Search - Mary Mccaslin :: The Best of Mary McCaslin: Things We Said Today

Thank you, Carmen Sandiego

Ramona M. White | Rainy Southwest Washington | 11/04/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I first encountered Mary McCaslin's song "Way Out West" while playing Where In the USA is Carmen Sandiego? with my daughter. Her haunting yet hopeful voice and lyrics stuck in my mind. What a delight to find so many fine original songs here as well as outstanding covers of "Things We Said Today" and "Blackbird". I heartily recommend this disc."

Great collection by a singer who deserves more recognition

abt1950 | usa | 11/05/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mary McCaslin was a staple of the folk circuit in the 1970s, along with her then-husband Jim Ringer. All but one of the selections on this CD were taken from her solo albums. The single exception, "The Bramble and the Rose," comes from her and Ringer's classic album of the same name. McCaslin's style falls somewhere between traditional folk and country. Open guitar tunings were one of her musical trademarks, and her arrangements were widely imitated. Her voice has a huskiness and twang to it that fit her fascination with the American West.McCaslin wrote some wonderful songs. "Young Westley," on this album, is a modern take on the traditional American narrative ballad, of which "Cole Younger," (also on this CD) is a good example. "Circle of Friends" and "San Bernadino Waltz" are slightly bitter, ironic songs about friends and lovers. "Way Out West" evokes the feelings of rootlessness associated with the West.Some of McCaslin's best songs are her covers of other artists' material. On this CD, for example, she covers songs by the Beatles, the Supremes, and Randy Newman, as well as the country classics, "Ghost Riders in the Sky" and "Wayward Wind." McCaslin has the rare ability to make other people's songs her own. You may have heard the song before, but when McCaslin does it, it's completely different. Her rendition allows the listener to experience the song in a new way and to find new meaning it it. My only complaint with this album is that a couple of my favorite songs aren't on it. I guess there's only one solution--I'll have to buy the other CDs as well."

Folk-country songs evoke spirit of the west

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 08/10/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This compilation contains one duet (The bramble and the rose) with her late husband, Jim Ringer, but is otherwise made up of tracks from three solo albums Way out west, Prairie in the sky and Old friends, all released in the period 1973 to 1977. Mary sings a mix of covers and originals to a simple, acoustic backing. About half the songs have a western theme, but some of the most interesting songs here originated in the cities of Detroit and Liverpool.From Detroit came My world is empty without you, a classic Motown song that was a hit for the Supremes. You might expect it to sit uncomfortably on an album like this, but Mary stripped the song down to its basics and the end result proves that her choice was inspired. Covers of Motown songs in country and folk music are a rarity. I've come across a few, but not as many as I'd like.From Liverpool came two Beatles songs - Things we said today and Blackbird. Their inclusion is less surprising, as there is a long tradition of Beatles covers in many genres of music.Of the other covers here, Wayward wind, Ghost riders in the sky and Cole Younger all sing of the west, while Last Cannonball is a classic train song and Randy Newman wrote living without you.Mary wrote all the remaining songs except The bramble and the rose. As with the covers, some of Mary's own songs have a western theme and some don't, but they are all worth hearing.Music like this will never sell in huge quantities but I cannot praise this collection highly enough."