Customer Reviews

Tom Rush

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This album changed my life. On this album Tom opended me up to James Taylor and Jackson Browne. The very beginning of 'Lost My Drivin' Wheel' still makes me melt. This album has always been about life changes - from the guy who is trying to get back to a lover, to the woman who came home to watch her father die, to the old man. Tom does the best version of Jackson's brilliant 'These Days' ever recorded. But the crowning jewel is 'Child's Song'. What a gift that song has been througout my life. Now, as my kids start to get at the age where they 'must find their own road now to follow', this song continues to move and inspire. We laid in bed the other night listening to Tom sing this, and thought about our kids and were hushed and stunned. Thanks, Tom, for interpretations and music that only you can do.

No one is a more masterful or powerful interpreter of other artists' music than Tom Rush. In this album he showcases these talents to advantage from the opening bars of his signature "Driving Wheel" to "Drop Down Mama" to the subtly ironic "Living In The Country". He is at his best with songs like Jackson's Browne's "These Days" or "Colors Of The Sun", and I have always loved his version of "Child's Song" as well as "old Man's Song". He is the only one other than James Taylor that I like to hear sing Taylor songs, and his version of "Rainy Day Man" is really quite different from Taylor's. Rush has a voice and guitar style that's distinct, well developed, and always used to performing advantage. Trevor Veitch, a wonderful acoustic and electric guitarist, backs him here and the arrangements help to make this a classic folk album. Try this one out, folks; I think you will wind up agreeing it is a keeper, and a nice alternative to all that trash now on your local FM station. Ah, remember when FM rocked? Enjoy!

I have been looking to acquire this on CD for a long time and although I became aware awhile ago that it had indeed been released in that format, I was unable to find a copy in stock anywhere. Frankly, I was somewhat surprised to find it in stock at a major chain last night and I take it as a positive sign. (Though I did have to reserve it (the last one) at another location -- the only branch in my area that had it on hand). My old vinyl album remains -- and always will -- well-worn and in my possession, but the CD is a must have for me as well. Actually, the vinyl is my ex's but it's staying with me even tho' I do owe her a big one for introducing me to Tom and this album. That personal aspect lends this album a bit of a "Blood On The Tracks" flavor for me. Then again, that's really what the album is all about -- at one level or another -- for everyone. It goes without saying that it rates a minimum of 4 stars for anyone who has ever given any serious thought to the subject matter included here, and more than that the deeper you've delved. I wasn't going to review it because it doesn't need further review beyond what some of those who have preceded me have said, particularly those that gave it the full 5 stars it so richly deserves, but here I am to register my vote.

This album is the definitive Tom Rush for me because it marks his transition from folk/blues to something more difficult to categorize -- another Dylan trademark. But whatever it is, it touches the heart and soul like nothing else. It has true staying power and timeliness because of the richness of the material and the beauty of the performances by one of the best of the genre. 5 stars in 1970 and 5 more 33 years thence.

This album has been a favorite of mine since it came out in 1970- it's a rainy day, sad, nostalgia thing now - still love "These Days" :)

Tom has a deep and soulful voice, but his music rocks. You might think he was a folk artist, and once he was, but you can't tell it from this albumn.

Nice to be back at McCabe's after a absence of about one year, but what a great concert to come back to. TOM RUSH performed his signature songs with GENUINE passion, along with new music and his unforgettable sense of humor to a mostly sold out audience at the legendary McCabe Music Shop in Santa Monica. He had laid out four different guitars, and used each one during the two hour concert - his reasoning was "I didn't have to fly to get here!!" (He recently moved up the road to Monticito, near Santa Barbara). During the first set he refreshed concertgoers the story of him and Joni Mitchell meeting for the first time in Detroit in '68 - up to the recent concert at Carnegie Hall (Rush performed at the Joni Mitchell tribute concert) which led up to his acoustic performance of "The Circle Game" - wonderful. His humor kept us in stitches, including his family life (I have a son in college - please buy my CD's - keep him in school!!) to his various residences across the country, from his humble beginnings in New Hampshire (In Concord, everything is so simple - for example, there is a mental hospital - on Fruit Street) to Wyoming (Woke up one Sunday morning hearing explosions - called to find out the authorities were blowing up dead cattle with TNT!!) We were laughing out loud!!! During the second set he played songs like "Child's Song" "These Days" and in my opinion the best 'live' performance of "Galveston Flood" -my favorite Tom Rush song (I'm biased, OK) - sitting down with the guitar in his lap. Very passionate and his unforgettable voice shining through the small concert hall. He finished with a cover of a classic blues-rock tune, Tell Me - Who Do You LOVE?!? After the concert, I thanked him for performing such a great concert and playing 'Galveston Flood' and had him sign my copy of this album with the inscription "To Joe, Tom Rush 3/25/06". Thanks Tom!!! See you again at McCabe's - don't take two years either...Now that you live 90 mins away =) Peace - Joe G

This album has wonderful interpretations of solid , but at the time unknow songs. From Carole King, Jackson Browne,Jesse Colin Young,Danny Whitten, James Taylor and Murray McLaughlin. Old Mans Song and Child's Song from Murray McLaughlin are beautiful, and sentitive song scultures that make you feel things emotional when listenting. Tom Rush first introduced us to the song writing talents of Jackson Browne-These days.Lost My Driven Wheel shows us what a terrible lost from a gifted songwriter and muscian, Danny Whitten.

one of my favorite musicians. tom rush
sings and plays with nuanced emotion better
than most. child's song and old man's song
are examples. understated musicianship. seldom
encountered in mainstream music. this recording
is a classic.

This "33 1/3" helped me leave home peacefully. When everyone was smashing guitars and going deaf, Tom Rush was and is a soothing wind. This was the first time I had a concept of "Old Soul".
This is truly a 2 doobie recording. Tom is the kid, he's daddy, he's an old blues man, he's your best buddy, and he's you.
This has always been and shall remain on my Island 10 list, a sweet, exquisite experience of The Voice.

I was a teenager when this album came out and I remember my older sister playing it quite a bit, so I got to know the LP very well! Whenever she would go out I would sneak over to her record collection and play this. The songs are so pure and simple and sung with such conviction and joy, in a hushed and quilt-covered voice that could only be Tom Rush. I also remember my sister and her boyfriend at the time going to see Tom Rush in coffee houses in Cambridge, Mass., (where I believe Tom is from originally). She would talk of the "softspoken man with the moustache and acoustic guitar." Of course, I was too young to go to any clubs so I was content to listen to his music on LP. My absolute favorite song has got to be "Drivin' Wheel". It evokes memories of snow, snow and SNOW of our bitter New England winters here. I loved this album so much that when my sister was moving out, I secretly stole it from her! I know, how awful -- ha ha! But then a few years later I found it on cassette, and just recently, saw it on CD at Amazon so I scooped it up. This is definately a good listen when you just want to unwind and close your eyes with a glass of wine. Highly recommended!