Green Rocky Road

Chronique

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 /TiVo