Customer Reviews

Larry Jon Wilson

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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I've known and watched and listened to this talent for over 5 decades, and I can honestly say there is no one better at what he does, because no one else does it. He is truly one-of-a-kind. The fact that he is so admired and respected by other noteworthy musicians and songwriters is testament enough. And the fact that he chose obscurity rather than fame and fortune which were there for him pick is validation of his love for the music, not the musician. When he and that Martin get together, it is the most moving experience in a persons life. I have been lucky enough to be around him when he is "creating", and that too is a moving experience watching the lyrics and guitar merge into true genius.

I highly recommend this album --- his return after 28 years---- to anyone who wants a piece of musical history. Trust me, but to tell the truth, I'm not going to buy it. You see, HE IS MY BROTHER, and I got my signed, personalized copies for my library and historical keepsakes just this week. You can't go wrong, and your appreciation for genius will be expanded.

Billy Joe Wilson

LCDR, USN,( Ret)

Ridgecrest, CA

After 28 years finally we have the fifth Larry Jon Wilson record! Larry Jon who? some might ask. In the 2nd half of the 1970s this man had 4 great records out on Monument: New Beginnings, Let Me Sing My Song To You, Loose Change und Sojourner, and he appeared in the movie Heartworn Highways, in the studio recording the self-penned Ohooppee River Bottomland, a funky-grooving Southern-BluesRockSoulCountry-Song.

And that was his "problem" career-wise: Too much talent, too versatile, he couldn't be put in no drawer and he couldn't be marketed. Kind of like a Charlie Rich, if Charlie had never been turned into the Silver Fox and sold out musically for success. For Larry it was no success, no compromises, and so he stayed obscure, a mostly hidden musical treasure, and played solo live gigs whenever he wanted or when he needed the money.

Friends and contemporaries like Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Billy Joe Shaver, Mickey Newberry/Newbury, Kris Kristofferson and Tony Joe White might have urged him to record again, but he lived relatively obscure in Augusta, Georgia, doing voice-overs and occasional live gigs.

At the beginning of the new millenium 2 of his 70s songs appeared on the great samplers Country Got Soul, Volume 1 und 2, and 2 new ones, Sapelo und Friday Night Fight At Al's, on the Dan Penn produced The Country Soul Revue - Testifying.

Finally in 2007 some dedicated boy scouts from the UK dug him out and this great down-to-earth cd, Larry Jon Wilson, was recorded over 10 days in a 15th floor-condo in Florida. The 70s funk and production is gone, but that's not a bad thing. With his gracefully aged bass voice, Larry Jon sings, growls, suffers, loves, through 10 songs and two trilogies, with just his accoustic guitar and some touches violin.

Own compositions like Shoulders, Me With No You, Throw My Hands Up, Where From are mixed with songs by his best friend probably, Mickey Newberry, and guys like Dave Loggins, Stuart Wright and Bob Dylan/Willie Nelson's Farm Aid classic Heartland. All songs are live in the studio/condo, first takes and all are connected, not only by the (mostly) great lyrics, always soulful performance and the puristic arrangement (none), but by Larry's warmheartedness, compassion and 68 years of wisdom.

If you liked Johnny Cashs American Recordings 1 - 5 or Kris Kristoffersons This Old Road, you will certainly love this one here.

Highly recommended!!!

American Recordings

This Old Road

Heartworn Highways

"Larry Jon Wilson" is Larry Jon Wilson's first album in nearly 30 years. Where has Larry Jon been for the last 30 years and why would he choose to release an album now? Larry Jon Wilson quit the music business in 1980 but continued to perform and write new material. Upon the urging of some new friends to record an album, Larry Jon Wilson conceded and the results are laid out on "Larry Jon Wilson."

A lot has changed in the 30 years since Wilson last recorded, but not the directness and openness of his worldview. Larry Jon Wilson sings of whores, losers, growing old and unrequited love on his self-titled album, which was recorded in a Florida condominium with assistance from the Black Swans' Jerry DeCicca and Jeb Loy Nichols. The recording is spare and the mood is somewhat somber and often times comparable to the style used by Johnny Cash on his American Recordings album. To help flesh out the songs a bit, Larry Jon Wilson received accompaniment via the late Noel Sayre who overdubbed his violin nuances to the songs.

Wilson's style of guitar playing is quiet and mostly finger picked which never becomes too busy or comes before Wilson's hearty baritone. "Shoulders" opens the album demonstrating Wilson's wordplay and fret board prowess. Conversely, Wilson also tackles Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson's "Heartland" adding a deeper resonance to the plight of the American farmer in these troubled times. Album standouts include the take on Stuart Wright and Mickey Newbury's "Losers Trilogy" and the sentimental "Me With No You." "Whore Trilogy' could be seen as a further examination of the losers that Wilson is fond of but it never feels trite or exploitative. As the album closes on the dire "Where From" Wilson ruminates on the security of relationships past and present as it closes he mentions "It's not a marshmallow song."

"Larry Jon Wilson" is a strong album from a talent that has remained dormant for too long. It's not necessarily a comeback as Wilson would likely state that he hasn't gone anywhere, we're just lucky to have found him.

Larry Jon Wilson's new album confirms what a handful of people have known for a long time. Wilson may very well be the most-talented, least appreciated artist performing today. His albums "New Beginnings" and "Let Me Sing My Song to You" are every bit as essential albums as Guy Clark's Old No. 1 Townes Van Zandt's Live at the Old Quarter, Houston, Texas or Billy Joe Shaver's Old Five and Dimers Like Me Unlike the previous three albums, alas, Larry Jon Wilson's albums are difficult to find on LP and almost impossible to find on CD. (One British CD can be found but it is both elusive and expensive.) For the past two years, I have been clinging to Larry Jon Wilson songs wherever I might find them. At one point, I held a tape player to my computer speakers capturing poorly-recorded Youtube videos on tape. Eventually, I found all of his LPs but his work is that difficult to obtain. I wish to encourage the people who hold the rights to Larry Jon's work to release a high-quality anthology of his material. There are more than enough songs worthy of such an anthology: "Ohoopee River Bottomland," "Canoochee Rivisited", "Things Ain't What They Used to Be (And Probably Never Was)" "New Beginnings" "Betcha Heaven's On a Dirt Road" "Sapelo" "Sheldon Churchyard" "The Truth Ain't In You" "Willoughby Grove" and many, many more.

So now after almost thirty years, Wilson has chosen to release another album and he is right to do so. It is a sparse, intimate album, only adorned by a tasteful violin in places. One can hear his fingers race across the guitar strings. His deep, resonate voice envelopes the listener in pleasures such as "Loser's Trilogy" and "Where From." I can't recommend this album more. I don't know what spurred this latter-day gift of an album from Larry Jon, but I am glad he has chosen to share another batch of songs with the world. After you listen to this album, you'll want to listen to more Larry Jon Wilson. And if your lucky, you just might be able to find more.