No Depression - The Bi-monthly Journal of Alt- Country
#51 - May to June 2004
I suspect that this may well have been the first time that an artist's forty second solo album has featured on the front cover of No Depression.
Obviously this was primarily because the album in question Van Lear Rose by Loretta Lynn was released on 27th April 2004 on the Interscope label just prior to the release of this issue.All the songs were written by Loretta and were essentially captured in single performances caught in two sets of sessions at a simple 8-track studio in a big old house in East Nashville (Barry Mazor)
Not only that it was produced by Jack White of the White Stripes who were probably the most famous band on the planet at the time. This led to the strap line the black & white & red all over alt.country (whatever that means) bimonthly.
The album was released to great critical acclaim and was something of a crossover reaching number 2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums and number 24 in the Billboard 200 with the track Portland, Oregon being rated by Pitchfork as the 305th best song of the 2000's
Jack met Loretta after the White Stripes version of Rated X and the hit it off. There are even rumours as to a romantic dalliance. Jack and Meg White spent some time with Loretta including appearing together in concert.
You are getting the first two tracks from the album and one of her earlier Country classics. For the One from the Top I've gone for Steve Forbert as he is the only one that I have anything by (except Wilco) and one I saw live once in Edinburgh.
Haven’t listened to this in ages, but I do remember how exciting it was when it came out. As I sit here listening, sounds as good as it ever did.
ReplyDeleteIt's the first time in ages that its had a airing here as well Brian
Delete