SHAWN MULLINS
''SOUL'S CORE''
JULY 7 1998
51:37
1. Anchored In You/3:19
2. Lullaby/5:29
3. The Gulf Of Mexico/3:43
4. September In Seattle/3:21
5. Twin Rocks, Oregon/4:32
6. And On A Rainy Night/3:22
7. Tannin Bed Song/3:21
8. Soul Child/4:34
9. Ballad Of Billy Jo McKay/3:19
10. Patrick's Song/2:17
11. Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down/Kris Kristofferson/6:12
12. You Mean Everything To Me/3:44
13. Shimmer /4:08
Tracks By Mullins, Except 11
Brandon Bush /Clavichord, Drum Programming, Drums, Organ, Piano, Wurlitzer
Chad Franscoviak /Handclapping, Vocals
Rob Gal /Drums, Guitar (Electric)
David LaBruyere /Bass
Kevin Leahy /Drums
Glenn Matullo /Handclapping, Vocals
Don McCollister /Bass
Travis Aaron McNabb /Drums
Shawn Mullins /Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Percussion, Piano, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Myshkin Mandolin, Vocals (Background)
David Patterson Guitar (Electric), Strings
Mike West Banjo, Banjolin, Guitar (Electric), Keyboards
Shelly Yakus Vocals
Shelley Yankus Vocals (Background)
REVIEW
by Shawn M. Haney
Spontaneous, vibrant, and lyrically stimulating, Shawn Mullins scores big with his passionate messages and his flair for natural storytelling that touches the core of the listener's soul. Mullins brings together ten years of hard work and a respected musician's ethic for the release of the aptly entitled Soul's Core, his first record on a major label. The Columbia release is ethereal, rich in narrative, and, though overly produced at times, filled with expressive instrumental work. Mullins lets his scratchy and deeply resonating voice blend in smoothly with his six-string guitar and fellow bandmates. The opening track, "Anchored in You," takes off with an uplifting message of newfound love and fresh hope, raising the listener to clear skies. Singing "I'm stoned in San Francisco with you on my mind" may have been the net to catch this song away from radio airplay, though the melody feels free in a euphoric sense. The radio airplay hit "Lullaby" mentions a girl who is feeling depressed, crying out for a life away from her upbringing, a life full of Hollywood days and movie star-filled nights. Other tunes carry stories filled with strength lying in the lyrics' character development, such as "Gulf of Mexico." Singing about liquor stores, deserted boardwalks, holy waterfalls, and lost highways, Mullins makes no excuses not to touch on very human circumstances. "I heard a voice from my soul's core, saying freedom's just a metaphor" is certainly a lyric deemed powerful and meaningful in scope. "September in Seattle" is a driving tune branded with a gospel finish, polished with joyous melodic vocal statements. The story of a man of 37 who's been riding trains for 15 years -- lost in his journey to find the ocean and smell the salt of the sea -- encompasses the tune "Twin Rocks, Oregon." On a perilous journey to be found and to find one's self, the man -- though offered a ride to the San Francisco Bay -- decides to stay and catch the next train and "dream his life away." Other bright spots on this record deserve an attentive listen, including the dreamy, haunting "On a Rainy Night," the soulful "Soul Child," and the heartwarming "You Mean Everything to Me." "Shimmer," a song of optimism and encouragement, will always bring delight and joy to the suffering listener, encouraging everyone human to realize we were born to shimmer and shine, born to radiate. A touching song in a more personal way is the letter dedicated to friend Patrick Cosgrove. Fans of Mullins will be sure to capture the moment and seize this time, while wrapping their arms and ears around the record for a listen.
BIOGRAPHY
by Jason Ankeny
An Atlanta-based folksinger best known for his Top Ten hit "Lullaby," Shawn Mullins was serving as a member of the U.S. Army Airborne Infantry Division when he released his first self-titled cassette (issued on his own label, SM) in 1989. Following the release of 1991's Everchanging World, he left the military after eight years of service to pursue music on a full-time basis. After three years spent fruitlessly searching for a record deal, Mullins established a new label, SMG, and released the LPs Better Days and Big Blue Sky in the interim. Jeff's Last Dance, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 (live companion discs recorded jointly with Matthew Kahler) arrived in 1995, and Mullins returned a year later with the solo effort Eggshells.
Released in 1998, Soul's Core marked his first album for a major label, Columbia Records; it also signaled his critical breakthrough, as the single "Lullaby" became a chart-topping, Grammy-nominated hit. The album eventually went platinum, paving the way for an anthology of the singer's early work with 1999's The First Ten Years. Toward the end of 2000, Mullins released the official follow-up to Soul's Core, Beneath the Velvet Sun. The Essential Shawn Mullins collection arrived in 2003, followed by 9th Ward Pickin' Parlor, his first release for Vanguard Records, in 2006. He remained with Vanguard for 2008's Honeydew, which was inspired by (and recorded in) his native Georgia. Mullins kept himself busy for the rest of the year, co-writing a number one hit for the Zac Brown Band ("Toes") and releasing Live at the Variety Playhouse, which captured one of his sold-out performances in Atlanta. Two years later, he released his eleventh studio album, Light You Up, which continued the rustic, Americana-styled thread he'd been spinning since 9th Ward Pickin' Parlor.
''SOUL'S CORE''
JULY 7 1998
51:37
1. Anchored In You/3:19
2. Lullaby/5:29
3. The Gulf Of Mexico/3:43
4. September In Seattle/3:21
5. Twin Rocks, Oregon/4:32
6. And On A Rainy Night/3:22
7. Tannin Bed Song/3:21
8. Soul Child/4:34
9. Ballad Of Billy Jo McKay/3:19
10. Patrick's Song/2:17
11. Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down/Kris Kristofferson/6:12
12. You Mean Everything To Me/3:44
13. Shimmer /4:08
Tracks By Mullins, Except 11
Brandon Bush /Clavichord, Drum Programming, Drums, Organ, Piano, Wurlitzer
Chad Franscoviak /Handclapping, Vocals
Rob Gal /Drums, Guitar (Electric)
David LaBruyere /Bass
Kevin Leahy /Drums
Glenn Matullo /Handclapping, Vocals
Don McCollister /Bass
Travis Aaron McNabb /Drums
Shawn Mullins /Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Percussion, Piano, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Myshkin Mandolin, Vocals (Background)
David Patterson Guitar (Electric), Strings
Mike West Banjo, Banjolin, Guitar (Electric), Keyboards
Shelly Yakus Vocals
Shelley Yankus Vocals (Background)
REVIEW
by Shawn M. Haney
Spontaneous, vibrant, and lyrically stimulating, Shawn Mullins scores big with his passionate messages and his flair for natural storytelling that touches the core of the listener's soul. Mullins brings together ten years of hard work and a respected musician's ethic for the release of the aptly entitled Soul's Core, his first record on a major label. The Columbia release is ethereal, rich in narrative, and, though overly produced at times, filled with expressive instrumental work. Mullins lets his scratchy and deeply resonating voice blend in smoothly with his six-string guitar and fellow bandmates. The opening track, "Anchored in You," takes off with an uplifting message of newfound love and fresh hope, raising the listener to clear skies. Singing "I'm stoned in San Francisco with you on my mind" may have been the net to catch this song away from radio airplay, though the melody feels free in a euphoric sense. The radio airplay hit "Lullaby" mentions a girl who is feeling depressed, crying out for a life away from her upbringing, a life full of Hollywood days and movie star-filled nights. Other tunes carry stories filled with strength lying in the lyrics' character development, such as "Gulf of Mexico." Singing about liquor stores, deserted boardwalks, holy waterfalls, and lost highways, Mullins makes no excuses not to touch on very human circumstances. "I heard a voice from my soul's core, saying freedom's just a metaphor" is certainly a lyric deemed powerful and meaningful in scope. "September in Seattle" is a driving tune branded with a gospel finish, polished with joyous melodic vocal statements. The story of a man of 37 who's been riding trains for 15 years -- lost in his journey to find the ocean and smell the salt of the sea -- encompasses the tune "Twin Rocks, Oregon." On a perilous journey to be found and to find one's self, the man -- though offered a ride to the San Francisco Bay -- decides to stay and catch the next train and "dream his life away." Other bright spots on this record deserve an attentive listen, including the dreamy, haunting "On a Rainy Night," the soulful "Soul Child," and the heartwarming "You Mean Everything to Me." "Shimmer," a song of optimism and encouragement, will always bring delight and joy to the suffering listener, encouraging everyone human to realize we were born to shimmer and shine, born to radiate. A touching song in a more personal way is the letter dedicated to friend Patrick Cosgrove. Fans of Mullins will be sure to capture the moment and seize this time, while wrapping their arms and ears around the record for a listen.
BIOGRAPHY
by Jason Ankeny
An Atlanta-based folksinger best known for his Top Ten hit "Lullaby," Shawn Mullins was serving as a member of the U.S. Army Airborne Infantry Division when he released his first self-titled cassette (issued on his own label, SM) in 1989. Following the release of 1991's Everchanging World, he left the military after eight years of service to pursue music on a full-time basis. After three years spent fruitlessly searching for a record deal, Mullins established a new label, SMG, and released the LPs Better Days and Big Blue Sky in the interim. Jeff's Last Dance, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 (live companion discs recorded jointly with Matthew Kahler) arrived in 1995, and Mullins returned a year later with the solo effort Eggshells.
Released in 1998, Soul's Core marked his first album for a major label, Columbia Records; it also signaled his critical breakthrough, as the single "Lullaby" became a chart-topping, Grammy-nominated hit. The album eventually went platinum, paving the way for an anthology of the singer's early work with 1999's The First Ten Years. Toward the end of 2000, Mullins released the official follow-up to Soul's Core, Beneath the Velvet Sun. The Essential Shawn Mullins collection arrived in 2003, followed by 9th Ward Pickin' Parlor, his first release for Vanguard Records, in 2006. He remained with Vanguard for 2008's Honeydew, which was inspired by (and recorded in) his native Georgia. Mullins kept himself busy for the rest of the year, co-writing a number one hit for the Zac Brown Band ("Toes") and releasing Live at the Variety Playhouse, which captured one of his sold-out performances in Atlanta. Two years later, he released his eleventh studio album, Light You Up, which continued the rustic, Americana-styled thread he'd been spinning since 9th Ward Pickin' Parlor.
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