She's the artist I've probably seen perform live more times than any other. She dominates my iPod along with Steely Dan and Laura Nyro. She's Shawn Colvin and I had the pleasure of hearing her live last night with friends at the Atlanta Botanical Garden -- a magical summer setting for live music.
Paul Thorn was Shawn's opening act. He's from Tupelo Mississippi, a gravelly voiced singer songwriter with a great sense of humor and some very very good songs. "I Hope I'm Doing This Right" was the standout in his set.
As for Shawn, she is in great voice and exudes a calm and confidence I don't remember from other years of performing. I guess she's in a good place. Good for her. Her set was a mixture of recent cuts and old favorites. She closed with her sublime anthem "I Don't Know Why" which is a love poem to motherhood, intuition and letting go and letting God. It was a brilliant evening of music and lyrics and passionate singing. Like Shawn, I don't known why I know these things...but I do.
Shawn Colvin's Albums
- Steady On (1989) #111 U.S.Gold
- Fat City (1992) #142 U.S.
- Cover Girl (1994) #48 U.S.
- Live '88 (1995)
- A Few Small Repairs (1996) #39 U.S. RIAA: Platinum
- Holiday Songs and Lullabies (1998) #181 U.S.
- Whole New You (2001) #101 U.S.
- Polaroids: A Greatest Hits Collection (2004)
- These Four Walls (2006) #109 U.S.
How suprised I was that Ms. Colvin would record Rugged Road by Judee Sills in Cover Girl (have the Sills album on cassette)--and other fabulous covers. When These Four Walls came out, I was in some funky mood and listened to nothing but that album twice a day for my 5 minute commute for a month --seriously--nothing else in the Cayenne but that CD. Had to stop because I loved it too much to make mundane. Now listen to it rarely --but still has the same emotional bite as before. Know that we both love Laura Nyro. Never asked about your fav. Mine may be When I was in Freeport and Roseanne Cash singing Come on People( and Sexy Moma-and entire "Miracle" album). Have you seen her videos on You Tube ? What an unbelievable talent- why so little appreciation and retrospection. Her You Tube videos are sublime.
Posted by: Schroder ( older male version) | June 23, 2008 at 12:14 AM