One of our greatest songwriters, Larry John McNally has had songs recorded by Bonnie Raitt ("Slow Ride," "Nobody's Girl"), Aaron Neville ("Somewhere, Somebody"), Rod Stewart ("The Motown Song"), Joe Cocker ("Long Drag Off A Cigarette"), Chaka Khan, Mavis Staples, Betty Wright, Jennifer Warnes, The Staple Singers, Nicolette Larson, The Emotions, and more.
This special boxed CD features Larry John McNally's version of the classic "Nobody's Girl" that was recorded by Bonnie Raitt on her "Nick of Time" CD.
A wonderful, honest, direct sound. It's a trio featuring Larry John McNally, Don Heffington, Jerry Scheff and others.
***REVIEWS**************
Produced by Marvin Etzioni formerly of L.A.s cow-punk band Lone Justice.New York City based singer/songwriter Larry John McNally is a masterful songwriter, penning songs in a bluesy, deep, cloudy motif. His song Nobody's Girl, featured on this recording, was recorded by Bonnie Raitt on her "Nick of Time" album. Akin to a "bluesy, more moody Jim Croce", McNally moves you through his songs at a tempo used on a front porch in the south during a heatwave. An excellent album.
** Robert Curtis, folkweb.com **
One of our musical scouts tipped us off about a guy named Larry John McNally, by whom he had heard a number. According to our information the CD was only available in Japan. After a couple of weeks the moment was there: we held a copy in our hands. Remove the shrink wrap, take out the booklet, read.
Produced by Marvin Etzioni. That name is at least familiar (ex Lone Justice, three beautiful albums by himself). A small line-up with guitar by LJM, bass by Jerry Scheff (Elvis Costello and other pearls) and drums by Don Heffington (also ex Lone Justice and drummer on the last Jayhawks album). No further information about the artist. Listen.
Already at the first notes there are shivers running down the spine: this can't go wrong. "I feel nervous and shaky, like everything's falling apart...". Music which reminds one of Lyle Lovett, Joni Mitchell and Rickie Lee Jones, of John Martyn, David Essex, and David Blue- the atmosphere of Van's masterpiece "Astral Weeks".
One number even more beautiful than the other: we hold a jewel in our hands. A precious jewel though, given the Japanese Yen has just reached record highs. Little by little the picture gets more complete: Bonnie Raitt once called LJM her secret tip and she did a cover of an LJM song, "Nobody's Girl", on her album "Nick of Time".
An address in Los Angeles. We decide to locate this guy. Sherlock and Watson. Numerous phone calls, befriended musicians and then: we've located him, not in L.A., but on the other side of the continent, in New York. We talk to him, tell him how much his CD moved us, and ask him if his CD is being distributed. That's luck: LJM is the artist AND the distributor. We agree on a price for "Vibrolux" and now it's in the shop.
For everybody who has possession of a couple of ears- for everybody who's still hearing his heart beat- for everybody who can get drunk on music for everybody-really!
**Spring 1995, Leo Kramer, Utrecht, Holland
Larry John McNally: Vibrolux (Dig It!)
Hij werd geboren in Bangor, Maine, maar aan zijn muziek is dat niet te
horen. Die suggereert een veel zuidelijker komaf - vooral vanwege de luie
ritmiek die zo kenmerkend is voor de New Orleanse funk. De kans is groot
dat de naam Larry John McNally u niet meteen iets zegt maar als u
enigszins vertrouwd bent met het werk van Bonnie Raitt, Joe Cocker, Aaron
Neville of Rod Stewart, heeft u waarschijnlijk wel eens nummers van hem
gehoord. She took a long drag off her cigarette, zong Joe Cocker smachtend
maar het waren niet zijn eigen woorden. Van McNally verschenen twee eerdere
platen. Die waren echter net niet succesvol genoeg voor een officiële
prolongatie, dus nam hij vorig jaar in eigen beheer de CD Vibrolux op. De
muziek is sober maar transparant en uiterst effectief geproduceerd. De tien
prachtige songs worden neergezet door een hecht samenspelend trio bestaande
uit McNally zelf - zang en zorgvuldig gedoseerd gitaarspel - plus drummer en
bassist. Hij zoekt het bepaald niet in de muzikale variatie, juist in
de bezwerende werking van de donker getinte en weemoedige sfeer die hij
oproept met zijn poëtische overpeinzingen. Dat alles wordt op overtuigende
wijze gedragen door een stem die zowel lui als indringend is en die de
vergelijking met artiesten als Joe Cocker, J.J. Cale en Tony Joe White
moeiteloos kan doorstaan.
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