Karen Dalton Green Rocky Road CD

It's likely that ordinarily these home recordings, done circa 1962 and 1963 (likely on a two-track machine), would not have found release, as the sound quality is a little circumspect and the performances a little unpolished. Such was the strength of Karen Dalton's cult following by 2008, however, that many listeners were eager to hear any material that could be found by the singer, who issued only two albums during her lifetime. Accompanying herself on banjo and 12-string guitar (sometimes both at once, via overdubbing), Dalton concentrates on traditional folk-flavored tunes on this 41-minute set, such as "If I Had a Ribbon Bow," "Red Apple Juice," "Nottamun Town," "Skillet Good and Greasy," and "Green Rocky Road." The presence of very light drums and what seems like it might be electric guitar on the bluesy "In the Evening" gives that track a slight folk-rock quality, as though it might have been recorded at a later time than the other tracks. Though Dalton's distinctively sober, plaintive vocals come through strongly throughout the disc, the takes are a bit ragged in places, in part perhaps because of the difficulties in making overdubbed recordings outside of a standard studio setting. While it's evident that Dalton is a talented singer from the basis of these recordings, their tentative informality means it's not the best representation of her assets, which are better reflected by her studio efforts, as flawed as those might have been in the eyes of some fans. Green Rocky Road is thus really a fans-only type release, with a slight field recording-type quality. ~ Richie Unterberger

2008 release, another chapter in the ever-evolving story of the late Karen Dalton. This is the second installment of The Loop Tapes, an album consisting of recordings made by Karen herself at her Boulder home on reel-to-reel. It sounds like the album Dalton would have released in 1963 had she been given the opportunity then. Here are the first takes of ’Ribbon Bow’, ’Katie Cruel’, and ’In The Evening’ and a more complete testimony of Karen’s repertoire on banjo. By the grace of Joe Loop’s faith, we know have a testimony of what a Karen Dalton 1963 album would be like. Nine tracks. Megaphone.

Liner Note Author: Dick Weissman.

Personnel: Karen Dalton (vocals, guitar, banjo).

Audio Remasterer: Peter Mew.

Spin (p.94) - 4.5 stars out of 5 -- "Dalton specialized in haunting, quixotic renderings of traditionals...which are beautifully represented here."
Q (Magazine) (p.147) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "The DIY nature of tracks such as 'Katie Cruel' and 'Ribbon Bow' give Dalton's world-weary voice and convoluted banjo figures an eerie quality, but a timeless one, too..."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.121) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[H]er interpretations of these ancient, mostly anonymous tunes is deeply moving."