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Okay…I know you’ve got two questions to ask right off the bat: 1) Who is Michael Chapman, and 2) Who are the “friends”?
Michael Chapman is an English-born singer/songwriter of folk music, whose very first album, Rainmaker was released in 1969 on the Harvest label. Harvest may ring a bell to some of our readers; it was also the record label on which early Pink Floyd and Deep Purple appeared. Since then, Chapman has released over three dozen albums, and he’s held in very high esteem in England. His music goes beyond just folk; it’s a bit bluesy—and, at times, there’s a touch of jazz to it.
This tribute record includes contributions from artists such as Lucinda Williams, Maddy Prior, William Tyler, Hiss Golden Messenger, Rick Kemp of the English folk group Steeleye Span, and Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore.
Tribute records have been around for quite a while now, with groups such as the Eagles and Lynyrd Skynyrd, being honored—along with the solo work of well-known artists like John Lennon and Jackson Browne. My feeling is that it’s the solo artists, specifically the singer/songwriter/guitarists, whose tribute albums come out the best. It’s a bit more difficult to honor an entire group, and the varied musicians on those albums often face a greater challenge in replicating the music of those they’re honoring—as well as in shaping the songs to their own interpretations while attempting to sound both faithful and complimentary to the artist.
This tribute CD to Michael Chapman comes off quite well, and I sense that part of the reason for its success comes from the fact that all of the artists who contributed to the CD either played on-stage with Chapman or in some way came to be friends with him.
“Life on the Ceiling,” an instrumental by the Black Twig Pickers, opens the CD. With my love of American roots music—bluegrass and country—it certainly grabbed my attention.
Meanwhile, the female contributors to the CD all shine in their vocals. Meg Baird’s version of “No Song to Sing”, and “That Time of Night,” sung by Lucinda Williams, will grab hold of you with their simplistic beauty and leave a lasting impression.
My favorite track, though, is “Naked Ladies and Electric Ragtime,” another instrumental, which will surely bring a smile to your face. Hey, male readers, why wouldn’t it?
Actually, men, women, and children, you’ll all smile after listening to this CD. That’s what makes Oh Michael, Look What You’ve Done a real tribute record.
