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Ignoring the fact that Patti Scialfa is married to Bruce Springsteen, it's easy to hear the musical cache she brings to the table, particularly within the confines of 23RD STREET LULLABY, her second album in over a decade. Scialfa uses her days spent as a struggling New York City musician in the late 1970s and early '80s for inspiration, and rang up a few buddies from back in that time of her life. Among the best-known names who contributed to these sessions are co-producer Steve Jordan, James Taylor sideman Clifford Carter, and fiddler/vocalist Soozie Tyrell, who is also a member of Springsteen's touring band.
The result is a batch of loosely autobiographical tales that hearkens back to that era's class of gritty urban singer-songwriters, including Graham Parker, Garland Jeffreys, and Lou Reed. Reminiscing about her days in the Chelsea section of Manhattan (see the atmospheric title cut), Scialfa writes about bad seeds (a twangy "City Boys"), fun-seeking waitresses (the doo-wop harmony-laden "Rose"), and grease monkeys (a wistful "Chelsea Avenue"). Sure, the characters that populate these songs are similar to those created by her husband (who unobtrusively contributes guitar and keyboards), but what do you expect from a native Jersey girl?
Initial release includes a bonus disc with 3 live tracks.
All Words & Music Written By Patti.Prod.By Steve Jordan.
Personnel: Patti Scialfa (vocals, recorder, harpsichord, harmonium, field organ, Hammond b-3 organ, keyboards); Nils Lofgren (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric 12-string guitar, lap steel guitar, dobro, mandolin, bass guitar); Marc Ribot (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, baritone guitar, nylon-string guitar, dobro, tres, banjo); Bobby Bandiera (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Larry Campbell (electric guitar, cittern); Bruce Springsteen (electric guitar, keyboards); Soozie Tyrell (violin, background vocals); Jane Scarpantoni (cello); Clifford Carter (piano, Wurlitzer piano, field organ, Hammond b-3 organ, Mellotron, keyboards); John Medeski (piano); Greg Cohen (double bass); Steve Jordan (bass guitar, drums, percussion, loops, background vocals); Will Lee , Willie Weeks (bass guitar); Lisa Lowell, Antoinette More, Michelle Moore, Tiffeny Andrews (background vocals).Rolling Stone (p.124) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[A] sweeter, more confident effort....Sophisticated pop that frames Scialfa as a jaunty, East Coast version of Rickie Lee Jones or Bonnie Raitt." Rolling Stone (p.151) - Included in Rolling Stone's Top 50 Records Of 2004 - "Scialfa connects to her past with well-wrought, down-to-earth tunes." Entertainment Weekly (p.85) - "[T]here's an inviting, appealing earnestness to Scialfa's bruised-soul folk rock." - Grade: B+ Q (p.122) - 3 stars out of 5 - "Like a quieter, more thoughtful Sheryl Crow, Scialfa is a daughter of the city and her charms reveal themselves slowly."
Bruce's wife is a doll..... I had Rumble Doll and 23rd St Lullaby on vacation with me in Florida. My friends "loved" them. Being a big Bruce fan, I had gotten Patty's music years ago. This order was for both CD's as a Xmas gift to my friend in Florida. We both love Patty's music.
Good for her! Fay Submitted by fpeck (Peru, New York, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
Bruce's wife is a doll..... I had Rumble Doll and 23rd St Lullaby on vacation with me in Florida. My friends "loved" them. Being a big Bruce fan, I had gotten Patty's music years ago. This order was for both CD's as a Xmas gift to my friend in Florida. We both love Patty's music.
Good for her! Fay Submitted by fpeck (Peru, New York, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Lost and Found I bought this CD a few years ago, but somehow failed to notice it was a double and found only the bonus CD, which while really good, was already familiar, except for the title song, sung live, Twenty Third Street Lullaby. Two weeks ago, I dug out the CD and, to my delight, found a whole other CD, full of music that calls back a life lived many years ago...1988, in Chelsea. This CD feels like a book of poetry set to music, sung in a gorgeous smokey, soft voice, that drags the past back by the heart. Each song builds on the other until you feel Patti is a friend, sitting on the sofa telling you her life story, in most exquisite detail. You are with her. Why she is not a more major talent with songs like, "You Can't Go Back," "Young in the City," and especially, "Romeo," is anybody's guess, but it's wrong that she isn't. She is deserving of a wide and loving audience, the kind her husband, Bruce, has. You can hear the match in these songs. Submitted by Charlotte (San Francisco) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
A BIG TALENT ON HER OWN AGAIN! Looked forward to this new collection
and it doesn't dissapoint. Bringing
out the best from the likes of Laura Nyro, Ronnie Spector, and a dash of
greats like Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams and the street songs of Rickie lee jones, I even feel some
Patti Smith going on at times, but this is all Patti and her great songwriting, vocals and smart choices.
This collection is filled with longing
and a haunting nostalgic look back to
her earlier pre Bruce Springsteen
days but it also revels in her struggles and accomplishments. Very
self assured yet like her first one, 1993's "Rumble
Doll", its got an innocense and unpretentious appeal you don't find
very often these days. She sprinkles in some blues rootsy rock and plenty
of soul harmonizing from decades ago with a touch of the Boss here and there, Just an excellent dose of music for summer 2004. This ones a
winner all around. Submitted by littlebibs (Kingston, N.H.) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Easy Listening storyteller It's refreshing to hear the stories that have been in the making for several years. Patti allows us to imagine, visualize, and become a part of the story.
I especially liked Rose, Love (stand up), and 23rd St. Lullaby. Track 2, You Can't Go Back contains profound lyrics that we all can relate to at one time or another. Submitted by CEM (Seattle, WA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 0 of 1 found this helpful.
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A BIG TALENT ON HER OWN AGAIN!
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