Customer Reviews

True Love & Other Short Stories

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July 16, 1992.

That's the date I first discovered Pat Alger.

I had bought tickets for an Everly Brothers concert at the Temple Theatre in Tacoma, Washington. A guy named Pat Alger was the opening act.

My bet was he'd be an unknown singer playing forgettable songs...boy was I wrong!

As he went through his song list, I found myself saying

...hey...wait...that's one of my favorite Kathy Mattea songs...

...hey...that's one of my favorite Nancy Giffith songs...

...that's one of my favorite Hal Ketchum songs!

With a simple style and a skill for storytelling, Alger weaves together stories, images and music that are enjoyable, vivid and memorable.

Like other singer/songwriters--Jimmy Webb, Steve Goodman, Leiber & Stoller--my sense is that Pat Alger is often the Man Behind the Curtain in the Musical Land of Oz.

But for that one night in Tacoma, I'm glad he came out from behind his songwriting curtain, so I could get a glimpse of Pat Alger, performer.

It was a great performance, indeed...one that convinced me to buy this impressive CD.

A writer of songs for many of folk music and country's elite, Alger delivers his tunes in an even more infectious way himself. Alger is one of the singer-songwriters who can write a song with a hook that can become a hit, but which never sounds cliched. The perfect example is "Once in a Blue Moon", which Nancy Griffith has made famous but which comes across much better in Alger's low key styling. Great songs from a fabulous talent.

Pat Alger is one of the best songwriters for Country/Folk/Pop music. His songs tell realistic stories about everyday people. The melodies are flowing and clear. Songs like 'true love' and 'She Came From Ft. Worth' are gems. I enjoy this cd quite a bit!