REVIEW: Various Artists, Real - The Tom T. Hall Tribute
(Tomato/Sire)
- Chelsea Spear
Tom T. Hall could well be the best songwriter you've never heard of. There's no question that you've heard some of his songs, since the troubadour is behind such classic chestnuts as the Oscar-winning "Harper Valley PTA", "I Hope It Rains At My Funeral", and "Don't Forget The Coffee, Billy Joe". However, from what the liner notes suggest, Hall did most of his work behind the scenes as a songwriter in Nashville during the 1950s and 60s. His work has had a huge influence on the smart, song-based No Depression roots scene of today, and some of the movement's biggest stars return the inspiration with this outstanding tribute, Real - The Tom T. Hall Project.
All the artists are true to Hall's spirit, turning in fiery, canny and spirited takes on Hall's tunes. Among the standouts are Syd Straw's by turns humourous and sexy take on Hall's best-known track, "Harper Valley PTA", and a new version of "I'm Not Ready Yet" by the Mary Janes that burns going down. Freedy Johnston contributes an endearingly meandering version of "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee", and Jonny Polonsky underplays "Old Enough to Want to (Fool Enough to Try)" to excellent effect. The compilation starts and ends on an admirably spooky note with Johnny Cash's take on "I Washed My Face in the Morning Dew" and Mark Olson and Victoria Williams' eerie, hymnlike harmonizing on "It Sure Can Get Cold in Des Moines", which sounds like a tune from a Flannery O'Connor story.
In addition to providing a good place to start for the burgeoning Hall fan, this tribute also gives a good starting point for those interested in exploring the No Depression roots revival. Though there are no contributions by such frontrunners as Wilco or Lucinda Williams, outstanding singer/songwriters like Iris DeMent and Mary Cutrefillo, and the heavier, more experimental sounds of Whiskeytown and Calexio. In fact, fans of good music in general would be wise to check out Real - The Tom T. Hall Project, since this shows both the glorious past of pop singer-songwriters, and what it's about to become.
