Valerie Carter - The Way It Is

Sweet

Have received and am listening to Valerie Carter’s 1996 album The Way It Is. As with her first two from the 70s, and considering those with whom she has played – Lowell George, Jackson Browne, James Taylor – the songs on this album reflect that folky, singer/songwriter and occasional funkier genres, and indeed Browne, Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Phoebe Snow and Lyle Lovett provide quest vocals on the album, Lyle on the rockier/soulful number Who Is She [and what is She to You]. There is a gorgeous version of Neil Young’s Birds, and Van Morrison’s Into The Mystic gets a vocal rendition that again reminds of Rickie Lee. In reminding readers that such references are touchstones and compliments – usually – eighth track When The Blues Come to Call reflects Carter’s vocal perfectly on its own, quite perfect. Ninth and penultimate I Wonder Why - as with previous, written by Tom Snow – is one of the funkier tracks: great guitar by Mark Goldenberg and possibly James Harrah, and a vocal ensemble [not clear which of the luminaries are collected here] that is sweet sweet sweet. Tom Waits’ song Whistle Down The Wing closes the album, and Carter sings this beautifully - Goldenberg on accordion; Novi Novog on viola.

And I have just discovered the hidden track at the actual end, Earth, Wind & Fire's That's The Way of the World [Hearts Afire], and it is a stunner, Carter locking vocal horns with Phoebe Snow in a dynamite cover. That's what I call a bonus.

Not loads about Valerie, foreground, on the net: I think this might be backing James Taylor