Let's Leave This Town

Chip Taylor

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 3, 2002)
• Original Release Date: September 3, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Texas Music Group
• ASIN: B00006HICJ
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #180,775 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Chip Taylor, the writer of "Wild Thing" and "Angel of the Morning," abandoned his musical career in the '80s to take up professional gambling. Returning in the '90s, he has taken a stripped-down, rootsy approach across a series of sharp releases. This largely acoustic outing of duets with singer-fiddler Carrie Rodriguez proves again that his hiatus hasn't hurt his songwriting: "Sweet Tequila Blues," "Him Who Saved Me," and the title tune stand with his best work--and up to anyone else's. His calling out for musicians to solo, and the playful comfort exhibited with Ms. Rodriguez, lend an air of casualness to the proceedings, but make no mistake, Let's Leave This Town is a passionate, finely crafted record. "Back porch" music is one of life's joys, and the intimacy of a musician or group of musicians performing for a small circle of friends and family is magical in a way that is hard to capture on disc. Kudos to Chip Taylor as producer for making you feel that he and Ms. Rodriguez are performing these fine songs just for you and yours. --Michael Ross

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fine debut from a newly formed duet, September 13, 2002

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

He's a songwriter who's still better known for his '60s classics ("Wild Thing" "Angel of the Morning") than the fine country-folk material he's written and recorded in subsequent years. She's a 23-year-old fiddle player (and Berklee School of Music graduate) whose Austin upbringing has steeped her in Texas twang since childhood. A chance meeting at last year's South By Southwest music conference turned into an opportunity for the latter to play and sing support on domestic shows with the former. This turned into a deeper partnership on a European tour, with Rodriguez finding her voice (at Taylor's urging) and graduating to singing partner. The culmination is this album of duets, mostly written by Taylor specifically for the project.

For her part, Rodriguez is a fine fiddle player, with a singing voice that takes in the plaintive Southern side of Lucinda Williams and Kimmie Rhodes, but with a bit of the blue-yodel edge shown by the Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines. Taylor's always had the sort of rough-hewn voice that Kris Kristofferson and John Prine have used to such great affect. The difference in their tone, also reflecting the difference in their ages, is what makes their duet singing so appealing to the ears.

The music sticks almost entirely to the acoustic, with stellar guitar and mandolin playing from John McGann and upright bass from Jim Whitney. The tunes ranges from old-timey influenced folk country to Texas swing and acoustic jazz. Taylor's new songs are accompanied by a pair of traditional covers ("Say Little Darlin'" and the instrumental "Midnight on the Water"), and a reprise of his own "Storybook Children" (a 1968 hit for Judy Clay and co-writer Billy Vera), the song that sparked this duo's act on stage.

With SXSW having become something of a meat market at which artists display their wares to labels, it's pleasing to find something grow organically from the chance meeting of musicians, unbrokered by A&R flacks.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful new talent and some truly great songs!, September 20, 2002

By	Roger Jönsson (Lund, Sweden) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Carrie Rodriguez is a wonderful, fresh new voice in country and folk music. Thank God Chip Taylor convinced her that she should sing. They sound really great together. Carrie is also a skilled musician who can play anything from snappy Texas fiddle to classical violin. Add the fact that she is beautiful beyond words, much more so than the lovely photographs in this Cd really convey (I just saw a concert with her and Chip and I was spellbound by her). I am also spellbound by some of the great songs on this lighthearted, fun cd. The titletrack, the western-swing flavoured "Extra", the sweet ballad "There's A Hole In The Midnight", the groovy "Do Your Part" and the magnificient "Sweet Tequila Blues" are all songs that I play over and over again. And even when I don't play them I can't get them out of my head. The only reason I don't give this a 5 is that some of the songs are somewhat overproduced with unnecessary string arrangements (especially "His Eyes" and "You Are Danger") These songs don't radiate with the lovely, laid-back spirit that can be heard on the rest of the record. Anyhow, I sure hope they do another cd togeher. Or maybe Chip could produce a solo album for Carrie. Please do Chip! The world sure needs to hear a lot more from her.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars electrifying new talent, September 11, 2002

By A Customer

For my money practically no singer plays acoustic guitar better than ex racetrack gambler Chip Taylor. But the avowed purpose of this album is to introduce Carrie Rodriguez, and it is she - her voice and fiddle - that do indeed take this recording to its zenith. I like some tracks here better than anything I've listened to in a long time, and I listen to a lot of music of this genre. Whatever genre that is, because there's a mix. However I suspect Carrie will ultimately sail to superstardom with "Say Little Darling" bluegrassy type tunes. You'll think "Allison Krauss" but hey this is "Texas" fiddle, and Carrie has a vocal persona all her own and very, very enchanting indeed.