Customer Reviews

Inches and Miles

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I first came upon the work of singer-songwriter Dave Mallett through Austin's own Rich Brotherton -- he's been performing Dave's 'Ballad of the St. Anne's reel' for many years. I had also heard his 'I knew this place' done by Bok, Muir & Trickett. Both of these songs are here, as are his widely-known 'Garden song' (which is sung so much that many people consider it to be traditional) and many other fine examples of his songwriting skills.

These recordings, all produced originally by Noel Paul Stookey (of Peter, Paul and Mary) and issued on Neworld Records in Maine, are collected here by Flying Fish for us to enjoy in the cd format. Every single song on this collection is excellent. Mallett is a prolific, gifted writer -- over the years he's produced an amazing array of great, memorable tunes. Accompanied here by his acoustic guitar, with help from a great supporting cast of musicians, the songs are given a respectful treatment -- none of them are over-produced, allowing the strength and poetry of these compositions to shine through.

Besides the songs I mentioned above, other standouts (for me) include the opening track 'Fire', a chilling recount of a true story; 'Arthur', a poignant tune which looks at our own times and mourns the lack of a hero like Arthur to set a standard of chivalry and courage; 'Moon upon the left', one of the most beautiful love songs I've ever heard; 'Midnight on the water', with its breathtaking imagery; and 'Phil Brown', one of my favorite Mallett compositions, about a reclusive painter, misjudged and misunderstood by his neighbors.

The original albums were issued between 1977-1980 -- the recordings might not have the clarity of those done in recent years, but there's no denying the artist's craft at work here. Dave Mallett has continued to produce fine recordings in the ensuing years, and his songwriting today is as creative and vital as ever. This collection offers a look at his beginnings, preserving some of the best writing contemporary folk music has to offer.

Dave Mallett still tours regularly -- hear him if you have the chance. You won't regret it.

I came to know Dave Mallett by pure accident, but since then I can't get enough of his music. This CD is a collection of songs from his first three albums. It's the kind of music you can listen to over and over again. His songs are in a way very poetic. It's really worth to listen to the words of the songs! They're just as great as the music! My special favourite is "Arthur", a hauntingly beautiful song about the legend of King Arthur... you can't forget that song anymore!

For those of you who enjoy folk music, this CD is a must for your collection. I listen to it over and over and never get tired of it.

A singer/songwriter not usually given commensurate credit for his writings and performances, Dave presents many original compositions in his usual "DownEast" way. Good stories, musings, and warmth make this one of his better collections.