Search - David Egan :: Twenty Years of Trouble

Twenty Years of Great Songs

James Morris | Jackson Heights, NY United States | 07/22/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Any songwriter to have a single song recorded by the amazing Roots singer Tracy Nelson is alright in my book, as Ms. Nelson's greatest talent may not be her awesome voice, but her ability to pick songs by unheard but brilliant lyricists in the Blues or R & B mold. And this collection offers three such titles, which was more than enough to prompt me to purchase it. And I am so glad I did. No schmaltz, no glitter, just honest, down to earth spare imagery, finely honed and perfectly crafted. David Egan is a songwriter of uncommon talent, and the fact that this album is sadly under-reviewed here does not matter to me one whit.



Mr. Egan offers his own recordings of songs he has written in the past twenty years or so (which makes the title song particularly apt) and there are not too many modern songwriters out there who have the ability to conjure up what he does with a few deft phrases. Take for example the title song, "Twenty Years of Trouble", which have lyrics (in part) as follows:



"You ain't gonna tell me none of your damn lies

I've seen you put the hook in

I know what you got cookin'

I ain't even gonna look in your eyes..."



He gets right down to it, and wastes no time telling you exactly how it is. "Twenty Years of Trouble", combined with the other 12 gems contained on this album, are all able demonstrations of what great lyric writing is all about. Then there's "People Will Be People":



"People will be people, no telling what they just might do;

Rich or poor, dumb or smart, high or low IQ

Can't believe everything you see, looks don't make no saint

Beggar or King, it's no big thing, what you is, or what you ain't

Right or wrong, Mister or Ms.

You know the long and the short of it is

That people will be people..."



The carefully crafted lyrics don't stop there, offering an almost dizzying commentary on human frailty and predictability. No wonder the song was snapped up by the trio of Marcia Ball, Irma Thomas and Tracy Nelson for their celebrated "trio" album, "Sing It!"



Then there are the other two songs recorded by Tracy Nelson, "I Was Good To You Baby" and the incredible "If You Knew How Much", a tribute to lost love that hits me in the gut each time I hear it. But there's more; with virtually every song on this release, David Egan demonstrates that he is a songwriter of uncommon vision and ability. "Half Past the Blues" starts with the line, "She said it wouldn't take much to keep her satisfied; two weeks later, she was sneakin' on the side..." and it travels up from there. "Half Past the Blues" is a blue bulls-eye about loving the wrong person, but Mr. Egan makes no apologies or tries to convince us that he himself is innocent. This is music about real life; not pretty, not pretentious, just real. Listening to this album is not unlike the pleasant surprise of stumbling into a small club, half-drunk in the middle of the night, and finding a local talent on the piano playing and singing with more gusto than you are used to hearing from established superstars. You simply want more. Like much really great songwriting, the music generally goes against the grain of what has come to be "popular" in today's music world, and so requires a little work and time to fully appreciate. But if you take the time to listen, you will find it well worth the effort. If you allow them to, these songs will grab a hold of you and not let go.



If you'd like to take a chance on a fairly unknown but highly talented urban blues / cabaret song stylist, check out this album. But hurry - good music doesn't hang around too long these days.

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