Proving (twice) that good
things are worth waiting for,
Stephanie Davis follows
her acclaimed 2003
Crocus in the Snow with two terrific releases that
have long been in the works:
Western Bling
and Western Bliss.
Well known as an impressive performer as well as a gifted
songwriter—Garth Brooks, Don
Edwards, Trisha Yearwood, Maria Muldaur, Joey and Rory,
Roger Whittaker, Martina McBride, Sam Moore and
others have recorded her work—this time out she gives her
inspired take on some well-chosen standards, and includes
just one piece of her own. Both CDs are filled with a fresh
and genuine originality in every aspect of production.
The songs will follow you around; they're contagious. You'll
find yourself listening over and over to her unique,
dazzling voice—always in perfect command—and its enormous
range of emotions, which can be saucy and sweet, playful and
serious, flirtatious and innocent, and more. It all comes
together with the rare quality of the inventive arrangements
and the virtuoso musicians accompanying her: Cindy
Cashdollar, Rich O'Brien, Reggie Reuffer, Clint Strong, and
others. The projects exemplify Stephanie Davis's trademark
for perfection.
The stand-out package design for each CD, with art by
notable Montana artist Monte Dolack (www.dolack.com),
is a great match for the spirited music inside.
Western Bliss
will make you want to put on your dancing boots and head on
out. It's a guaranteed good time. Ride along and find
yourself "Hittin' the Trail Tonight" (Bruce
Kiskaddon's poem put to music by Western Folklife Center
Founding Director Hal Cannon), and that includes the wistful
"Santa Fe Trail" and the enchanting "Navajo Trail." When you get to
the wild and flat-out fun "Bronco Buster's Ball" you'll be
close to "Trail's End."
The "Trail's End Theme Song" is Stephanie Davis's song for
her forthcoming radio show, which will include "sketches,
sound effects, monologues, and the Trail's End Ranch Hand
Band." A frequent guest on Public Radio's
A Prairie Home
Companion, its host Garrison Keillor urged her to
create a Trail's End Ranch Radio show. A show in 2007 at the
Western Folklife Center's National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
tried out the concept with great success (watch and listen
to it
here on the
Western Folklife Center's site).
Other highlights on Western Bliss include "Montana
Cowgirl," "Old Faithful," and "Leanin' on the Old Top Rail."
Western Bling
takes the romantic fork in the trail. Western Swing gets
reinvented with this sparkling array of tunes, where Bob
Wills meets Gershwin and they share the stage with the songs
of Cindy Walker, the Mills Brothers, and Bobby Darin. Each
track has its own special "bling." There's the hot opening
track, "Talkin' 'Bout You," the steamy "Baby, That Sure
Would Go Good," a most convincing "The Best Things in Life
are Free," and a sweetly pouty "Slow Poke." You'll want to
turn the lights down for "If I Had You."
Even heartbreak doesn't topple Stephanie Davis's signature
humor and positive spirit. She describes "Nevertheless" in
expanded liner notes, "...Ah, the terrible/wonderful angst
of standing, trembling, hands clasped, legs poised, atop the
High Dive Of Love...here's to all of you brave hearts and
remember to check to see that there's water in the pool." Of
Cindy Walker's "Hubbin' It," she writes, "If the only
bailout you've been the recent recipient of involved the
'gentle as a kitten' stud horse your cousin Lester brought
back from the sale barn and an amorous cow moose, here's
your song, Western Bling-style." In fact, those liner notes
(read them here and at
Stephanie Davis'
web site) are a special added attraction to these projects,
full of snappy writing that reflects her generous view of
the world.
The quality of each selection, the unerring sense of timing
throughout, along with the top notch vocal and musical
performances makes this dual release a guaranteed cure
for...you name it. You won't be anything but happy while
you're treating yourself to Western Bling and
Western Bliss.
California singer and songwriter John 
Eight 
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