REVIEW: Dwight Twilley, Tulsa (Copper)
- Michael Van Gorden
Dwight Twilley is back! For those in the know, those 4 words would be enough and I could end the review right here. Thank you. But sadly not every one is a Dwight Twilley fan, and in fact many probably have no idea who he is. Just goes to show you that having a Top 40 hit really doesn't buy you much anymore. But this is not a pop history lesson, for if it were, Mr. Twilley and his band of pop cohorts would require a chapter unto themselves. This is a music review, of a new, yes a brand new release by Dwight Twilley. Entitled Tulsa, and released on the Copper Records label, based out of Houston, Texas, this CD for most will be a welcome addition to their collection.
Since 1986, we have not been privy to any new music from this pop genius, other than 2 new songs on the best of XXI collection, and an album of unreleased songs entitled The Great Lost Twilley Album. So how does Tulsa stand up to the rest of Twilley's musical legacy?
It stands tall and proud. It is not without flaws, but it is worthy of being heard by more people than his past works. Begun in April of 1998 in his home recording studio, Dwight uses his current stage band to flesh out his new songs. The fact that they have played live before comes through, as the arrangements are tight and to the point, with not a lot of filler or wasted space. Even a song such as "A little Less Love," with its borderline sappy, but sadly true sentiment, sticks with you because of the well written lyrics, strong melody and Dwight's trademark counterpoint vocals. In fact, it is those vocals that make Dwight stand out from the pop crowd.
Also noteworthy on "A Little Less Love" is the reunion of Dwight and former DTB guitarist Bill Pitcock IV, whose fretwork adds a nice pop crunch to the seven songs he appears on. On the other four songs guitar duty is split between Oklahoma studio veterans Tom Hanford, Terry Cooper and Pat Savage. Songs like "It's Hard to be a Rebel (No World)" and "Baby's Got The Blues Again" hearken back to the days of Sincerely, while other numbers such as "Miranda," "Beauty Dirt" and "Baby Girl" mine the same vein of "Girls" and his later period material such as Scubadiver and Jungle. And don't miss the title track "Tulsa." Simply put, a lovely tribute to his home town.
It is nice to see someone like Dwight, who has been pretty quiet for far too long, come back and put out some of his strongest material ever. It is nice to see a legend return who has not lost it, but seems to have more of it then before. He is still able to take his influences and create something new, something unique, something Dwight. I say it again, Dwight Twilley is back! Let's treat him better this time around and maybe it won't take so long between records next time.
