Ollabelle

Ollabelle

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 9, 2004)
• Original Release Date: March 9, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• Copy Protected
• ASIN: B0001I2CE8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #40,150 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Ollabelle are a six-person, New York City-based band that celebrates rural American roots music, as well as the joys of group singing. What started as a side project became a bona fide group, named in honor of country singer and songwriter Ola Belle Reed. They mix traditional songs (including "Jesus on the Mainline," "Soul of a Man," and "John the Revelator") with originals, the latter sounding every bit as timeless as the former. Lead singer Amy Helm has had no shortage of exposure to honest music, her father being Levon Helm of the Band. The rest of the band includes singing instrumentalists with varied but nicely overlapping backgrounds. While a number of the songs wrap themselves in spare and acoustic simplicity, they also embrace the more urban bearing of unobtrusively electric blues and funky gospel. Singing over a pulsing rhythm section or an organ-based combo, Helm sounds strikingly (and surprisingly) like Julie Driscoll (later Tippett), who fronted Trinity with Brian Auger in the 1960s. This debut is post-Harry Smith, post-Alan Lomax music at its finest. --David Greenberger

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In the Mix, June 13, 2004

By	Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The elements of gospel, folk, and country music are all present in Ollabelle's debut CD. It's their original mix of these elements that makes this disc so instantly appealing. Named after country singer Ola Belle Reed, the band has Amy Helm, daughter of the Band's Levon Helm, and Australian Fiona McBain doing lead vocals on my favorite track "Elijah Rock." The traditional tune takes on a smoky slinky power with Jimi Zhivago's tasty electric lead guitar stinging periodically.

My other favorite is the Mick Jagger/Keith Richards penned song "I Am Waiting" that the Rolling Stones did on their 1966 "Aftermath" LP. It was on one of the first albums I ever bought, "...I Can Remember Everything," a 1968 set on Parrot by Jennifer Warnes when she was still only billed as "Jennifer." Almost 40 years later, it now sounds like a haunting anthem.

Some of their other selections also have a bit of history to them. "Jesus On the Mainline" first reached my ears via Ry Cooder's 1974 "Paradise & Lunch" LP. A couple other versions by the Alabama State Troopers, a Don Nix project, in 1972 and Anders Osborne's "Live at Tipitina's" set have been good. Ollabelle's version with Glenn Patscha on lead vocals gets an impassioned gospel feel, probably the most moving version I've heard.

"John the Revelator" is a layered mix as if we're viewing John trying to decipher the messages of Revelations through Ollabelle's dense guitars. The other recordings I have of this [Leroy Parnell & the Fairfield 4, Roger McGuinn ("Treasures from the Folk Den" 2001) and John Mellencamp (Truth No More 2003)] show that Ollabelle have a unique approach to their material.

"Soul of a Man" is another passionate jewel with Amy Helm's lead vocals and Levon Helm's drums giving a stately march-like quality. Maria Muldaur also did this on her wonderful traditional set "Richland Woman Blues."

Ollabelle originals fit seamlessly into the set such as the powerful "Get Back Temptation," "Through the valley I have walked for a thousand thousand days." This is a gloriously original set you will not want to miss! Bravo!

42 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fine as fine can be, March 16, 2004

By	Jerome Clark (Canby, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

A rather breathtaking recording this is, mostly spirituals traditional and modern, performed by young singers who sound much older than their years and set to tasteful, lean, but unmistakably modern musical settings. If this doesn't move you to your toenails, you may already be dead.

In a broad sense Ollabelle's sensibility is something like what Ry Cooder's was in the 1970s, when he was reimagining and reinventing American roots music. And I say that not just because Cooder also covered "Jesus on the Mainline." If you miss that sort of approach -- I know I do -- you will love what's going on here. But then I'm sure you will love it even if all you know about Cooder is that he went to Cuba a few years ago to record some old guys.

Ollabelle is a branch of the true vine. The wine is fine as fine can be.

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ollabelle is what grace probably sounds like., April 1, 2004

By A Customer

I bought the CD after hearing the piece on NPR about the group and that Amy Helm was the daughter of Levon Helm. The music of The Band and Levon's voice, understanding, and regard for the heart of what is true music was something that sustained me throughout my younger years and something I long for as I get older. Sadly, there has been nothing like it since and I doubt there ever will. But listen to Amy's voice on this CD. Listen to the way this group of artists (all who could probably be successful as individuals) work together to make you believe the song and you will be rewarded. When a group of talented, sincere artists are able to not only work together but also bring out something more from the other, a little bit of magic is created. I don't catorgorize music like "rock", "folk", "gospel". I listen for honesty, soul, and something that probably has no name but will make me stop what I'm doing and pay attention. It's a rare thing these days. Listen to "Two Steps" and you'll know what I mean.