Missing Presumed Having Good Time

Notting Hillbillies | Format: Audio CD

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 (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,410 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Railroad Worksong

2. Bewildered

3. Your Own Sweet Way

4. Run Me Down

5. One Way Gal

6. Blues Stay Away from Me

7. Will You Miss Me

8. Please Baby

9. Weapon of Prayer

10. That's Where I Belong

11. Feel Like Going Home

Editorial Reviews

No Description Available
No Track Information Available
Media Type: CD
Artist: NOTTING HILLBILLIES
Title: MISSING-PRESUMED HAVING A GOOD
Street Release Date: 03/06/1990
Domestic
Genre: ROCK/POP

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

83 of 84 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)   

This review is from: Missing Presumed Having Good Time (Audio CD)

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

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

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

By 

Mark D. Smith "mskarmar" (ocean view, de United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Missing Presumed Having Good Time (Audio CD)

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.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Real Sleeper of a CD, February 16, 2000

By 

Doug Card (Ft. Collins, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Missing Presumed Having Good Time (Audio CD)

This is a real sleeper of an album. Don't jump to any conclusions just on the group's name or even the cd's title. Look at the talent. Mark Knopfler, a fine artist, has collected some great musicians who can play guitar and harmonize like they've worked together for years.

"Railroad Worksong," the opening cut, superbly blends soft electric guitars and vocal harmony. The theme, drawn from a typical blues or folk ballad, is one that is easy to relate to regardless of one's occupation: we are ALL "working on the railroad for a dollar a day" and we all "got to get our money, gotta get our pay." I can listen to "Blues Stay Away From Me" everyday as the soft harmony and strong guitar work never fails to mellow and de-stress me. "Please Baby" sounds like a modern electric version of an old folk or blues ballad. "Weapon of Prayer" sounds like like a modern electric version of an old gospel song. The album is full of great harmony, excellent multiple electric guitar work that is soothing and melodic, and shows strong production work. And hats off for including printed lyrics! This is one of my personal favorite albums.