VARIOUS ARTISTS
''MAN OF SOMEBODY'S DREAMS: A TRIBUTE TO CHRIS GAFFNEY''
2009
67:36
1 Joe Ely - Lift Your Leg 02:57
2 Boz Scaggs - Midnight Dream 04:09
3 Los Lobos - Man Of Somebody's Dreams 03:56
4 Dave Alvin - Artesia 05:11
5 Peter Case - Six Nights A Week 03:23
6 Tom Russell - If Daddy Don't Sing Danny Boy 02:45
7 Calexico - Frank's Tavern 04:24
8 James McMurtry - Fight (Tonight's The Night) 03:11
9 The Texas Tornadoes - The Gardens 03:12
10 Jim Lauderdale and Ollabelle - Glass House 04:24
11 The Iguanas - Get Off My Back Lucy 03:07
12 Alejandro Escovedo - 1968 05:07
13 Robbie Fulks - King Of The Blues 03:50
14 John Doe (Alt Country) - Quiet Desperation 03:25
15 Dave Gozalez - Tired Of Being Me 04:25
16 Big Sandy and Los Straitjackets - Silent Partner 02:33
17 Dan Penn - I'm So Proud 03:00
18 Chris Gaffney - Guitars Of My Dead Friends 04:28
CREDITS
REVIEW/AMG
by Mark Deming
Chris Gaffney was once described as "a quintessential Southern California bar musician," and while he was also a great deal more than that -- a superb songwriter and a recording artist who made fine records on his own, as a sideman and as part of the combo the Hacienda Brothers -- the mix of country, R&B and norteño influences that defined his music was a clear reflection of the working class California environment where he grew up. Gaffney was highly regarded by his fellow songwriters and musicians, even though he never enjoyed the commercial or critical breakthrough that would open him up to the larger audience he deserved before liver cancer took his life in 2008 at the age of 57, and his friend and frequent collaborator Dave Alvin has produced a moving and well-crafted tribute to the man and his music, The Man of Somebody's Dreams: A Tribute to the Songs of Chris Gaffney. The 18 songs here capture the flinty honesty and hard-won compassion that was a major part of Gaffney's best work, and Alvin proves to be a fine casting agent, fitting each song to the artist with unerring skill. Calexico find a weathered beauty in the liquor-soaked lovers of "Frank's Tavern," Los Lobos bring a gentle sadness to the long-gone romance of "The Man of Somebody's Dreams," Robbie Fulks delivers a solid honky tonk swing on "King of the Blues" (and Peter Case does the same for "Six Nights a Week"), Alejandro Escovedo brings the tragic pathos of "1968" to vivid life, John Doe captures the titular emotions of "Quiet Desperation" with a perfect touch, and legendary songwriter Dan Penn knows just how to handle the work of another great tunesmith on "I'm So Proud." The late Freddy Fender's aching and evocative rendition of "The Gardens" from the Texas Tornados' 4 Aces is a welcome addition to this set, and while Boz Scaggs hardly seems like someone you'd expect to see in this company, he brings a slinky and sensuous R&B groove to "Midnight Dream" that shows Gaffney was more than just another guy on the L.A. roots music scene. Closing with one of Gaffney's final recordings -- an unreleased tune called "Guitars of My Dead Friends" -- the effect of The Man of Somebody's Dreams sometimes feels like a wake as much as a celebration, but this music honors a man who deserved a better hand than he was dealt, and one listen to these songs will prove that's a fact to anyone with ears.
MORE REVIEW
By Bob Gottlieb
This is a tribute disc that shows the respect for the man it honors, Chris Gaffney, by his former bandmate (Dave Alvin and The Guilty Men), Dave Alvin and the love and esteem of the entire musical community at large. Look at diversity of genres and styles of those who stepped forward to honor this man and lend their support to a disc in his memory; Joe Ely, Boz Scaggs, Los Lobos, Calexico, The Iguanas, Dave Gonzales (his bandmate in the Hacienda Brothers), and Dan Penn to name but a few. There are 18 tracks on this disc and 18 different artists, 17 of the songs are ones Chris either wrote or had a hand in writing; track 18 is Chris doing a song he didn't write, however is particularly poignant and an appropriate closer for the disc. As gifted as he was as a singer who could turn songs from such different writers as Fred Neil, Frank Sinatra, and Jerry Butler into his own; he was equally talented as a songwriter, accordionist, and storyteller. Chris was a person you might meet in the neighborhood tavern and he could keep you entertained for hours as you sipped your drinks and you would come away a whole lot richer for the time spent.
Chris grew up in the Arizona and Southern California and his songs reflect the music of these areas. His songs reflect his view of everyday life and the travails of just going through life, the day-to-day problems that occur and his way out of them. Often you find a number of weak cuts on a disc like this, however all the cuts are strong and the songs are well done. Listen to what Peter Case does with Six Nights A Week," or the smoldering The Garden which best reflects the Southwestern Latin influence, done by Freddie Fender & The Texas (the original group, think Flaco Jimenez, Doug Sahm, Augie Meyer and Ry Cooder). There are so many highlights on this disc that each cut is capable of stopping you in your tracks and making you just grin. Most of the material here was cut for this disc and members of Chris' group, The Cold Hard Facts, Danny Ott and Wyman Reese are featured on several of the tracks along with Dave Alvin who put this all together (thank you for taking the time Dave). This is one tribute disc that won't disappoint in any way; it will probably introduce you to a new songwriter who will enrich your world.
TO THE TOP
''MAN OF SOMEBODY'S DREAMS: A TRIBUTE TO CHRIS GAFFNEY''
2009
67:36
1 Joe Ely - Lift Your Leg 02:57
2 Boz Scaggs - Midnight Dream 04:09
3 Los Lobos - Man Of Somebody's Dreams 03:56
4 Dave Alvin - Artesia 05:11
5 Peter Case - Six Nights A Week 03:23
6 Tom Russell - If Daddy Don't Sing Danny Boy 02:45
7 Calexico - Frank's Tavern 04:24
8 James McMurtry - Fight (Tonight's The Night) 03:11
9 The Texas Tornadoes - The Gardens 03:12
10 Jim Lauderdale and Ollabelle - Glass House 04:24
11 The Iguanas - Get Off My Back Lucy 03:07
12 Alejandro Escovedo - 1968 05:07
13 Robbie Fulks - King Of The Blues 03:50
14 John Doe (Alt Country) - Quiet Desperation 03:25
15 Dave Gozalez - Tired Of Being Me 04:25
16 Big Sandy and Los Straitjackets - Silent Partner 02:33
17 Dan Penn - I'm So Proud 03:00
18 Chris Gaffney - Guitars Of My Dead Friends 04:28
CREDITS
REVIEW/AMG
by Mark Deming
Chris Gaffney was once described as "a quintessential Southern California bar musician," and while he was also a great deal more than that -- a superb songwriter and a recording artist who made fine records on his own, as a sideman and as part of the combo the Hacienda Brothers -- the mix of country, R&B and norteño influences that defined his music was a clear reflection of the working class California environment where he grew up. Gaffney was highly regarded by his fellow songwriters and musicians, even though he never enjoyed the commercial or critical breakthrough that would open him up to the larger audience he deserved before liver cancer took his life in 2008 at the age of 57, and his friend and frequent collaborator Dave Alvin has produced a moving and well-crafted tribute to the man and his music, The Man of Somebody's Dreams: A Tribute to the Songs of Chris Gaffney. The 18 songs here capture the flinty honesty and hard-won compassion that was a major part of Gaffney's best work, and Alvin proves to be a fine casting agent, fitting each song to the artist with unerring skill. Calexico find a weathered beauty in the liquor-soaked lovers of "Frank's Tavern," Los Lobos bring a gentle sadness to the long-gone romance of "The Man of Somebody's Dreams," Robbie Fulks delivers a solid honky tonk swing on "King of the Blues" (and Peter Case does the same for "Six Nights a Week"), Alejandro Escovedo brings the tragic pathos of "1968" to vivid life, John Doe captures the titular emotions of "Quiet Desperation" with a perfect touch, and legendary songwriter Dan Penn knows just how to handle the work of another great tunesmith on "I'm So Proud." The late Freddy Fender's aching and evocative rendition of "The Gardens" from the Texas Tornados' 4 Aces is a welcome addition to this set, and while Boz Scaggs hardly seems like someone you'd expect to see in this company, he brings a slinky and sensuous R&B groove to "Midnight Dream" that shows Gaffney was more than just another guy on the L.A. roots music scene. Closing with one of Gaffney's final recordings -- an unreleased tune called "Guitars of My Dead Friends" -- the effect of The Man of Somebody's Dreams sometimes feels like a wake as much as a celebration, but this music honors a man who deserved a better hand than he was dealt, and one listen to these songs will prove that's a fact to anyone with ears.
MORE REVIEW
By Bob Gottlieb
This is a tribute disc that shows the respect for the man it honors, Chris Gaffney, by his former bandmate (Dave Alvin and The Guilty Men), Dave Alvin and the love and esteem of the entire musical community at large. Look at diversity of genres and styles of those who stepped forward to honor this man and lend their support to a disc in his memory; Joe Ely, Boz Scaggs, Los Lobos, Calexico, The Iguanas, Dave Gonzales (his bandmate in the Hacienda Brothers), and Dan Penn to name but a few. There are 18 tracks on this disc and 18 different artists, 17 of the songs are ones Chris either wrote or had a hand in writing; track 18 is Chris doing a song he didn't write, however is particularly poignant and an appropriate closer for the disc. As gifted as he was as a singer who could turn songs from such different writers as Fred Neil, Frank Sinatra, and Jerry Butler into his own; he was equally talented as a songwriter, accordionist, and storyteller. Chris was a person you might meet in the neighborhood tavern and he could keep you entertained for hours as you sipped your drinks and you would come away a whole lot richer for the time spent.
Chris grew up in the Arizona and Southern California and his songs reflect the music of these areas. His songs reflect his view of everyday life and the travails of just going through life, the day-to-day problems that occur and his way out of them. Often you find a number of weak cuts on a disc like this, however all the cuts are strong and the songs are well done. Listen to what Peter Case does with Six Nights A Week," or the smoldering The Garden which best reflects the Southwestern Latin influence, done by Freddie Fender & The Texas (the original group, think Flaco Jimenez, Doug Sahm, Augie Meyer and Ry Cooder). There are so many highlights on this disc that each cut is capable of stopping you in your tracks and making you just grin. Most of the material here was cut for this disc and members of Chris' group, The Cold Hard Facts, Danny Ott and Wyman Reese are featured on several of the tracks along with Dave Alvin who put this all together (thank you for taking the time Dave). This is one tribute disc that won't disappoint in any way; it will probably introduce you to a new songwriter who will enrich your world.
TO THE TOP
