Arkansas Traveler

Back in the early '90's I became a fan of folk-rocker, Michelle Shocked after picking up a copy of the popular "Short, Sharp, Shocked". I loved that album as well as it's horn drenched successor "Captain Swing". But nothing prepared me for the release of her wonderful CD, "Arkanas Traveler". "Arkansas Traveler" is Michelle's homage to the 19th century musical form known as "Minstrel Music". Not many artists would have the guts to take on this music due to the racist manner (blackface makeup, derogatory humor) in which many of these songs were originaly presented over a century ago. But Michelle with both dignity and a really good sense of humor, tackled these classic songs of the American south, producing one of the best albums of her career. She gets plenty of help by being joined by a plethora of roots-music artists including the late Pops Staples, Taj Mahal, Gatemouth Brown, Doc Watson, Allison Krauss, Norman Blake, Hothouse Flowers, Uncle Tupelo ETC. With a group of journeymen such as these how could you go wrong? I love these tuneful classic songs, which can so easily get stuck in your brain. This happens everytime I hear her renditions of "Secret to a Long Life" or "Over the Waterfall". Sometimes I'll find myself singing these tunes for half the day, after hearing them. Other favorites include "Jump Jim Crow" (with it's Zippity Do-Dah ending), "Prodigal Daughter" & "Weaving Way". Finally there is the hilarious, spoken word routines of the song "Arkansas Traveler" ("Hey farmer... where does this road go to? Been livin' here all my life, it ain't gone no where yet!") I played these corny routines for my young nephews and it totally cracked them up into fits of laughter! For the longest time this CD was (criminally) out of print. It has now been re-released with crystal clear remastering and six bonus cuts featuring alternative takes and live renditions. I love this CD and highly recommend it!!

How did a little known young woman who had just turned 30 convince such a varied group of musicians to agree to collaborate with her on a recording project back in 1992? The list reads like a Who's Who of Alternative/Indie music: The Band, Doc Watson, Uncle Tupelo, Taj Mahal, Norman Blake, Gatemouth Brown, Allison Krause, The Hothouse Flowers, Pop Staples, The Red Clay Ramblers, The Messengers, and her own father and brother (Max Johnston of Wilco). Maybe they recognized her as a fellow musical genius. In 1999 Steve Earle recorded The Mountain with Del Coury. The CD was hailed as a great concept album of roots music. But Michelle Shocked was seven years ahead of him!

Like Steve, Michelle has had her share of personal problems. Unfortunately, hers have led to problems with her recording company, the end result being that her work is out of print. That's the main reason that this CD isn't an Amazon Essential Recording. Certainly, in the year that "O Brother Where Art Thou" tops the bestseller list, it's time to take another look at this fine album.

'Captain Swing' showed a more confident, more experimental Michelle Shocked than might have been expected from the breezy official debut, 'Short Sharp Shocked'. However, that confidence all too often expressed itself as swagger. With 'Arkansas Traveler' it has matured to an easy assurance. In this fabulous collection of songs, Shocked seems to have a hundred years of American music at her fingertips, and to be able to combine any ingredients from that century to creat something that is both fresh and familiar. Not since The Band's 'Music From Big Pink' has such a stylistic gumbo been created with such zest and integrity. In her sleeve notes, the artist credits 'Minstrel Music' with being the inspiration - and in so doing does herself a disservice. The album is richer and more layered than the simple term implies, and carries influences from a far wider range of Americana.