My favorite singer songwriters-- Guy Clark, Steve Earl, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Willie Nelson, John Prine, Rodney Crowell, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Lyle Lovett, Hank Williams Sr. Townes Van Zandt, Ramblin Jack Elliot, Woody Guthrie, Buddy Miller, Robert Eark Keen, Bonnie Raite, Gillian Welch, John Fogerty
Below is the front cover of my debut CD--- WORDS LINES AND RHYMES----
ON THE PLAYER BELOW ARE SOME VERY COOL & VERY TALENTED PEOPLE
MAKING ME A VERY, VERY PROUD SONGWRITER---------on this player you will find,---Jim Jones and his ONE MAN BAND machine(all that sound with his feet and hands) doing a country tune "Lost In Nashville"----- Paul Arrowsmith and his old time banjo putting that cool old timey sound on "Travelin Man" ---Resonator Ghost doing his version of "Waitin" with a slow blues feel-----Axe Masterson doing his take on "Waitin" on my end with a rockin blues sound-----Kim Guy and her self made harmonies doing a beautiful version of "Holy Ground"-----Resonator Ghost doing a great job on a new song "Lincoln Street"-----all of these fine talents are in my top friends, please go visit each of their pages and see what else they have to offer, you'll be glad you did----THANKS
I don't write too many CD reviews, but this one really got me. See I've listened to Steve Bailey's music on his player, I've even played some of it from time to time on my own profile page. And a lot of the songs I listened to were from this CD. So you would think that I would have some idea of what was coming. ??I didn't. Listening to the songs here provides something of an idea of Steve's songwriting and musical abilities, but doesn't begin to hint at the depth of the world he constructs around you in the space of some seventy-plus minutes.
The CD's subtitle, From My Porch To Yours, now that brings it closer, but it took me a while to make the connection.
I listened to Travelin Man with its irresistible melody and cheerful words and remembered the days when I worked the Pacific Northwest states with a carnival. Get Away played sad and true. Po Sam got me to smiling, and feeling I knew the protagonist, and then I got it. He is so good at capturing a scene, a space, a memory, and evoking it in such familiar terms that it feels like you really are sitting on the porch swapping stories.
These are honest songs, sung with an honest voice. Look out for the music - it goes so well with the heart that you might miss it. There are nineteen of these songs, all worth spending time with. And there is something about the sequence, it's put together in such a way that by the time you're approaching the end of the playlist you feel like you've unburdened yourself to a friend who clapped you on the shoulder and really Knew.
I don't want to give it all away, but the poignant It's A Long Way Home should have been part of my nightly fare when I was sixteen, If I Ever Lost You is one of the best love songs I know, and Steve manages to convey the depth of the message with a light touch and a smiling face, and Holy Ground is so incredibly current he might have written it this morning sitting with you at your own breakfast table. My sweet-voiced friend Kim Wyrd Guy did a beautiful job covering the song and you can hear her version of it on Steve's profile - scroll down to the oval player in the left hand column.
The Steve Bailey profile says this is his debut CD, which makes it all the more precious. This guy is a brilliant songwriter with a voice that pulls you in so imperceptibly, you find yourself sitting next to him on that porch with no idea how you got there.
It's also a voice I am going to let sing me awake tomorrow, if I can figure out how to rig up my stereo - the book says it's possible...
Thank you Steve, what a joy.
A Gem..buy it!
author: Paul Arrowsmith
I accidentally discovered Steve's music while surfing MySpace...and was immediately blown away. It evoked Steve Earle, Kris Kristofferson, Townes Van Zandt and all of the other great American folk story tellers....not that Steve copies any of these greats, his songs have their own style. Rather rather than anonymous tales though, I think this album is the story of (a) life. For me the stand out tracks are Travelin' Man (so good I've had to adapt it for the banjo and add it to my set!), I think Woody Guthrie could have sung this. Chickens & Eggs..which describes the huge satisfaction but ultimate futility of building a life, home, family etc. Devil Train deals with the age old theme of selling your soul to the Devil in a satisfyingly haunting way. Holy Ground is quite simply one of the best anti-war songs I have ever heard......so good that my other half has added it to her live set! It doesn't preach but amplifies the personal impact of war on any thinking person...stunning. Long Way Home deals with addiction, and personal demons and failings...Steve has either been there or has huge empathy for those that have. The presentation of the songs is disarmingly simple and effective, well sung and no fluff! If I was to provide any feedback to Steve it would be that he should have saved some of these great songs to get a head start on his next release....19 Tracks is almost too many. This is enduring music of a genre that I love. I'm looking forward to the next one....Paul Arrowsmith giving a UK view.
Simply The Best
author: Jet Brennan
A product of a true craftsman, this album is Shaker in its simplicity and attention to detail: lovingly shaped, the songs dovetailed together perfectly and planed and polished with the warmth of Steve's performance. It's an album that makes you think, makes you wince then laugh and nod your head in agreement. At times, the overall 'no frills' effect and the plaintiveness of the harmonica is reminiscent of Springsteen's Nebraska. The songs are like the teeth of a handmade wooden rake, each as solid and strong as its neighbour, but each one individual. From the first step of Travellin' Man to the flight of Get Away, the hiss of Broken Radios and the last word of My Story, Steve Bailey's guitar and voice hold you tight as a vise. This is not just a 'one play' album, it's a family heirloom
Acoustic and Cozy
author: Sasha Colette
Carrying a generous voice that welcomes any ear, Steve Bailey's latest album Words Lines and Rhymes is comprised of originals that are acoustic and cozy. Between the guitar and the grin in Bailey's voice, your spirits are likely to be lifted. Ofcourse, good music lifts any spirit! Steve is a true American troubadour of his own terms.- Sasha Colette, Americana Crossroads www.msuradio.com
A Generosity of Music
author: Resonator Ghost
When you listen to this new CD, start with "Don't Walk Away". Once you hear Steve Bailey's voice and guitar on this plaintive song, you will stick around to hear more. I have listened to this CD several times before sitting down to write this review, and I have to admit I've developed favorites but there is not a song on the CD I don't like. There are several I love. "Where Are The Angels" is a beautiful, sad tribute to the city and people of New Orleans, and by extension, to anyone who has lost too much to bear. When he sings "bon temps rouler", you will feel the sense of loss in his voice. "Cry" is a litany of compassion, "I cry for the lonely infected and weak/I cry for the children with nothing to eat/For those who don't dare to follow their dream". You will have no doubt that he means what he sings. "My Story" is just that: one man's attempt to come to grips with the story that is common to all of us, our journey from cradle to grave, but there is nothing sad in this song, it's a song of hope, strength and a wry knowledge that life is what it is. I don't know Steve Bailey, but listening to him sing makes me feel like I have been his friend for years. That is where the generosity comes in, the singer of these songs isn't holding out you. This is honest stuff and I hope there is a lot more where it came from. I look forward to hearing more from Steve Bailey.
Stunning Debut Album
author: Gaff from Folkwit Records UK
Steve Bailey has created a rare thing with "Words. Lines and Rhymes" a debut album recorded with the minimum of production that outstrips many of the more "sophisticated" recordings put out by Record Labels. The 19 track album (and there isnt a weak song here) manages to capture the feelings and reflections of a life thats been lived. For a self produced and released album it surpasses all expectations. The songwriting is reminiscent of the style of Townes Van Zandt in places, particularly the opening track "Travellin man" For anyone with even a passing interest in stripped down acoustic country this is a "must have". Congratulations Steve on a job very well done, now start on your next album, with the songwriting ability shown here, its bound to be good, if not great! by Gaff (Folkwit Records A & R, UK)
CLICK THE ALBUM COVER BELOW TO HEAR A SAMPLE OF EVERY SONG, THEN BUY NOW IF YOU WANT
Hey there!!----welcome to my------myspace page-. I'm glad you found me. Now for a little bit about me.-- Born in North Carolina , the son of a career MARINE. We lived all over the U S and other country's until my teenage years when we settled at a map dot in the Midwest. I grew up like most small town teenage boys---hot cars, fast bikes,haulin hay and chasing girls. Then I found my lady at our local burger joint, soon after I was grown up with three boys.
You no doubt have heard the saying- I've done it all ?-- Well I've done it all--here goes, I've been a----grocery boy, gas station attendant, TV antenna installer, salesman, dairy farm hand, car stereo installer, welder, business owner, back hoe operator, truck driver, dog handler/trainer, warehouse mgr., carpenter, steel building const., dump truck driver, sound man/roadee, laser operator, and I no doubt forgot something.
O K so much for the first half a century now lets talk about today and the future. Right now I am retired on disability due to a work accident in October of 2005 and it doesn't look like I'll be able to go back to work very soon.--But I can still plink around on my ol'e guitar and write a song when one appears at the end of my pencil.
My debut CD is called -- WORDS LINES AND RHYMES--- It is jam packed with 19 great, solo/acoustic/folk/country songs. I tried to make a recording that would sound like I was sitting in your living room playing these songs just for you. I believe I have done that!
WORDS LINES AND RHYMES is now available on C D Baby, I just uploaded 4 of the songs from, WORDS LINES AND RHYMES. Please listen to them , read the lyrics and let me know what you think. I will change the songs from time to time. If you are familiar with American Songwriter mag. (a great read by the way) I received an honorable mention for my song "Holy Ground" -track 8 on WORDS LINES AND RHYMES- they get tons of submissions for that contest so this was a really big deal for me.
You know this series of tubes called the internet is an amazing thing, below are two buttons you can click on to take you directly to digstation, or I-Tunes, these are great places to go and get a sample of every song on WORDS LINES AND RHYMES, not only that but you get to look at a really cool moving picture while you listen. or you can go to the button to the left under the picture of the front cover of WORDS LINES AND RHYMES where it says "buy now" click on that and it will take you directly to CD Baby--- So go to either button and listen, then download some songs. or buy the CD
a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm15c3BhY2UuY29tL2lsb3ZlbW91 < bnRhaW5zX2RvdF9vcmc=" target="_blank"> Click here to add this banner to your profile!
hey steve, the weather is hot and sunny and the beer and wine is cold in ol NH.. wish you could be here hope all is well out west way my friend. hope you are well. have a great week my friend.
steve...rolling through to say hey from one travelin man to another..hope it's going well for ya this summer..wrapping up my north georgia mountain stay and heading somewhere else down those blue hiways...soon...twh
