Customer Reviews

Moments From This Theater

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Some of the greatest songs ever written. I mean, "Memphis women and chicken" - doesn't that say it all? And, "Dark End of the Street" - if that song cut any deeper, you'd have to have a transfusion to listen to it...

Beautiful, spare versions by the songwriters - it doesn't get any more heartfelt and direct.

And, if "Old Folks" doesn't make you a little misty, you should check your ticker - it might be missing.

I was fortunate enough to see Dan Penn perform solo (opening act for the brilliant Hacienda Brothers) in a small club in Philadelphia last night, and he held the audience completely spellbound for his entire set. Penn has written several heartfelt and soulful songs over the years (many are hidden gems), and his guitar talent and vocal abilities are very touching and bring out the best in each song. Several of the songs on this CD with Spooner Oldham were played by Penn last night, and they were all terrific ... some touching and some funny ... and all played with his total heart and soul with such natural ease. My favorites from this CD with Spooner Oldham that Penn played solo last night were the tender and romantic "I'm Your Puppet", the upbeat "I Met Her In Church", the heartaching song "It Tears Me Up", the sensitive and touching tribute to seniors "Ol' Folks", and the downright funny "Memphis Women & Chicken" which contains clever and comical lyrics. I was deeply impressed by Dan Penn, and consider him to be a brilliant songwriter and underrated and naturally gifted performer. Needless to say, I am buying this CD now!

Soul music knows no greater friends than Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham. The wrenching vocal on 'It Tears Me Up' does exactly that, while the spare arrangements lend a poignancy to these songs that is missing from the more famous versions. This is music to break up/make up/make love by. I toyed with the idea of buying this CD for a long time before buying it. Shame on me! I won't be dithering about buying anything else these two have done, I got the plastic out and ready!

Like Jimmy Webb, Dan Penn will never get the credit he deserves. But unlike Webb, Penn's are the best interpretations of his own songs. This is in part because he sings like David Hidalgo. But unfortunately R&B writers of his era were confined to Tin Pan Alley songsmithing--even after rock went through its singer-songwriter era, when writing and performing merged. If not for this, Penn might have been the soul version of Dylan. Rather than feel bad for him, think how tough it must have been for the singer listening to his demos with an ear toward re-recording them. Final versions are canned and dispassionate compared to Penn's.

This live album is played on two instruments, so it's mellow. For more fleshed-out versions, buy "Do Right Man." Both are great--especially for dinner parties and good-vibe evenings at home.

The songwriters touring Ireland and blowing away the peeps. Some amazing songs , done by the original writers.Not always a good thing...this is a GREAT thing.LIve like music should be always.

These songwriter-singers (it's reversed in their case) have written for or been covered by Aretha Franklin, Percy Sledge, The Box Tops, James Carr, Otis Redding, Janis Joplin, James and Bobby Purify... and the list goes on. Find out what these folks saw in this songwriting team. The record comes across as a new genre: Soul-folk or, better, acoustic soul, with the emphasis on soulfulness. Accompaniments are modest (acoustic guitar and keyboards), and the effect is as warm and intimate as the writing. If you like any of the above listed performers or recognize and like the songs, you'll probably love this CD. Other similar music that, if you like it, might mean you like this: Dylan of Nashville Skyline or Blood on the Tracks periods, Van Morrison, Al Green, The Beatles' most gentle tracks from Help!, Rubber Soul, [added: Revolver], the White Album, Let It Be or Abby Road, Niel Young from Harvest or Comes a Time, and maybe Carol King from Tapestry. Enough said. --mbazin

Great soul music reduced to its simplest form. Penn and Oldham make personal statements of some of their best known compositions, and there isn't a false note in the performances. Honest, heartfelt, and dramatic.