First Album (Remastered)
Self-Released, 2021
8/10
Listen to First Album (Remastered)
The folk singer-songwriter Terry Kitchen has been at it for a long time now. So long, in fact, that he reissued this first album from 1991 with some additional songs, and it’s remastered, too.
“Property” starts the listen with a timeless folk presence as Brice Buchanan provides harmony vocals alongside Chris Peeler’s agile drumming, and “The Favor” continues this formula with Kitchen’s intricate guitar playing that benefits from Matt Darriau’s soprano sax amid some jazz nods.
Elsewhere, the very pretty “This Diamond Ring” recruits Leslie Sterling’s harmony vocals to the Gary & The Playboys original that Kitchen puts a very playful twist on, while “Tender Lee” indeed brings much warmth and emotion, not to mention Jack Paradis’ soulful harmonica. “That’s The Way”, one of the album’s best, then showcases Geoff Poister’s moody violin as well as firm drumming and rich guitar licks.
The original album ends with the bare and powerful “Take Me Blues”, which seems like it could soundtrack a long drive through the desert, and of the bonus tracks, “Fix My Bike” is particularly exceptional, and puts Kitchen on slide guitar and harmonica in the frisky and creative landscape.
Even though these songs are 30 years old, they sound just as relevant today, as Kitchen’s leap into solo music after the dissolution of Boston’s Loose Ties clearly set him on a path to further greatness. Still very active all these decades later, revisiting this early album reminds us of just how long Kitchen has been penning timeless folk music, and how consistently fantastic it’s all been.
Travels well with: Jackson Browne- Downhill From Everywhere; Jesse Brewster- The Lonely Pines