Mickey Newbury: An American Trilogy (Saint Cecilia Knows/Southbound)

 |   |  1 min read

Mickey Newbury: 33rd of August/When the Baby in My Lady Gets the Blues
Mickey Newbury: An American Trilogy (Saint Cecilia Knows/Southbound)

Not many people know about Texan Mickey Newbury, who died almost a decade ago, age 62. Maybe it's enough Elvis (who made Newbury's medley An American Trilogy a cornerstone of his latter performances) did. And that Mickey's songs were covered by Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson, Joan Baez and dozens of others.

Often spoken of in the same sentence as Kris Kristofferson (whose Me and Bobby McGee he passed to Roger Miller, the first to cover it), Townes Van Zandt, Rodney Crowell and Guy Clark (whose careers he also promoted), Newbury was a quiet figure in country music. His literate style told stories but also evoked moods through fascinating imagery. He also didn't shy away from orchestration.

His debut album for Mercury in '69, Looks Like Rain, featured atmospheric sounds like rain, thunder and train whistles. With its weave of integrated songs it sounds closer in conception to Marvin Gaye's What's Going On or Van Morrison's Astral Weeks than anything in country. 33rd of August/When the Baby in My Lady Gets the Blues eases out to nine hypnotic minutes.

Newbury sang like a less booze-battered Kristofferson and although he sometimes had a sentimental streak (putting him close to MOR artists like Bobby Goldsboro) he was in tune with the times. He wrote the trippy Just Dropped in To See What Condition My Condition Was In which Kenny Rogers and the First Edition took to the charts.behind_the_song

A touch of gentle Dylan, and Neil Diamond at his very best, simplicity in the melodies and a vocal ease which seduces by virtue of its warmth and slow delivery.

Nice stuff.

Three of Newbury's late Sixties/early Seventies albums – including that remarkable Looks Like Rain – plus a disc of rarities have been boxed up in An American Trilogy.

It gives you a chance to understand why Will Oldham, Steve Earle (“his voice blows my mind”) and Kristofferson (“I learned more about songwriting from him than any other writer”) are such fans.

Mickey Newbury – waiting to be discovered.

And to do so, you can download a four track sampler from the label's excellent website here

Like the sound of this? Then check out this.

Share It

Your Comments

Peter Huitson - Apr 9, 2013

I have only just "discovered" Michael Newbury and nice to see that he appears in "Elsewhere". I read a review of his music and went onto the Spotify website for a listen. I have always loved "American Trilogy" by Elvis Presley but never realised that Mickey Newbury actually wrote and performed this piece. His version is way more a "back to roots" version and is far more emotional due to its more basic presentation - Mickey's voice is just amazing. I also had a listen to "Shenandoah" which I also like - again, I was blown away by Mickey's version. That was it - I was straight onto the Internet placing an order for a couple of CD's - this guy is well worth a listen - clearly another overlooked gem from the past.

post a comment

More from this section   Music at Elsewhere articles index

BEST OF ELSEWHERE 2008 Lucinda Williams: Little Honey (Universal)

BEST OF ELSEWHERE 2008 Lucinda Williams: Little Honey (Universal)

After her last, quite exceptional but largely melancholy album West (in part influenced by death in the family) it is almost as if Williams is here staking her claim again to some sassy rock'n'roll... > Read more

Po' Girl: Home To You (Shock)

Po' Girl: Home To You (Shock)

The previously posted Po' Girl album Vagabond Lullabies was actually a few years old and only given belated release in this country. But it was too good to ignore, and allowed me to set you up for... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

Kamel El Harrachi: Ghana Fenou (Mosaic/Ode)

Kamel El Harrachi: Ghana Fenou (Mosaic/Ode)

By coincidence Elsewhere here acknowledges the son of another music master in the same week as we pick up the album by Jakob Dylan. Kamel El Harrachi is the Paris-based son of the late oud... > Read more

MARILYN by ANDRE de DIENES: Little girl heading for the big time

MARILYN by ANDRE de DIENES: Little girl heading for the big time

For those who came of age after her death, Marilyn Monroe belongs to that generation of American males whose idea of cool was smoking a pipe and reading Playboy. That seems pretty tame to those... > Read more