Singer-songwriter, producer and journalist; formerly of The Tennessean, and recently appointed writer editor of the Country Music Hall Of Fame And Museum Peter Cooper is a gem when it comes to supporting true to life country music. Here instead of making another solo (or record with Eric Brace) album, excellent they have all been too has chosen to make a record made up entirely of songs written by Eric Taylor.
Taylor is one of those guys who shoots straight, calls a spade a spade and writes some of the best true to life songs going. Written in a style of a mixture of non-fiction and that of writing legends (William Faulkner etc) he brings to life the lives of those thought by all too many as insignificant players in everyday living. Those Taylor writes about don’t have an expensive car or two in their drive, wear expensive suits or dresses or have an exotic beach house to go with their regular home but survive on scraps, people possibly down on their luck with a real story to tell.
Has seen the likes of Lyle Lovett and Nanci Griffith (ex wife) and others record them too. He loves to tell a story, share a wicked smile and sample a whiskey or two; one as much as the other in no particular order. Cooper’s voice has a smooth, sympathetic feel to it (such his humane nature), while Eric Taylor’s is sharp, bluesy and lived in and I have yet to mention his guitar playing. A man of he road, a man who pulls no punches, lives the songs and brings life to the characters he writes about in definitive fashion on occasions I have seen him live. An experience I would advise you sample, because apart from his lyrics you have stories to go with the songs. As for South Carolina-born Cooper his work is good, and though his lyrics don’t dig in like thorns or barb wire as often the case with Taylor he writes some beautiful songs.
Once I had rid myself of Taylor’s dirty blues voice and presence he gives at a live show and mannerisms Cooper’s own intimate shaping of the lyrics came through; and no little love of which being there for all to hear. With material covering a carnie, a prison movie (‘learned to lie in the cradle, lie in jail; killed a little man up in Macon who had a mouth too big for his name, just another white cracker…etc), a depot light and a storm to go with “Dollar Bill Hines” (the instrumental side of things veer a little towards the old Sun Sound and nice it is too). While with beautiful fiddle, delightful accordion and wondrous rhythm section harmony vocals doused “Two Fires” is arguably the finest all-round performance of the album. It says a great deal for Cooper who is likewise in captivating, and maybe even more so as far as that department goes on “Louis Armstrong’s Broken Heart”. This as he speaks of a pool-room down in Mobile, lucky man trailer park, a dancing girl and an old French man and how she could drink you to your knees. Cooper closes up with“Happy Endings” which has all the hallmarks of a truly great song, and with Peter gaining in stature as a story-teller; he is already a fine one, and was brought up on the likes of Tom T. Hall. But the songs of Eric Taylor, they are jolting, and the gloves have never been on never mind taken off. Other songs include “The Great Divide” that has him speak of how he has a daddy but he’s dead, and of how he has another woman to rock him when he cries.“Carnival Jim & Jean” loaded in acoustic guitar and dobro has the feel of a man walking through a busy, jostling crowd, and with a feel of travel a man who speaks of how she won't do no better without him. Plus how he gets lonesome on the road without her.
Regards the players in support, Cooper is spoilt in that he has Thomm Jutz co-produce with him, play exceptional guitar and piano, Andrea Zonn on violin, viola, Justin Moses supply Dobro, mandolin, banjo and fiddle; Mark Fain, upright bass; Pat McInerney, percussion; Joey Miskulin, accordion; Lynn Williams drums on opening track “So Much Like Me” and “Prison Movie”. Eric Brace and Lindsay Hayes do the honours on harmony vocals. Final note; the CD presentation, artwork and Cooper's liner notes they too are first-class. Now need to go check out Cooper and Taylor's back catalogue.
Maurice Hope