Customer Reviews

Jesse Winchester

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Jesse Winchester is one of those people the whole world should know about but sadly many people aren't familiar with him. Many have heard his songs recorded by other artists, never realizing this is the guy who came up with so many great tunes. This is his best work, the purest record he ever made. Songs range over a broad spectrum, from the light-hearted "Snow" to the dark, ominous "Black Dog". If you want an introduction to this songwriting genius, start here.

Jesse Winchester isn't a household name, by any means. I hunt down good but lesser-known music as a personal hobby, but many people don't have the time to put toward searching for the good music that didn't get big radio play (like Jesse Winchester). On this, his 1970 debut, Winchester proves that a lack of commercial success doesn't always correspond with poor material; this album is typified by superbly-crafted songs, heartfelt singing, and some really enjoyable playing.

Though Winchester's name isn't well-known, two of his collaborators' are: Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm, both of The Band, the flagship band and king of this kind of music back in the early 70's. Winchester was befriended by Robbie Robertson in Canada, where he was living after fleeing the USA to avoid draft into the Vietnam War, which he opposed. Robbie helped Winchester get his music career going (while the Tennessee-born Winchester fed Robertson's obsession with the American South), most especially on this album. Though Robertson lends some of his gnarly, ear-candy lead electric guitar to many of these songs, other than on the co-written "Snow," the songwriting voice is all Winchester.

"Payday," the rocking bluesy opener, kicks the album off with a crash--Robertson's guitar cuts and slices, and Winchester's overdriven vocals really lay out the playfully reckless vibe that the song puts out. This loose, fun attitude returns on a number of other cuts, like the upbeat "That's A Touch I Like" and the tongue-in-cheek innuendo of the album-closing "The Nudge."

There's a far-from-home melancholy feel on many of the songs, perhaps from Winchester's expatriate status; "Biloxi" wistfully recalls the natural beauty and memories of the South. "Yankee Lady" is one of the album's finest cuts, recalling a life-changing love from the past that ended because of the singer's urge to roam, backed with especially appropriate mandolin played by Levon Helm. Like the best songs on the album, Winchester's lyrics merge perfectly with his emotive voice, making the emotional message direct and effective. "The Brand New Tennessee Waltz" is another quality ballad, covered by numerous more famous artists. "Skip Rope Song" is an interesting experiment and change of pace, and the passionate spiritual call of "Quiet About It" is augmented by some of Robertson's most wicked shredding. "Black Dog" is one of the album's most interesting songs, an ominous meditation on the moral separation between man and animal. As the song builds to its peak, the pounding drums sound more like Led Zeppelin than the Band.

In all, Jesse Winchester is a sparkling debut, full of good, idiosyncratic songwriting sung by a unique voice. Robertson's guitar and the rest of the production do make the music sound similar to the Band, so if you're a fan of the Band looking for similar music by other artists, this is a great place to look. Winchester's second album, Third Down, 110 to Go, is equally as good, sounding much more unique due to Robertson's absence, but with the same quality of songwriting and performance. If you're looking to other Band-esqe material with participation by members, check out Bobby Charles, which is similar in style and quality to Jesse Winchester and the Band.

The Band backs up Winchester on his first release. (That alone is enough to earn at least one listen.) The breadth and depth of emotion on this work is broader and deeper than on his others. The music and lyrics can be haunting, dark, and unsettling on "Black Dog". And "Quiet About it": "I have this notion--call it my fear--that I will die alone--and even He won't be there".

He balances this with the joy of a working man's night-on-the- town, "Pay Day": "You make me feel like dancing the night a away!" or the sensual and upbeat "Touch I Like", "The air of flowers when you're near, your eyes are bright and wide and clear, and that's the touch I like".

This could be his best work. Certainly, Winchester has a knack for penning lyrics and combining them with a musical ability that keeps me hopin' for more.

I listened to this album on vinyl in the early 70's, many many times. Cowboy-hippie living in a remote New Mexico high contry snowed in cabin, pot belly stove steaming hot coffee, and loving a Yankee lady. Listening to this album again is a time warp back to a pure and simple time, Vietnam, nothwithstanding. ))

Good stuff! A musical journey beginning in the sometimes mediocre 70's all the way to the excellent "Love's Filling Station".

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Tennesseans ain't known for splitting to Cold Ass, N Amerika and THEN arrogantly whining on Vinyl, 70's developping media; sane or insane enuff to allow a bearded Dixie Spaz like Jesse cut his rug on wayy too late @ nite TV. AND THEN, Lanky, Tan Decently nousished GoddaMN LEFTIES of Bra-less wimmen and some DemocratDemigawker like the ACTUAL AMERICAN SAMPLING/cURRENT ENE4RGY was, nOT wASN'T rIGHTIES, i WUZ THERE AND WHE3RETH hELL WERE u? tHE "THOZE GAHS LET jw'S southncracka ass to relocate in a Motel near the MTS Trolley. Like al those "primitive campers" you see out there NOW!.

"I doan' noe that Blackdoag's name\

when ah calls him hedoan' come.

how'd I eva git that Black dog, Lawwwwwg\

Ah sho' nevah wantid 'un!"

***MASTERWORK***learnta love it!

How do I get your attention - those who don't know Jesse Winchester? Because you should, and this might be his best album. For me, his first two albums are among the handful that endure from the late 60s, early 70s - it is a short list: The first 2 albums by The Band; There Goes Rhymin' Simon by Paul Simon; Stevie Wonder's first two albums; Randy Newman's Good Ol' Boys; Moondance by Van Morrison... and Jesse Winchester's first two albums.

He writes wonderfully listenable music AND many of his songs have the most heartful, wise lyrics you will hear anywhere. Robbie Robertson produced and played guitar on the first record, and Amos Garrett played on the second - He attracted good musicians. (btw, there are some wonderful tracks on his more recent Gentleman of Liesure, too)

Mr Winchester is probably the finest songwriter of all time. A very understated musician. One of the best.

I first discovered this album in the early '70s. Robbie Robertson of the band had connected with singer/songwriter Jessie Winchester on his way to years of expatriate life in Canada when he could not, in good conscience, serve in Vietnam. Winchester's sad flight from the U.S. authorities and his homesickness for his beloved Southern homeland is the subject of much of the beautiful music in this most unusual album. It is gentle, acoustic music, part folk, part country, part soft-rock. The CD edition is a good clean representation of the original sound of the album. Winchester, like most original stylists, might not appeal to a lot of listeners, but he is a serious artist who has crafted many a great melody with wonderfully atmospheric and intriguing lyrics. If he is new to you, play this album through a few times before passing judgement on it. You will likely become deeply attached to its very special charm.

I bought this album back in 1970 on the recommendation of a friend (and the intriguing photo of Jesse on the cover), and immediately fell in love with it. From the hard-edge bluesy Payday, to the ominous, almost sensuous, Black Dog, every song, every note, every word is right on the mark. Biloxi is gorgeous, his deep, wistful voice reaching right down into your soul. The oft-covered Brand New Tennessee Waltz, is a classic, bright and bouncy yet somber, though my favorite is Yankee Lady, "...making love all night and playing guitar all day." If you're new to Jesse, this is the album to start with, though all his albums (all of which I have) are excellent. Don't buy "Defying Gravity" (on which his name is misspelled) or "Live" though, because they're both illegal bootlegs. In Jesse's own words: "There are now two illegal CDs of my music being sold publicly, blatantly. I'm like you, dear reader - always looking for the best in people, slow to believe the worst - but the crooks who do this threaten to impede my spiritual progress. They undermine my childlike, trusting nature. One CD is titled "Defying Gravity", peddled by a company called AIM. They add to the insult by misspelling my name on the cover. The other CD, released just recently on the Acrobat label, is titled "Live" (not to be confused with "Live from Mountain Stage" on the Blue Plate label, which is legitimate and, of course, sublime). Both CDs are of very poor quality, so you'll be missing nothing if you refuse to reward thievery by buying them. I told the people selling these things - Amazon, Barnes and Noble and others - that I'm disappointed in them, that they're hastening the end of civilization, opening the gates to the Visigoths, but they were "like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear." Perhaps one day AIM and Acrobat and Amazon, and others who would steal from a childlike, trusting songwriter, will see the mills of the gods in action - how they "grind slow, but they grind exceeding small." Something to look forward to. JW"