In My Own Time [Original recording remastered]

Karen Dalton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 7, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 1971
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Light in the Attic
• ASIN: B000IHY146
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,985 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The late Karen Dalton has been the muse for countless folk rock geniuses, from Bob Dylan to Devendra Banhart, from Lucinda Williams to Joanna Newsom. Legendary singer Lacy J. Dalton actually adopted her hero s surname as her own when she started her career in country music. Karen Dalton had that affect on people - her timeless, aching, blues-soaked, Native American spirit inspired both Dylan & The Band s 'Katie s Been Gone' (on The Basement Tapes) and Nick Cave s 'When I First Came To Town' (from Henry s Dream). Recorded over a six month period in 1970/71 at Bearsville, In My Own Time was Dalton s only fully planned and realized studio album. The material was carefully selected and crafted for her by producer/musician Harvey Brooks, the Renaissance man of rock-jazz who played bass on Dylan s Highway 61 Revisited and Miles Bitches Brew. It features ten songs that reflected Dalton s incredible ability to break just about anybody s heart - from her spectral evocation of Joe Tate s 'One Night of Love', to the dark tragedy of the traditional 'Katie Cruel'. Known as a great interpreter of choice material, Dalton could master both country and soul genres with hauntingly pining covers of George Jones 'Take Me' and Holland-Dozier Holland s 'How Sweet It Is'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't wait--buy this album now!, November 20, 2006

By 

Elliot Knapp (Seattle, Washington United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In My Own Time (Audio CD)

Karen Dalton's second and final album, "In My Own Time," has finally been released on November 7th, 2006--35 years after it was cut on vinyl. Once you listen to it, you'll understand why this is an outrage.

Simply put, Dalton has one of the most complex, emotive voices I've ever heard. It's something about the way it comes out of her--the listener can hear at least three different timbres in Dalton's voice: from the whispered, muffled breath that gives the singer her inimitable languid time, to the aching, trebly brunt of her sound to a more hidden harmonic resonance that lingers behind every word, Dalton has one of the most unique styles I've ever had the pleasure of listening to.

The song choice is excellent--her unique way of singing, timing and phrasing completely transforms familiar tunes like "When a Man Loves a Woman" and Richard Manuel's "In A Station," and "How Sweet it Is" giving them entirely new meanings and making them Dalton's own. Every song is completely enchanting, and even though the chord structures and instrumentation are familiar, Dalton takes the music to a completely different place.

The backing instrumentation is great--Dylan's early bassist is along for the ride, the electric guitar is fluid, lively and interesting in its own right, and Dalton's banjo brings some cuts a dark, country feel, adding to the album's stylistic diversity.

This album is recommended for fans of folk, blues and jazz (yes, Dalton has been compared to Holliday, but she's in a register all her own), and anyone who appreciates a unique voice. Sure, it's laid back music, but if you let yourself get into the words and emotions, there's energy there that even the loudest music can't equal. Once you're hooked on Dalton's voice, check out her lesser classic, It's So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You The Best.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the right setting for this diamond..., September 29, 2007

By 

Straw Man (NY, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In My Own Time (Audio CD)

Please forgive the nay-saying, because I absolutely love Karen Dalton. I don't blame her for this misconceived effort, because it's clear that there was a production decision to give her the full Woodstock/LA 1970s pop funkmeister treatment. But one size most certainly does not fit all. The slick production doesn't work with her otherworldly voice. The production has a trivializing effect that taints about 3/4 of the tracks here, against which the sparser tracks like "Katie Cruel" and "Same Old Man" shine in comparison.

I don't think it's just hindsight that indicts this production; Joe Boyd produced records in the same era that (a) did the artists real justice, and (b) still hold up today. Sorry Harvey, but I wish we could have seen what Joe Boyd would do with Karen Dalton.

If you like Karen Dalton, go with her first album, "It's So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You The Best." Or cherry-pick the best cuts from this one and leave the desecration of "How Sweet It Is" for James Taylor.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great singer, May 25, 2007

By 

alexander laurence (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In My Own Time (Audio CD)

Karen Dalton is a name that could have been forgotten. You hear about her a little in the Bob Dylan biographies. Then you would hear people like Nick Cave and Devendra Banhart talking about her. This is an amazing album. It first came out in 1971. It kind of reminds me when I was listening to a lot of Candi Staton a few years ago. Dalton has a great voice. Blues and gospel influence it. "Something On Your Mind" is just an amazing song. The chord changes are mind-blowing. Dalton also does a few songs that have been popularized by others, such as "When A Man Loves A Women" and "How Sweet It Is." She really puts her own stamp on them. She sings like a blues singer but the music is mostly like folk rock. "Katie Cruel" was a big influence on Nick Cave. The opening to "In A Station" is so great and evocative. The band sounds like it goes through ten different instruments. There is a great banjo sound on "Same Old Man." The song "One Night Of Love" sounds very modern. This is a great album of ten solid tunes. This is definitely a big deal.