Missing...Presumed Having a Good Time

Notting Hillbillies

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 22, 1990)
• Original Release Date: March 6, 1990
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000002LKU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,103 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As comfortable and professional as blue folk music can get, June 5, 2001

By	Scott White (Ontario, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As other reviewers have written here, this is one that will grow on you. The Notting Hillbillies are Mark Knopfler, Steve Phillips, Guy Fletcher, and Brendan Croker. Fletcher plays piano, the others are guitarists. Paul Franklin is credited for pedal steel guitar, but doesn't rate a photo on the cover. Bass and drums appear on many of the songs, but no musician is credited. Knopfler is the only one of these guys I know of in any other context. The strength of the album, for me, is the beautiful guitar work, and slow easy but always tight rhythmns.

The album is a collection of traditionals & classics arranged by the band, and some originals (only one by Knopfler). Musical styles vary from one song to the next, but the album as a whole has a bluesy folksy sound to it that just can't be beat. Vocals are mostly handled by Knopfler's 3 band mates (he sings his own composition, "Your Own Sweet Way" and harmonizes on some others); I can't recognize who is who, but the voices are excellent and fit perfectly into this music. Some of the songs feature nice harmonies.

A bit about a few of the songs: "Railroad worksong" is a traditional, with a bit of a bluegrass feel (including banjo); acoustic guitar, pedal steel, and Knopfler's unmistakable electric lead weaving softly through it. "One Way Gal" has a subdued calypso sound, with acoustic (?) slide and electric guitar. The singer reminds me of Levon Helm of The Band. "Run Me Down" has a Texas swing sound that will remind you of Bob Wills. "Will You Miss Me" is as near to a country song as any of these tracks; the vocal is excellent and it's a nice understated arrangement. "Please Baby" is a soft ballad that evokes Jimmie Rodgers's "Miss the Mississippi and You." My favorite cut is the last one, "Feel Like Going Home" (Charlie Rich compos.), which again features the guy who reminds me of Levon Helm. It's backed by simple guitar, soft strings and drums, with a nice electric guitar interlude by Knopfler. A wonderful vocal.

Play this one Sunday morning while the coffee is brewing and you're wondering whether you're in the mood to make an omelete or just open the cereal box. I don't have an album that I enjoy more.

Postscript added Aug 2001: I've since figured out that Guy Fletcher was a member of Dire Straits. Brendan Croker has a few solo albums out (I bought and enjoy very much a compilation album, "not just a hillbilly"). I can't find any recordings by Steve Phillips, but I'd sure like to. And, how on earth did I miss pointing out that the title, "Notting Hillbillies," is a nice nod to the Kinks and their old album, "Muswell Hillbillies"? -SW

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why don't you have this cd?, August 20, 2001

By	"mskarmar" (ocean view, de United States) - See all my reviews

Mark Knopfler's beautifully restrained guitar sketches send this traditionalist/blues/folk album over the top to a must have cd. This is a cd that you come back to and it stays in rotation for awhile, but each time you come back to it, you wonder why you haven't listened to it for some time. It is a beautiful Sunday morning,late night working background, candlelight dinner music (ie, anytime is the right time for Notting Hillbillies).Knopfler doesn't sing on every song, but his voice and guitar are what ties the traditional songs together to form a complete musical atmosphere. Go missing, and have a good time listening to this understated, smooth masterpiece.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than expected, April 23, 2004

By	Smallchief - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Take four Brits who call themselves "The Notting Hillbillies" and you'd expect a parody of American country music or -- worse -- slavish imitation. Not so with The Notting Hillbillies; they've made a CD that's dignified and classy and country-tinged. This is a CD that is original enough to listen to over and over.

I especially liked the first and last songs on the CD. "Railway Worksong" features extraordinary bluegrass banjo, guitar, and steel guitar runs and a strong vocal. I would assume that most of the fancy guitar work is by Mark Knopfler. The steel guitar is played by an American, Paul Franklin, who's as good as they come. The second great song is "Feels like Going Home" which is bluesy and sung a bit like a hybrid of Joe Cocker and Van Morrison. The notes to the CD, unfortunately, don't identify which of the Notting Hillbillies is the lead singer of these two songs.