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Album: The Rivers Call (2013)

by Chuck LeMonds

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1.
Let's Go Down Stream 05:09
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When you go down stream, use a paddle for a ruder. When you go upstream, you gotta row like a mother. Let’s go down stream to the land of our dreams. Let’s go down stream to New Orleans. Let’s go down stream, where the folks aren’t mean. Let’s go down stream, where they go green. Let’s go down stream, where Ellen’s Queen. Let’s go down stream, where the gals are seen. Don’t let your thoughts cause you to wait. You be the one to decide your fate. Come right on down to the land of your dreams. Come right on down to sweet Orleans. We can walk the streets, where the gals are sweet. You never know who we just might meet. Ellen’s sure to give us a treat, if we should meet her on the street. Let’s go down stream to the land of our dreams. Let’s go down stream to sweet Orleans. Let’s go down stream, where the river is wide. Let’s go down stream, and lay our shackles aside. When you go down stream, use the paddle for a rudder. When you go up stream, you gotta row like a mother. Where the food is good, and the music is great. In this river town, you may find your mate.
2.
Bringing Mary K Home 06:03
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Bringing Mary K home Bringing Mary K home Bringing Mary K home Bringing Mary K home Standing in the alley by our hotel in Chicago taking pictures of my red guitar a rusted old fire escape, tin cans, and a Stetson hat it was a scene from a film never made. We met up in the Midwest I was on my way back home and you were seeing your boy off to school you were the oldest in the family and took me in at 15, I’d left home, and didn’t know what to do. You and Joe saved my ass before I knew what I had to lose a young man from a fatherless home you were outlaws and in-laws and you made your little world somewhere I could also call my own. You said, “Let me tell you something!” or “I’ll tell you what!” with a strong will and a faith in love. now I never knew Jesus like you did but I thought that it could be true that we’re praying to the same person even when I’m singing the blues.
3.
To Bee Or Not To Bee 05:12
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Where have all the honey bees gone no one seems to know scientists just scratch their heads, when the flowers bloom, and the bees don’t show. Did you ever think you’d miss the bees or being stung, out in the clover they were always here, and from children feared. To bee or not to bee that is the question no bees no flowers no apples on the trees no pollination, end of the civilized nation, to bee or not to bee that is the question. Go ask Monsanto, ask Bayer Pharmacy their slogan promises, a better life for us and bees, but bees become confused and can’t find their way back home after collecting pollen full of neo-nicotinoids.
4.
The Rivers Call 06:47
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The lights have gone out have no fear there’s nothing you can do about it. Seen it before many times, many places standing at the edge of a grave. Sleeping on the couch at your fathers place thoughts run asunder like the roaches in the dark. They never go away like some hurts that you have carried and now you’re giving in to the rivers call. I don’t know anymore than you how to smile when there’s nothing to smile about when you got no money, they can skin you alive and hang you on the roadside to dry I don’t know anymore than you how to take back what’s already done and through when things fall apart and just won’t go as planned and if fate was like clay that you could pound with your hands I still wouldn’t know anymore than you Standing at night on the banks of the river you wouldn’t want to be in my skin. Waiting, as if a reason to stay will come floating down around the bend. Cry out to those who have passed before you who are waiting for you, to come home Just weary and worn standing this night on the shore, watching the river flow by. I don’t know anymore than you how some sleep in houses and some on skid row everyone else has a plan, you make it up as you go how could anyone not love you, how could anyone not love you I don’t know anymore than you how to take a fall and not lose your grace how to spend all the money at one time and place and if fate were like clay that you could pound with your hands I still wouldn’t know anymore than you.
5.
The Letter Home 04:28
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I remember a better place A dream of going home to Rosemerryn Newly built A southwest warmth A northern light Hand sized slates, hand hewn Awaiting lichen and moss The stable door, half open The granites feldspan, glistening Are the brown snails still there The unused woodpile, the hearth unlit, The oaks, their leaves turning now. The pictures from each window From each pane The unrung bell The pictures half painted, my easel and Isabella waiting. Benjamin Eastlake Leader Fell in the trenches of France One of the many who fell in the war That made no sense when looking back An artist and a painter Left his new home in Rosemerryn In a grove of trees near Larmorna cove On the granite cliffs down by the sea. If he would have known What was waiting for him there, He could have hid away In the ancient cave behind the house And held onto a life, that would quickly fade, with each day but to live with the shame would be better than to leave Isabella forever.
6.
See The One You Love 04:25
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Did you see the one you love looking back at you passing on the street car down line number 2. Or sitting at the café watermelon and red wine she’s looking over his shoulder sending you a smile. Did you see the one you love waking next to you sitting at the table watching what you do. Did you see the one you love standing close to you leaning on your shoulder whispering what to do Did you see the one you love See the one you love 3x Pick a bouquet of wild flowers wild and full of dangerous truths gonna take em to the one I love and the one I love is you. There’s more pretty girls, then you could ever know round every corner, high and low you can’t close your eyes, and they won’t go away that’s another story for a rainy day.
7.
Put A Good Word In For Me 04:34
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If you get there before me, and if you have the chance, won’t you, put a good word in for me. If you meet the one, who holds the key, won’t you put a good word in for me. Then I won’t have to convince no one, there’ll be no need to write a letter, I can walk in with my head held up high even though they’ll know I was no angel. If you get close, to the one who knows, won’t you put a good word in for me. If she has an ear, For a weary soul, Won’t you put a good word in for me. Then I can come in and take my place Amongst the stars and the moon It don’t have to be a front row seat As long I as I can see my baby As long as I can smell her perfume Surrounded by all those angels.
8.
Good Things Come To Him 04:54
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9.
Top of the World 05:18
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Monday, 11 November 2013

Paul Villers/ Americana UK
LeMonds "The Rivers Call"
Live-In-Trees Music, 2013


⦁ Sublime
The dictionary definition of sublime (which I’m sure you could look up but I will save you the trouble here) is: “inspiring deep veneration, awe, or uplifting emotion because of its beauty, nobility, grandeur, or immensity”.  And there you have – this record in a nutshell. I could leave it there but you’ll be wanting some details I guess, so here goes.
We have some history with Chuck LeMonds having reviewed his eponymous “ LeMonds” some time ago. We found it a solid, likeable record, if that is not to damn with faint praise. Something has happened in the intervening period  however because this is a collection of songs of an altogether different stripe. By which I mean it is nine tunes of intimate, delicate beauty that will have you transported to a better place despite whatever your current location might be or whatever mood you might find yourself in. This is achieved in a number of ways: there’s the deft, light touch production, the gorgeous instrumentation of his various collaborators, the “pass me some more of that honey and gravel throat gargle preparation” vocal performance and the by turns intriguing and beguiling lyrics. As pointed out this is a nine track cd – in the old days that would have been four tracks on one side and five on the other. Perfect – and not one of them out of place, none chucked on at the end to fill it out a bit. Each is an indispensible contribution to the whole. 
In terms of references, there are all sorts of things in there; I’m finding everything from Ry Cooder to Crosby, Stills and Nash to The Penguin Café Ochestra to Hank Williams and all points between. Throughout, however, the drummer shuffles, the bassist plucks that upright bass, the backing singers give it up like a stripped down gospel choir and the slide guitarist twangs it with a passion. It’s the tightness and empathy of the players that rounds up all the perceived influences (and you’ll find plenty all of your own) and makes this a proper ‘album of songs’ rather then mere ‘collection of tunes’. In fact its very difficult to pick out highlights since they all work together so well but I might point you towards “Let’s Go Down Stream” (partially dictated over the phone by the artist’s father) or “To Bee Or Not To Bee” (an environmental peon featuring a mad bowed bass intro that re configures Rimsky-Korsakov’s “The Flight of the Bumble Bee”  for the jazz age) or a re-imagining of Patty Griffin’s “Top Of The World” featuring just voice and guitar which is so fragile you might imagine it would fracture at the merest hint of pressure. Then again there’s the ‘musical interlude’ of “Good Things Come To Him” or the funky Southern Rock of “Put A Good Word In For Me”. Hell – they’re all highlights really.
 
Highly recommended.
 
 

credits

released September 1, 2013

Artist: Chuck LeMonds/ 9th album
Album: The Rivers Call
Release date: 2013
Producer: Chuck LeMonds,
Engineered by: Chuck LeMonds
Mixed by: Chuck LeMonds
All parts from Chris Wagoner & Mary Gaines: Engineered by Chris Wagoner in Madison, Wisconsin.
All songs written & arranged by Chuck LeMonds (except where noted)

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Chuck LeMonds Austria

Chuck LeMonds’ music is a kind of Country Soul gumbo of blues, folk, funk and country with poetic lyrics that call to be heard. In times like these, the music and songwriting of Chuck LeMonds has the effect of a soothing balsam for the soul, or that of a plow turning over fresh soil in a field waiting to be planted in spring. ... more

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