VARIOUS ARTISTS
A Tribute To Nashville (Mint Records)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

---

This disc is a must have for fans of Robert Altman's 1975 epic film Nashville, but it's sure to bring pleasure aplenty even to those who never saw the film or those who could never figure out the twists and turns of the twenty four principal characters. Carolyn Marks was one of those puzzled people until repeated viewing (which happens when you have just a few videos and no cable) made her a fan. In fact, she became such a devotee that she staged a live action version on the stage of a Vancouver, BC bar. That led to her rounding up a batch of her Mint Records label mates to produce this CD version.

While music was central to the story line, the only song that most people remember was the Oscar winning "I'm Easy," performed by Keith Carradine in the film and by Tolan McNeill here. One reason might be that the songs were performed by highly capable actors who were often somewhat less capable country singers. That's corrected here, with some of the best of the Canadian alt.country scene on hand. Marks' own contributions are standouts, both on her own or in duets with Dave Lang or her fellow Corn Sister, Neko Case, who also does an outstanding solo turn on "Rolling Stone."

Much of the material was written with an eye toward irony bordering on sarcasm, but these performances are heartfelt, treating even the most satirical pieces with a straightforward affection. It's a great concept that has produced a terrific recording.

Track List:

Speech #1/Steve Lang * 200 Years/Dave Gowans * Oh These Troubled Times/Corn Sisters * Speech #2/Steve Lang * Bluebird/Dallas Good * For The Sake Of The Children/Dave Lang * Keep A-Goin/Dave Lang * Memphis/Carl Newman * Rolling Stone/Neko Case * Speech #3/Steve Lang * Tape Deck In His Tractor/Dottie Cormier * Dues/Kelly Hogan * Since You've Been Gone/Sylvia Kenny * I Never Get Enough/Cindy Wolfe * I'm Easy/Tolan McNeil * "Elliott Gould"/Jean Mark, Dave Lang & Tom Holliston * One, I Love You/Carolyn Mark, Dave Lang * My Idaho Home/Carolyn Mark * It Don't Worry Me/Robyn Carrigan * Let Me Be The One/Robert Dayton

© 2002 - Shaun Dale