Flower of Avalon

Tracy Grammer | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 26, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Signature Sounds
• ASIN: B0007W7HPW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #25,903 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Tracy Grammer and her late partner Dave Carter were one of the most celebrated young acts in folk music. In just four years they released three critically-acclaimed albums, toured with Joan Baez and earned a solid following with their indelible live performances at festivals and venues all across North America. Despite Carter's sudden death in July 2002, Grammer's career as an interpreter and instrumentalist continues. "With the release of Flower Of Avalon, Tracy Grammer begins a new story while continuing to champion the songs of her former partner. While the album features 9 brilliant previously unheard Dave Carter songs, the spotlight is clearly on the gorgeous vocals and instrumental prowess of Tracy Grammer.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honors the spirit of the composer and heralds a new phase, May 8, 2005

By 

Todd I. Stark "Cellular Wetware plus Books" (Philadelphia, Pa USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flower of Avalon (Audio CD)

Dave Carter's unfathomably brilliant talent for rich, unexpectedly compelling lyrics is captured well here by his partner following his tragically early death. The missing voice of the composer is somehow forgotten for just a moment as you get lost in Tracy's own delicious vocal talent. Carter will be deeply missed, but it is somberly reassuring to hear how well Tracy honors his spirit on her own. The music on this album is generally, all considered, as beautiful as anything they played together ... which is saying a lot. The vocal contributions by Mary Chapin Carpenter are subtle and welcome.

The choice of songs is part of the success of this album for me, as it was in Carter and Grammer albums in the past. There is the album's released single, a pleasantly textured traditional style folk song with a civil war resister theme called "Loughlin Boy." Then there are bittersweet love songs with the with the usual Carter and Grammer nuances. Look forward to Tracy's eerily dark interpretation in "Preston Miller," which recounts the fate of a noble's secret illegitimate son. Best of all, there are the unique sort of songs that fans expect, like "mother, I climbed," which only Dave Carter could have written and only Tracy Grammer could have performed so perfectly.

This album both showcases Dave Carter's talent and gives a glimmer of what Tracy Grammer can do on her own, and foreshadows even better things from her in the future to look forward to.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fitting and Moving Tribute, May 1, 2005

By 

D. Yorn (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flower of Avalon (Audio CD)

Give the overwhelming favorable reception to the Dave Carter and Tracy Grammer CDs from Amazon customer reviews, I am surprised nobody has stepped forward to review this one yet.

In any case Tracy's first CD since the loss of Dave is a lovely, fitting and ultimately deeply moving tribute to the gifted songwriting talents of her late partner. From the playful musical vibes of "Phantom Doll," to the sweetly sad (or is that sadly sweet) ruminations of "Gypsy Rose," to the jaunty feel of politically charged "Hey Ho," to the absolutely heartbreaking "Mother, I Climbed" Carter's vision as a songwriter shine through and have no better interpreter than the lovely voice of the lovely Tracy Grammer. Aided by the coproduction of John Jennings and, on two tracks, the vocals of Mary Chapin Carpenter it is difficult to think of a more fitting and moving tribute to Dave Carter than this album which is clearly one of the year's best. It does Dave's talents the justice they deserve and that is no easy accomplishment!

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Singing alone, May 6, 2005

By 

David T. Steere, Jr. (Annapolis, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Flower of Avalon (Audio CD)

How can one do an album of Dave Carter songs without Dave Carter? The sound of his voice has been so much a part of the unmistakable feel of his lyrics. Well, Tracy's done it somehow. Dave Carter's inimitable kind of lyric writing is given full (minus Dave) voice here. It amounts, I guess, to a kind of tribute to him and a very good one. All the songs save one are Dave Carter originals. Tracy does a very fine job of delivering them--even the ones which would have been lead sung by Dave himself--both the slow, mournful Carter songs and the fast, jaunty Carter compositions. Tracy herself does wonderful instrumental work on violin and guitar. Jim Henry plays great dobro and mandolin. Jon Carroll has a way with the piano. John Jennings (Mary Chapin Carpenter's protege) co-produces, plays and sings harmony--as does Mary Chapin herself. It's a wonderful success. You'd know these were Dave Carter songs anywhere. Just two examples of that lyric-writing voice that is so familiar:

"lonesome stranger, won't you share my bed

the sidewalk siren at the bus stop said

love is a tear in a salty bay and it's

hard to make it in this world today."

"my love is like a gypsy rose

wild is the only way he grows

out where the sweet july wind blows

he blooms over yonder."

Tracy deserves a lot of praise for the idea and the carrying through of this project to bring Dave's voice back for all of his fans. Terrific.