Review of concert from TV show on 2002-01-13: with Lucinda Williams;
CMT, Crossroads
CMT, 2002-01-09
- Michael Gray
Costello, Williams Connect on CMT Crossroads
Michael Gray
01/09/2002
Lucinda
Williams and Elvis Costello hardly qualify as bonafide mainstream
country artists, but each has absorbed traditional Southern music, written
country songs and had a long affinity with Nashville.
Revered as two of the best singer-songwriters of their generation, Williams
and Costello recently paired up to showcase their country-flavored work
and talk about their country influences on the debut episode of CMT
Crossroads. The hour-long show airs at 1 p.m. ET/PT Sunday (Jan.
13) and repeats at 8 p.m. ET/PT Sunday (Jan. 13) and 12 a.m. ET/PT and
8 p.m. ET/PT Monday (Jan. 14).
The premise of CMT's new monthly series is to bring together artists
from diverse musical backgrounds and, as host Stan Lynch says in the
premiere, "watch them look for and hopefully find the country they
have in common." Hank
Williams Jr. and Kid Rock recently taped the second installment
of CMT Crossroads, set to air Feb. 17.
Sarah Brock, producer of CMT Crossroads, says a lot of thought
and planning goes into the pairings to make sure the artists have musical
common ground, mutual respect for each other and potential chemistry.
Once the artists come together, though, Brock creates a relaxed environment
for the talent by encouraging artistic freedom, spontaneity and creativity.
"I really don't put any constraints on them at all," Brock
says, "and I don't have any expectations. I approach music shows
that way because they're artists; my job is to set it up so it's the
most comfortable for them and make sure they look good and sound good.
We just truly, truly try and let them be comfortable, because that's
when the best moments of the show happen. We try and make sure they
have time together -- so they can get comfortable with each other and
comfortable with the songs.
"Lucinda is known to be shy, and I thought she was absolutely charming
with Elvis," Brock adds. "I thought Elvis brought out more
of her personality than we've usually seen because she was so comfortable
with him.
It's nice to show these kind of relationships, because
it's unique to see artists sing together and converse like this [on
television]."
The stars of the debut episode sing two duets, Costello's "Poisoned
Rose" and a fiery version of Williams' "Changed the Locks."
They provide backing vocals for each other on four songs -- including
a Rolling Stones cover -- and Williams' road band plays throughout.
The only solo performance comes when Williams agrees to do an audience
request for "Crescent City."
Williams, a native of Louisiana who lives in Nashville, is an outsider
on Music Row and mainstream country radio. However, she commands the
highest respect in roots and rock music circles, and a handful of country
artists have recorded her songs. Emmylou
Harris has long championed Williams, recording "Crescent City"
and "Sweet Old World." Mary
Chapin Carpenter recorded "Passionate Kisses," earning
Williams a Grammy for best country song in 1993.
As a recording artist, Williams won the Grammy for best contemporary
folk album for her 1998 CD, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. Upon
the album's release, Rolling Stone called Williams "America's
greatest songwriter" and described Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
as a "masterpiece" and "heartbroken country classic."
On Jan. 4, Williams received four Grammy nods for this year's awards,
airing Feb. 27 on CBS. Her nominations include: best female pop vocal
performance ("Essence"), best female rock vocal performance
("Get Right With God"), best female country vocal performance
("Cold, Cold Heart," from the Hank
Williams tribute album Timeless) and best contemporary folk
album (Essence). She also contributed to Ralph
Stanley's Clinch Mountain Sweethearts, up for best bluegrass
album.
"I do write country songs," Williams insists during CMT
Crossroads. "I just don't write country songs that get played
on country radio."
Costello jumped in with his own assessment of contemporary country radio:
"Yeah, they sort of have forgotten what they are."
"See, that's the whole point of [this show]," Williams replied,
"how you define country music. In my mind it's Hank Williams [Sr.]
and Loretta
Lynn."
Based in Ireland by way of England, Costello emerged as a chief songwriting
voice of the late '70s punk and new wave explosion. He quickly shed
that tag, though, and evolved into a songwriting icon in the pop field.
He is revered as one of the most innovative and influential songwriters
since Bob Dylan.
George
Jones recorded Costello's "Stranger in the House," and
Johnny
Cash covered Costello's "The Big Light" and "Hidden
Shame." In 1981, Costello recorded Almost Blue in Nashville
with legendary country producer Billy
Sherrill. The album features Costello interpreting songs by Hank
Williams, Don
Gibson, Gram
Parsons, Charlie
Rich and other country greats. His version of Jones' "Good
Year for the Roses," from the same album, was a hit record in England.
Costello's passion for country music dates back even further, as he
explains in the liner notes for Almost Blue. "I had played
Hank Williams songs in the folk clubs and pubs, while, as daft as it
may sound, I recall being advised [in 1977] to remove The Best of
George Jones from the [tour bus] sound-system in case it confused
visiting journalists."
During the audience Q&A on CMT Crossroads, Costello recalls
meeting Cash at Nick Lowe's home studio. Williams talks about her early
admiration for Bobbie
Gentry. Elsewhere in the show, Costello and Williams discuss their
high regard for each other.
"The characteristics of her voice -- married together with the
incredible economy of her writing -- make her so unique," Costello
says of Williams.
Williams was "blown away" by the opportunity to perform with
Costello. "I grew up listening to his songs," she says, "and
all of a sudden he's honoring me by sitting in with me at this show."
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