10380 - DONNIE FRITTS - OH MY GOODNESS (2015)
DONNIE FRITTS
''OH MY GOODNESS''
OCTOBER 9 2015
44:16
**********
1 Errol Flynn (Amanda McBroom) 04:45
2 If It's Really Got to Be This Way (Arthur Alexander, Donnie Fritts, Gary Nicholson) 03:59
3 Memphis Women and Chicken (Donnie Fritts, Gary Nicholson, Dan Penn) 03:51
4 The Oldest Baby in the World (Donnie Fritts, John Prine) 04:23
5 Tuscaloosa 1962 (Donnie Fritts) 03:22
6 Them Old Love Songs (Donnie Fritts, Troy Seals) 02:59
7 Foolish Heart (Jesse Winchester) 03:41
8 Lay It Down (Gene Thomas) 03:40
9 Good as New (Donnie Fritts) 03:22
10 Temporarily Forever Mine (Billy Maddox, Paul Thorn) 03:19
11 Choo Choo Train (Donnie Fritts) 03:45
12 Oh My Goodness (Donnie Fritts, Spooner Oldham) 03:02
**********
Allen Bransetter/Trumpet
Crimson Fried/Vocals (Background)
Caleb Elliott/Cello
Bryan Farris/Guitar (Electric)
Donnie Fritts/Vocals, Wurlitzer
Ben Griner/Trombone, Tuba
David Hood/Bass Guitar
Brittany Howard/Vocals (Background)
Jason Isbell/Guitar (Electric)
Dave Jacques/Bass Guitar
Daniel Jamieson/Cello
Dylan LeBlanc/Vocals (Background)
Gavin O'Connor/Viola
Spooner Oldham/Piano
Jesse Phillips/Bass Guitar
John Prine/Guitar (Acoustic)
Lydia Rogers/Vocals (Background)
Kimi Samson/String Arrangements, Violin
Amanda Shires/Violin
Kevin Sledge/Bass Guitar
Daniel Stoddard/Lap Steel Guitar, Pedal Steel
Ben Tanner/Clavinet, Organ, Piano, Pump Organ
Reed Watson/Drums, Percussion
Jack White/Vocals (Background)
John Paul White/Backwards Vocals, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Vocals (Background)
Juliana White/Vocals (Background)
Rebekah Whitehurst/Violin
Reggie Young/Guitar (Electric)
**********
REVIEW/AMG
Thom Jurek
Oh My Goodness is the first solo record by songwriter and keyboard ace Donnie Fritts since 2008, and only his fourth since 1974. He was a quiet, integral member of the legendary Muscle Shoals session crew that delivered so much pop, soul, and country to the annals of music history, and afterwards played an equally important role in country and R&B circles as a session man, writer, and arranger. His songs -- including "Breakfast in Bed," "We Had It All," "Choo Choo Train" (redone in a great new version here), "Take Time to Love," and "Rainbow Road" -- have been recorded by dozens of artists. Producer John Paul White (ex-Civil Wars) also acted as arranger and musical director and issued the set on his Single Lock label. While visiting Fritts, White heard him sing while accompanying himself on his weathered Wurlitzer; some tunes weren't his but he played them as if they were. White coaxed Fritts into building an album around his voice and instrument, and assembled a revolving cast including Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard and Ben Tanner, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, John Prine, David Hood, Reggie Young, Spooner Oldham, the Secret Sisters, Dylan LeBlanc, and various horns and strings. The track list includes originals with choice covers. "Errol Flynn" (written by cabaret singer Amanda McBroom -- she also penned "The Rose" -- and Gordon Hunt) is a daughter's elegy of tribute and loss to her father. Fritts' world-weary voice recalls Levon Helm's; his Wurlitzer digs through White's guitars, Tanner's pump organ, and horns. Another standout is a unique arrangement of Jesse Winchester's "Foolish Heart," with New Orleans-style brass (including tuba), upright piano, and White and LeBlanc's voices. Things get bluesy too. Check this reading of the ubiquitous "Memphis Women & Chicken (co-written with Dan Penn and Gary Nicholson). Hood's hard-grooving bassline adds just a trace of funk to the 12-bar progression and Bryan Farris' leads sting. "Tuscaloosa 1962" touches the Band's greasy intro to "Up on Cripple Creek," with Isbell dealing out a snarling slide guitar. The reading of Gene Thomas' 1971 breakup single "Lay It Down" is killer. Fritts' earthy country-soul vocal is framed by strings, horns, pedal steel, and a stirring gospel-inspired backing chorus. Paul Thorn's forlorn ballad "Temporarily Forever Mine" is a wistful hymn of surrender and longing with only violin, cello, and Young's signature guitar playing as accompaniment. The title track closer is a moving love song with Oldham's piano as the only instrument. It's low-key but passionate. The lyrics express eternal devotion and gratitude to his beloved; the separation of death will not breach its strength. Tenderness and vulnerability are openly expressed, revealing humility, desire, and even wisdom. Oh My Goodness is informal and intimate, but with enough grit and groove to make it a joy. Given its quality, one hopes that Fritts will record again, and soon.
**********
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
Jason Ankeny
One of the architects of the famed Muscle Shoals Sound, songwriter Donnie Fritts also enjoyed success as a longtime associate of Kris Kristofferson. A native of Florence, Alabama, as a teen Fritts played drums with local acts like the Satellites and Hollis Dixon. By the late '50s he was writing and performing with the likes of Arthur Alexander, Dan Penn, and Spooner Oldham, all of them joining forces to forge the unique fusion of Southern soul, pop, country, and R&B immediately recognizable as the Muscle Shoals Sound. Fritts' early songs were recorded by performers as diverse as Percy Sledge, Dusty Springfield, the Box Tops, and Tommy Roe.
By the late '60s he was employed as a Nashville staff writer, often working alongside fellow up-and-comer Kristofferson. Beginning in 1970, Fritts was Kristofferson's touring keyboardist, and they even appeared together in films including Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, and A Star Is Born. In 1974 Fritts issued his debut solo LP, Prone to Lean; however, no more solo material was forthcoming prior to 1997's Everybody's Got a Song, which included new renditions of his classics "We Had It All" and "A Damn Good Country Song," recorded with guests including Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, John Prine, Lucinda Williams, and Delbert McClinton.
Fritts focused on session and touring work during the early 2000s. He guested on Robert Plant's Sixty Six to Timbuktu in 2003 and on the Resentments' Roselight in 2009, but did little else. His songs paid the bills, as they appeared on dozens of compilations and were covered by current artists including Shelby Lynne, who made his "Breakfast in Bed" the title track of her tribute to Dusty Springfield in 2008.
Fritts didn't record again under his own name for another half dozen years. He had become friendly with producer and label and studio owner John Paul White (formerly of the Civil Wars), who asked him to play the premiere of the Muscle Shoals documentary. While visiting one day, White heard Fritts play songs on his well-used Wurlitzer that were favorites, not necessarily his own. The producer convinced him to record an album of this material on that instrument. With assistance from the Alabama Shakes' Ben Tanner, White assembled various guests including Brittany Howard, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, John Prine, the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Spooner Oldham, and the Secret Sisters to back Fritts. Released by White's Single Lock Records, Oh My Goodness was issued in October of 2015.
**********
WIKIPEDIA
**********
WEBSITE
**********
TO THE TOP
**********
''OH MY GOODNESS''
OCTOBER 9 2015
44:16
**********
1 Errol Flynn (Amanda McBroom) 04:45
2 If It's Really Got to Be This Way (Arthur Alexander, Donnie Fritts, Gary Nicholson) 03:59
3 Memphis Women and Chicken (Donnie Fritts, Gary Nicholson, Dan Penn) 03:51
4 The Oldest Baby in the World (Donnie Fritts, John Prine) 04:23
5 Tuscaloosa 1962 (Donnie Fritts) 03:22
6 Them Old Love Songs (Donnie Fritts, Troy Seals) 02:59
7 Foolish Heart (Jesse Winchester) 03:41
8 Lay It Down (Gene Thomas) 03:40
9 Good as New (Donnie Fritts) 03:22
10 Temporarily Forever Mine (Billy Maddox, Paul Thorn) 03:19
11 Choo Choo Train (Donnie Fritts) 03:45
12 Oh My Goodness (Donnie Fritts, Spooner Oldham) 03:02
**********
Allen Bransetter/Trumpet
Crimson Fried/Vocals (Background)
Caleb Elliott/Cello
Bryan Farris/Guitar (Electric)
Donnie Fritts/Vocals, Wurlitzer
Ben Griner/Trombone, Tuba
David Hood/Bass Guitar
Brittany Howard/Vocals (Background)
Jason Isbell/Guitar (Electric)
Dave Jacques/Bass Guitar
Daniel Jamieson/Cello
Dylan LeBlanc/Vocals (Background)
Gavin O'Connor/Viola
Spooner Oldham/Piano
Jesse Phillips/Bass Guitar
John Prine/Guitar (Acoustic)
Lydia Rogers/Vocals (Background)
Kimi Samson/String Arrangements, Violin
Amanda Shires/Violin
Kevin Sledge/Bass Guitar
Daniel Stoddard/Lap Steel Guitar, Pedal Steel
Ben Tanner/Clavinet, Organ, Piano, Pump Organ
Reed Watson/Drums, Percussion
Jack White/Vocals (Background)
John Paul White/Backwards Vocals, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Vocals (Background)
Juliana White/Vocals (Background)
Rebekah Whitehurst/Violin
Reggie Young/Guitar (Electric)
**********
REVIEW/AMG
Thom Jurek
Oh My Goodness is the first solo record by songwriter and keyboard ace Donnie Fritts since 2008, and only his fourth since 1974. He was a quiet, integral member of the legendary Muscle Shoals session crew that delivered so much pop, soul, and country to the annals of music history, and afterwards played an equally important role in country and R&B circles as a session man, writer, and arranger. His songs -- including "Breakfast in Bed," "We Had It All," "Choo Choo Train" (redone in a great new version here), "Take Time to Love," and "Rainbow Road" -- have been recorded by dozens of artists. Producer John Paul White (ex-Civil Wars) also acted as arranger and musical director and issued the set on his Single Lock label. While visiting Fritts, White heard him sing while accompanying himself on his weathered Wurlitzer; some tunes weren't his but he played them as if they were. White coaxed Fritts into building an album around his voice and instrument, and assembled a revolving cast including Alabama Shakes' Brittany Howard and Ben Tanner, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, John Prine, David Hood, Reggie Young, Spooner Oldham, the Secret Sisters, Dylan LeBlanc, and various horns and strings. The track list includes originals with choice covers. "Errol Flynn" (written by cabaret singer Amanda McBroom -- she also penned "The Rose" -- and Gordon Hunt) is a daughter's elegy of tribute and loss to her father. Fritts' world-weary voice recalls Levon Helm's; his Wurlitzer digs through White's guitars, Tanner's pump organ, and horns. Another standout is a unique arrangement of Jesse Winchester's "Foolish Heart," with New Orleans-style brass (including tuba), upright piano, and White and LeBlanc's voices. Things get bluesy too. Check this reading of the ubiquitous "Memphis Women & Chicken (co-written with Dan Penn and Gary Nicholson). Hood's hard-grooving bassline adds just a trace of funk to the 12-bar progression and Bryan Farris' leads sting. "Tuscaloosa 1962" touches the Band's greasy intro to "Up on Cripple Creek," with Isbell dealing out a snarling slide guitar. The reading of Gene Thomas' 1971 breakup single "Lay It Down" is killer. Fritts' earthy country-soul vocal is framed by strings, horns, pedal steel, and a stirring gospel-inspired backing chorus. Paul Thorn's forlorn ballad "Temporarily Forever Mine" is a wistful hymn of surrender and longing with only violin, cello, and Young's signature guitar playing as accompaniment. The title track closer is a moving love song with Oldham's piano as the only instrument. It's low-key but passionate. The lyrics express eternal devotion and gratitude to his beloved; the separation of death will not breach its strength. Tenderness and vulnerability are openly expressed, revealing humility, desire, and even wisdom. Oh My Goodness is informal and intimate, but with enough grit and groove to make it a joy. Given its quality, one hopes that Fritts will record again, and soon.
**********
BIOGRAPHY/AMG
Jason Ankeny
One of the architects of the famed Muscle Shoals Sound, songwriter Donnie Fritts also enjoyed success as a longtime associate of Kris Kristofferson. A native of Florence, Alabama, as a teen Fritts played drums with local acts like the Satellites and Hollis Dixon. By the late '50s he was writing and performing with the likes of Arthur Alexander, Dan Penn, and Spooner Oldham, all of them joining forces to forge the unique fusion of Southern soul, pop, country, and R&B immediately recognizable as the Muscle Shoals Sound. Fritts' early songs were recorded by performers as diverse as Percy Sledge, Dusty Springfield, the Box Tops, and Tommy Roe.
By the late '60s he was employed as a Nashville staff writer, often working alongside fellow up-and-comer Kristofferson. Beginning in 1970, Fritts was Kristofferson's touring keyboardist, and they even appeared together in films including Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, and A Star Is Born. In 1974 Fritts issued his debut solo LP, Prone to Lean; however, no more solo material was forthcoming prior to 1997's Everybody's Got a Song, which included new renditions of his classics "We Had It All" and "A Damn Good Country Song," recorded with guests including Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, John Prine, Lucinda Williams, and Delbert McClinton.
Fritts focused on session and touring work during the early 2000s. He guested on Robert Plant's Sixty Six to Timbuktu in 2003 and on the Resentments' Roselight in 2009, but did little else. His songs paid the bills, as they appeared on dozens of compilations and were covered by current artists including Shelby Lynne, who made his "Breakfast in Bed" the title track of her tribute to Dusty Springfield in 2008.
Fritts didn't record again under his own name for another half dozen years. He had become friendly with producer and label and studio owner John Paul White (formerly of the Civil Wars), who asked him to play the premiere of the Muscle Shoals documentary. While visiting one day, White heard Fritts play songs on his well-used Wurlitzer that were favorites, not necessarily his own. The producer convinced him to record an album of this material on that instrument. With assistance from the Alabama Shakes' Ben Tanner, White assembled various guests including Brittany Howard, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, John Prine, the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Spooner Oldham, and the Secret Sisters to back Fritts. Released by White's Single Lock Records, Oh My Goodness was issued in October of 2015.
**********
WIKIPEDIA
**********
WEBSITE
**********
TO THE TOP
**********
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