Regulars and Refugees

Carrie Newcomer

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 9, 2005)
• Original Release Date: August 9, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Philo / Umgd
• ASIN: B0009WPLTY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #77,285 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Carrie Newcomer, one of contemporary folk's leading singer-songwriters, has crafted a fascinating conceptual work for her ninth album, Regulars and Refugees. Newcomer delves into the stories of the patrons at Betty's Diner, a fictitious restaurant where souls both tragic and triumphant dine side-by-side. The result is a touching, bittersweet glimpse at life, love, and humanity itself delivered with Newcomer's unerring melodic sense and rich, expressive alto. Come join the Regulars and Refugees at the diner for a visit. You won't be sorry you did.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best yet!, August 11, 2005

By	John F. Keydel Jr. "Papajohn54" (Oakland Co, MI, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Carrie's music has been a constant companion for over a decade; With R&R, she's "simply" continued to add depth, texture, meaning, feeling, and real soul to the world. This is already one of my very favorite CDs. Thank You, Carrie!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CARRIE NEWCOMER's MANY-FACETED VOICE OF COMPASSION . . ., October 30, 2005

By	mcHaiku "nmi" (Brown County INDIANA) - See all my reviews

There is bound to be a DINER in everyone's past - - treasured for memories, tho' possibly a 'marker' of difficult times. Carrie Newcomer wrote a story about one and soon after, *Betty's Diner* was populated with a full-blown cast of characters. They come together as "regulars & refugees" in her latest album. From beautiful Alice & Roy to the youngest cast-member Tristan, these new friends will invade your consciousness, & your head will be full of the tunes as you follow your daily routines. The lilt of *Betty's Diner* makes you feel your cup truly "is filled with something kind."

Newcomer's husky alto has great appeal for me. I find her use of words fascinating: words seem to flow, simmer & burst in harmony with Mary Gaines' bass and other marvelous back-up instruments, even including that 'carpet scrap' & Sam Bartlett's claw hammer banjo! It surprised me to find that "I FLY" has become a favorite of mine. It seems to harken back to "My Father's Favorite Son" & "Amelia, almost Thirteen" . . . Many have messages with 'staying power': "La Paloma" . . . dying for air "Below the Waves" . . .

I see Carrie as a prolific song-writer, and someone who encourages the creative juices in others. (Perhaps you are one who should search for an opportunity to have her as a teacher?) You can hear in her many-faceted voice of compassion that the cause of justice is one of her lifetime priorities. "Regulars and Refugees" is the 10th Newcomer recording for Rounder/Philo Records; it is a peak performance. *DON'T MISS any opportunity to see & hear her in person!* is mcHAIKU's best advice.

When did I first hear you sing in Quaker ("silent"!) Meeting? Thank you, Carrie, for your strong hands, strong heart, and lovely voice that shivers through me like a haunting memory.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Nothing's Ever Wasted & There Is A Spirit ~ Carrie Newcomer", August 16, 2005

By	J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Philo Records and Rounder Records present "Regulars and Refugees", featuring the latest release from Carrie Newcomer for fans and lovers of her music alike...this is a recording of extremely lyrical and melodic quality concentrating on some of the very best from her repertoire...the girl who gave us "Betty's Diner" with Rhubard Pie for dessert.

Let's take a look at some of the members in her band with Dane Clark on drms/percussion, Jeff Hedback on elec,upright and acoustic bass & carpet scrap, Keith Skooglund on classic, acoustic and electric guitars, Gary Walters on piano, Wurlitzer organ, Chris Wagoner on violin, baritone mandolin, lap steel guitar, accordion, dobro and vocals, Mary Gaines on cello, vocals, acoustic, bass, David Weber on vocals, Krista Detor on piano, vocals, Robert Meitus on acoustic guitar and vocals and Sam Bartlett on claw hammer banjo...this is an overall blanket to any serious music collection...one gem after another with top notch arrangements and performance, much more than just a toe tapper...each track represents Newcomer's incredible success as songwriter and performer through song...her voice and style are shades of Mary Chapin Carpenter, K.D. Lang and Anne Murray, not bad company to be in.

There are a few stand outs in this latest release "BE TRUE"..."NOTHING'S EVER WASTED"..."ALICE AND ROY"..."ARTHUR B AND BOB"..."LA PALOMA"..."THERE IS A SPIRIT"..."BEFORE THE FALL"...and of course "BETTY'S DINER", Carrie's deep vocals have grown increasingly uninhibited with lyrics of palpable honesty about them...Newcomer's career travels back to her roots in Indiana and continues right up to the present...she has covered every genre from Blues, Jazz, Folk and Pop Rock...with one of the most recognizable voices and styles in music today...her records and albums "Visions and Dreams" (1991), "An Angle at My Shoulder" (1994), "The Bird or the Wing" (1995), "My Father's Only Son" (1996), "My True Name" (1998), "The Age of Possibility" (2000), "The Gathering of Spirits" (2002), "Bare to the Bone" (2002), "Betty's Diner: The Best of Carrier Newcomer" (box set)...can remember her with the folk band "Stone Soup", knew she would eventually land out there on her own with a solo career...this to date is her best album..."Regulars and Refugees", has Grammy written all over it!

Total Time: 54:00 on 14 Tracks ~ Philo/Rounder Records 711247 ~ (8/09/2005)