The Background:Marc Cohn's new record on Saguaro Road focuses on the year 1970, an important year for music fans in general and particularly for Marc, because many significant albums and singles were released then that had an impact on his decision to become an artist. The album features Marc's personal interpretations of classic songs written by and/or made famous in 1970 by Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Cat Stevens, Van Morrison, John Fogerty and CCR, Smokey Robinson, Joe Cocker, Simon & Garfunkel, Eric Clapton and several more. Songs include 'Wild World,' 'The Tears of A Clown,' 'The Letter,' 'Maybe I'm Amazed' and 'Make it With You.'
The Review:
Most music lovers know Marc Cohn by looking back to his Grammy-winning debut album featuring the smash single “Walking In Memphis” or even his single “Walk Through This World” off of his superb follow-up album The Rainy Season. Less visible may have followed, but they never failed to tell powerful stories with personal and meaningful lyrics- culminating in the post-Katrina revelation Join The Parade from 2007. But to know Marc Cohn is to delve back even farther than that first album. It’s to flash back to his elementary school days, sitting in his bedroom at eleven years old discovering the music that which will inspire him for a lifetime. That year was 1970 and acts such as Neil Young were making a huge impact. Now forty years later- and with Cohn now 51- he revisits his favorites with the help of his longtime friend and producer, John Leventhal (fresh off of producing wife Roseanne Cash’s The List.)
Cohn’s passion for the project is evident from the opening track and his distinctly soulful voice parlays a unique bluesy southern-flavored taste to each track. Leventhal and Cohn eschew traditional arrangements at nearly every turn, instead letting the lyrics and a single studio session between the two of them reinventing the song before cutting masters with a full band. Only when they thought they had a fresh take would they move forward. What results is something both familiar and new , recognizable but fresh. Cohn gets help from the likes of India.Arie, Kristina Train, Jim Lauderdale and Aimee Mann. Each song, now forty years young, are as vital, vibrant, relevant and full of music soul as ever. This is a good one. Not quite country, but worth having in your collection nevertheless…
Sounds Like:
A more bluesy Graham Nash, a more mellow Marc Broussard
Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):
Wide World
The Only Living Boy In New York
Maybe I’m Amazed
Make It With You
The Verdict:
Four Stars Out Of Five
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