Mary Lou Lord - Got No Shadow

For many years in the alternative revolution of the early '90s, Mary Lou Lord was touted as the next big thing by those in the know, but she never delivered a full-length album, preferring to turn out a series of indie EPs on Kill Rock Stars. It wasn't until 1998 that she released her full-length debut, Got No Shadow. While many of the titles on the album may be familiar to longtime fans -- "Lights Are Changing," "Some Jingle Jangle Morning," "Western Union Desperate," "Subway" -- the clean, polished sound of Got No Shadow might come as surprise. But the production actually does a nice job of opening up her sound, making it accessible like a Shawn Colvin record without losing integrity. Some critics may carp that Lord wrote or co-wrote seven of the 13 tracks of the record, with the rest of the songs devoted to covers of her longtime associate Nick Saloman (the Bevis Frond), and one tune apiece from Elizabeth Cotton ("Shake Sugaree") and Freedy Johnston ("The Lucky One"), but that has the effect of strengthening the album, since there isn't a weak song here. Lord has a sweet, thin voice that is surprisingly versatile, and she delivers Saloman's songs as convincingly as her own. Got No Shadow is a little subdued, but Lord's charming performances, clever lyrics, and catchy melodies prove remarkably resonant. It may not have the unvarnished appeal of the early EPs and tapes, but Got No Shadow was worth waiting for. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alice Wheeler Photography Beale Dabbs Guitar (Steel) Butch BelAir Photography Cait Reed Tin Whistle, Violin Cappy Japngie Assistant Engineer Chris Lord-Alge Mixing David Schiffman Engineer Doug Boehm Assistant Engineer Elliott Smith ?, Guitar (Acoustic) Ethan Johns Musician Frank ? Illustrations Fred Eltringham Drums, Percussion Fred Maher Producer Gia Ciambotti Vocals (Background) Howard Willing Engineer Joe Ranieri Percussion, Drums John Sprague Bass Jon Brion Chamberlin, ?, Harmonium Josh Freese Drums Mary Lou Lord Vocals Michael Halsband Photography Mike Dy Mixing Assistant Money Mark ?, Organ Nels Cline ?, Guitar (Bass), Ebo Nick Saloman Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Rhythm), Guitar (12 String), Guitar (Electric) Nick Salomon ? Paul Bushnell Bass Rob Schnapf Engineer, Ebo, Producer, Mixing Roger McGuinn Guitar (12 String), ? Rusty Anderson Guitar (Rhythm), Guitar, Guitar (12 String) Ruth Barrett Dulcimer Sharon Celani Vocals (Background) Shawn Colvin Vocals (Background), ? Stephen Marcussen Mastering Stephen Silbert Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Rhythm) Tom Lord-Alge Mixing Tom Rothrock Engineer, Producer, Mixing William Goldsmith Drums, ?