Hillbilly down

Paul Marshall's warmth and simplicity a good match for his heartfelt lyrics
By BLISS

     L.A. club-goers familiar with local singer-songwriter Paul Marshall as the trusty bassist in Ronnie Mack's versatile Barn dance band are often surprised to learn that, once upon a time, he belonged to 1960s psychedelic pop group Strawberry Alarm Clock. Marshall's thoughtful, gentle demeanor tends to mask the fact that he has many interesting stories to tell - as well as his considerable credits.
     His songs have been recorded by higher-profile artists such as popster Jill Sobule, country star Patty Loveless, Highway 101 and Juice Newton. "Weed and Water," which he produced and recently released, is his first solo album.
     A truly fine harmony singer, Marshall sounds somewhat less comfortable singing lead, but the warmth and winning simplicity of his delivery is a good match for his heartfelt lyrics,particularly on the exceptional title tune, one of several on which he receives sympathetically nuanced harmony support from blues/R&B singer Teresa James and guitarist Billy Watts. The song is a choice example of Marshall's talent at distilling lived wisdom into deceptively simple lyrics ("If you want to reap the harvest/ You've got to weed and water too") and hummable melodies.
     Others, like 'Sifting Through the Ashes' and the Cajun-flavored "Lucy Anna," are pleasant enough dance numbers, but it's the ballads that shine, particularly "Cowboy Jazz," a drowsily jazzy, sensual co-write with Mel Harker, and "Our Father," a funeral farewell whose restrained instrumentation just skirts sentimentality. In live performance, it's a guaranteed tear-jerker.
     "The Blackboard in Bakersfield and the Palomino" is particularly poignant, given the number of area nightclubs (country and rock) that have vanished over the past decade - including, most recently, Jack's Sugar Shack, which carried much of the spirit of the beloved Pal.
     "Buck and Merle and young Emmylou/ Loretta and Kitty and Charley Pride too," Marshall sings nostalgically, with an evocative assist from pianist Rick Solem and J.D. Maness' beautiful pedal steel. "For five bucks and three beers you could see one fine show/ At the Blackboard in Bakersfield or the Palomino."
     Along with "Truth is You Lied," that song appears in more spare form on "Hillbilly Down," the second tribute album to former Merle Haggard guitarist Roy Nichols. (The Hag himself contributes the moving "Daddy," as well as a gracious thank you: "Roy Nichols helped me reach for my dreams.")
     A number of local artists donated songs and/or performances to show their gratitude for Nichols' musical spirit, including Katy Moffatt, James Intveld, Rick Shea, Randy Weeks, former X guitarist Tony Gilkyson, Cody Bryant, bassist David Jackson, Dwight Yoakam guitarist Pete Anderson, and superb country fiddler Brantley Kearns.
     It's launched with an uptempo, stone-country duet between producer Kathy Robertson and Kearns on Red Volkaert's "She Loves Anything That Swings." It's followed by Gilkyson's somewhat Guthrie-esque "Gypsies in My Backyard," a stand-out song propelled by Kearns' elegant fiddling. Also winning is the Bakersfield country of Weeks and Robertson's "Wynn Stewart" and the Robertson-Shea weeper "The Man You Wanted Me to Be," and Intveld's uptempo "The Pride and Joy of John and Lisa."
     "Hillbilly Down" can be purchased from Miles of Music (www.milesofmusic.com, or 888-766-8742). "Weed and Water" is available through www.paulmarshall.net.