Seven years in the writing, veteran singer-songwriter, hit maker New York City act Chip Taylor has in The Little Prayers Trilogy produced his biggest and even for him his most unique expanse of work to date. Since getting back into the music business after his 1980s plus sabbatical when he took time out to play the horses and gaming tables as a professional gambler. Taylor’s return to music a decade or so later in the mid-1990s found him performing music work perfectly attuned to the Americana scene. At first he played just below the radar, but it wasn’t long before in the company of aspiring fiddle player, and soon to be vocalist Carrie Rodriguez it snowballed, and he hasn't been short of people in helping out on occasions, aside from his tremendous electric guitar playing friend John Plantania, there has been the likes of Lucinda Williams.
Yes, he performed the hits; “Wild Thing”, “Angel Of The Morning” among others on his return but he was writing new ones too, and a steady flow of albums, some earthy and feisty have since been made. Taylor’s voice now worn as a car tyre showing threads he is careful not to over-stretch his baritone, keep it monotone and allow the lyrics do the rest. They do just that, never more poignant are the lyrics than on the first cd, Behind An Iron Door as he speaks through the eyes and emotions of men stuck behind bars. Some in solitary, those suffering injustice and of them crossing off the days till they once again become free. See sunlight, and through the power of prayer remain focussed. As such songs as “He’s A Good Guy”, “Solitary” and “Czechoslovakian Heaven” are aired, plus an anguish filled ballad “I Used To Be A White Boy”; this as he speaks of how we are all one, and laments on how his life has turned out. Every bit as poignant is “Nine Soldiers In Baltimore” and you also have his popular “Merry F’n Christmas”. One heart-tugging ballad speaks of Ted Williams, a man who fell foul of the prison system after working at a Border Station in Southern California and there are others too.
As in a sombre “Martha, Martha” and with gentle coercing of piano “Lord What Are You Giving Me Now” on reflecting on life’s journey, its many ups and downs. Prior to speaking of the good in people, just as there is a dark side on poignant ballad “He’s A Good Guy ((As Well You Know)” before a song inspired by the last words of a man on death row before he was executed, “Wish I Could Die Just One More Time”. Pretty dark stuff, but not too unhealthy, just Taylor seeking out the situations of those less priviledged (for one reason or another).
Assisted, originally by only piano and guitar the project evolved in Chip’s small studio in Mamaroneck, NY as the first off the three cds emerged. Originally meant to be a solo record, before he and his friend, producer Goran Grini (pump organ, mellotron) had realised it there was enough material for two releases as more and more songs came to Taylor. Hence, you had the original demo, plus two albums embellished in the playing on Taylor’s regular recording partner Platania (electric, nylon guitar) plus Tony Leone (drums), Tony Mercadante (bass) and harmony vocals from Audrey Martels, Zhana Saunders and guests, Greg Leisz (pedal steel guitar on “The Same Way”) and Seth Farber (piano, organ on “Sleep With Windows” & “I’ll Only Be Me Once”. Little Prayers with its spare, edgy feel digs deep beneath the veneer as in reflective mood, sometimes critical of his actions but in the end Taylor came life through without losing faith
His stories speak of friends in Europe as in Amsterdam, Sweden, Czechoslovakia and more beside, and how the world, even when things seem to be moving slowly and of little significance to the general shape of things when stripped down there is bunch of stuff going on and to reflect on. Maurice Hope