webb's sons but offers nothing more special than when Webb debuted it himself decades ago. The Webb Brothers' own songs are mediocre. No need to compare them to their father's. If they were on someone else's album, they wouldn't shine. Bob Webb (JW's father), lisp and all, is very acceptable sounding like an old country singer on his porch singing his heart out on RED SAILS IN THE SUNSET.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Out of the Reach of Tears, November 14, 2009

By 

Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cottonwood Farm (Audio CD)

Jimmy Webb's latest project is a musical family reunion with his sons Christian, Justin & James (The Webb Brothers), his father and (I assume) granddaughters on backing vocals. The set opens with an update of Jimmy's lovely tune "The Highwayman." On the 12-minute title track, Webb's voice is weathered but retains its emotional wallop on the reminiscence, "Out of the reach of tears." The Webb Brothers wrote the powerful "Hollow Victory," "Don't you have everything that you could need? Still you take what's mine from me." The Brothers' "Mercury's in Retrograde" is orchestrated, lush & lovely. Jimmy Webb's "Where the Universes Are" is spun again with his sons taking the vocal lead. The arrangement doesn't sound so different from Jimmy's earlier version, but the lovely melody shines again. The Webb Brothers penned "Old Tin Can" and give a strong performance. Jimmy Webb wrote Christmas songs that appeared on Beach Boy Brian Wilson's holiday album What I Really Want for Christmas. Here we have an upbeat happy "A Snow Covered Christmas," "Breathlessly, we spin & we whirl on a winter carnival ride." It's a sweet happy holiday track. Jimmy's dad sings the closer "Red Sails in the Sunset." "Cottonwood Farm" is a musical family reunion with the sound of celebration & affection giving the disc enduring charm. Enjoy!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A few Webb - the hit maker - songs, some weaker ones by his sons and one nice - but VERY LONG title track, June 29, 2011

By 

Steven I. Ramm "Steve Ramm "Anything Phon... (Phila, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cottonwood Farm (Audio CD)

A few Webb - the hit maker - songs, some weaker ones by his sons and one nice - but VERY LONG title track

As Webb says in his liner notes, he wanted to get his "Family" together for an album and that's what he did, and they are all in the photo on the cover. The "group" sings 3 of Webb's own songs - including the best-known song: "The Highwayman". The "centerpiece" is the title track - which goes on for 12 minutes (!) well-exceeding Webb's "MacArthur Park" (which is not here). Great song - and his father is heard at the end - but not sure how many times you'll play it. The " A Snow Covered Christmas" track seems out of place here. And I just couldn't get into the four songs composed by his sons. The songwriting genes didn't travel down the family tree for me.

So the CD gets just an OK from me. Not bad but not great either. It may be a family affair but I don't think the Webb Brothers have much of a career ahead of them. I only wish there was more of Webb here.

Steve Ramm

"Anything Phonographic"