Merle & Iris


For reasons that I cannot identify I decided yesterday to pull out some discs I had not played in too long; one is a Merle Haggard recording titled 1996 (on Curb, at a time when he was having (unbelievable but true) difficulty getting a recording contract), and there is a magnificent cover of a magnificent Iris DeMent song titled No Time To Cry.  The liner noted by Theresa Haggard describe it  as "an indescribable masterpiece".  

I agree.

Richard
rpeluso

Showing 1 response by ncarv

Iris Dement is a true artist, along with her husband of 15 years, Greg Brown. I came to appreciate both independently before they married. I haven't seen her live, but have seen Greg three times, including once at his "home" venue, The Mill, in Iowa City.

At that show, audience members, at Greg's suggestion, passed notes to the stage with requests, which he honored. I spoke to him for a few minutes between sets, a very easy-going and low-key guy. After five full sets (!), I had to leave for an early wake-up. Greg didn't leave.

The first song that got me hooked on him was the title song from his album, "Dream Cafe." The sonic quality of his recordings is typically excellent. His LP, "The Poet Game," is a particularly wonderful one, both musically and sonically.

If you like Iris, you might like Greg, too.