This both is and is not a Gerry Spehar record.
The veteran performer produced the double album of twenty of his songs but the majority of the tracks are interpreted by his ‘friends’ to celebrates his four decade long career.
The singers are Teresa James, Dale Watson, Lisa McKenzie, Gary Lynn Floyd and Lisa Daye. Backing is provided by a large cast of well-regarded Nashville and LA session players
There are two versions of Rockin’ On A Country Dance Floor one by country ‘girl’ Teresa James, the other by country ‘boy’ Gary L Floyd. The latter is the busiest ‘friend’, singing on five tunes and sharing vocal duties on a further five.
Spehar himself sings on six of the twenty songs and his grizzled delivery is a welcome contrast to the more predictable contributions. His only duet is with Lisa McKenzie on Normandy.
The love songs are for the most part cloyingly sentimental. The worst of example is Both Ends Of The Rainbow where Floyd and James join forces to gush over how their “love has turned our pots to gold.”
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The best tunes are those that comment on the hard times we are living through.
Spehar started making music as a young man but in 1986 he quit performing to devote time to raising a family, earning money as a merchant banker of all things. This didn’t affect his empathy to the plight of the working classes.
His left-leaning position is clear from Joanne,with Dale Watson on vocals, which criticises dishonest politicians who are oblivious to the fact that the “working class [is] driven to its knees.” Out Of Business Blues also shows him to be on the right side of history.
This album shows off the impressive range of Spehar’s material but also confirms that he is the best interpreter of his own songs.
Gerry Spehar’s website
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