The Ahern Sessions: 1976-1977

Mary Kay Place

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 8, 2001)
• Original Release Date: May 8, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Raven [Australia]
• ASIN: B00005B53H
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #56,182 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Aussie exclusive two-on-one combines two of the country vocalist's albums, 'Tonite! At the Capri Lounge Loretta Haggers' (1976) & 'Aimin' to Please' (1977) together on one CD. Both albums are on CD for the first time. Featuring vocal contributions from Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Anne Murray & the hit duet with Willie Nelson 'Something To Brag About'. Additional artists include, Rodney Crowell, James Burton, Albert Lee & Leon Russell. Additional tracks include her Top 3 hit 'Baby Boy'. Place is probably best known for her roles in Mary Hartman (she played Loretta Haggers), The Big Chill & Being John Malkovich .

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unfairly obscure country spinoff of TV's Mary Hartman, June 10, 2003

By	hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Raven's 2-fer reissue collects both of actress-singer Mary Kay Place's mid-70s country albums. Place's singing career was a spinoff from the singing career of her character Loretta Haggers on the late-night television soap-opera "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman," and much like earlier TV creations, such as The Monkees, her music greatly transcended the novelty of its origins. This was due, in part, to her incredible musical team h (Brian Ahern, who'd produced numerous hit albums by both Anne Murray and Emmylou Harris, together with the cast of musicians -- including Harris -- who populated his works), but, even more, the success of these records is a reflection of just how good Place could sing.

The debut album, "Tonite! At the Capri Lounge, Loretta Haggers," spun directly from the series, is descended from Place's eccentric TV character, and is tilted towards kitsch. Peaking at #6, the album spun off the #3 single, "Baby Boy," written by Place as a lovesong to her TV alter-ego's older husband, Charlie. Place ramps up her Okie accent for the hicks-night-out "Settin' the Woods on Fire," blending smoothly with the tight harmony backing, fiddle and pedal steel. Her cover of The Louvins' "Get Acquainted Waltz" moves away from the schmaltz, and adds a fine fiddle line from former Dillard, Byron Berline. Loretta Haggers' reputed role model, Dolly Parton, turns up to sing harmony on her own "All I Can Do."

For her second album, Ahern gathered a more stable group of players, including legendary guitarists James Burton and Albert Lee, fiddler Richard Greene and pianist Glen D. Hardin. Place struck up a songwriting relationship with session ace (and Hot Band member, and eventual Patty Loveless producer and husband) Emory Gordy Jr., which resulted in three original songs. Combined with a trio of songs by Rodney Crowell, the sophomore release wasn't as tightly bound to Place's trailer-trash TV character. Highlights include a gospel-tinged take on Crowell's "You Can't Go to Heaven (If You Don't Have a Good Time)", a duet with Willie Nelson on "Something to Brag About," and a delicate, slow take of "Save the Last Dance For Me."

Sadly, Place's second album peaked at #40, and her singing career folded along with it. Still, two solid albums are more than most people produce in a lifetime, and Raven's reissue, with fine liner notes from Glenn A. Baker, provides everyone the chance to keep spinning these impressive sides.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A PLACE in Time, October 11, 2003

By	R. McCoy (Tulsa, OK United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I had recently gone though my stacks of old vinyl albums looking for the two country albums Mary Kay Place recorded in the 70s. Unfortunately, I didn't find them. I was definitely pleased to learn about the Ahern Sessions CD and ordered one immediately. What a treat to hear those songs again! Now if I could just find a DVD with Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman episodes!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mary Kay Place's Odes to Fernwood finally flourishes on CD, May 15, 2001

By	"m09z32" (NY NY) - See all my reviews

Reissued on CD, Mary Kay Place's two country/honky tonk albums make up this must-have compilation. Originally produced in 1976/77 by Brian Ahern during Place's reign as Fernwood's drama plagued country singer 'Loretta Haggers' on "Mary Hartman Mary Hartman", all tracks include some of the finest session musicians and guest artists of the era, including Herb Pederson, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson. The first 10 tracks, culled from "Tonite! At the Capri Lounge, Loretta Haggers" are decidedly tongue-in-cheek, aimed at capitalizing on Place's overnight success in the Norman Lear soap-spoof. The last 10, from '77's follow up "Aimin' to Please", are more sincere, but just as spirited and memorable and they segue well here on CD from the first album's tracks. There's even a surprise hidden track guaranteed to be a laugh for the die-hard fans of hers. Glenn A Baker (who conceived and compiled the CD) has included liner notes which are extensive and give tribute to a remarkable, underappreciated and brief period in the long career of the talented and versatile Mary Kay Place.