Lindy Gravelle - Music And Me
Album review by: Chery Harvey Hill
When you visit Lindy Gravelle's website, it will strike you as simple in comparison to all the flash sites that are now the norm. It says “singer-songwriter-pianist” on her main page which indicates to me that the singer is as modest, and as equally lovely, as her website design. What's missing are the appropriate adjectives; it should read, “amazing singer-brilliant songwriter-fantastic pianist”. Or perhaps it could say astonishing singer, magnificent songwriter, and marvelous pianist; seriously, I could go on and on. The beautiful Ms. Gravelle has been around a while so she has an incomparable body of work to showcase her skills. I, for one, found my way to this delightful entertainer via a song called “Bottle of Wine and Patsy Cline”. I have loudly proclaimed, to anyone and everyone, that it is one of the greatest country music songs ever written and I stand by that statement, but I digress, I'm not here to talk about her past success, I'm here to acknowledge her current one, a new album simply titled “Lindy Gravelle Music & Me”. There are eleven songs on this CD, six written by Gravelle alone and one co-written with Matt Engle. First song to last is an interesting musical journey.
The album kicks off with a very appropriate prelude, an acoustic rendition of “When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again” sung, back in 1975, by Gravelle's father, Ron Leonnig. This song transitions directly to “Music And Me” which is written and beautifully sung by Gravelle. The lyrics recount her musical journey from her first recollection to where she is with her music today. The lyrics are excellent and skillfully delivered: “Music's a gift God gave our souls / to heal our hurts and bring us joys untold / I hope the music I make is the lasting kind / worth listening to, time after time”. Trust me, it definitely is.
After an energized version of an old standard, “Walkin' After Midnight”, she delivers another up-tempo tune, “Fallin'”, which she co-wrote with Matt Engle. Next comes a beautiful rendition of another old classic, “Till There Was You”. Not exactly country music but I was totally awash with memories. This gal sure can sing.
“Don't Pull The Trigger” is an analogy about holding your temper and not spewing words that will hurt someone else when you can't take them back. “Up Yours” offers the opposite advice and I don't think I have to explain what “Viagra in the Water” is about.
The next two songs, both written by Gravelle, offer up great advice about life, and how you should deal with it, but in polar opposite ways. On a lighter note, all dog lovers will fully understand the advice given in “Wag More, Bark Less”. It's good advice about counting your blessings and not complaining so much. Then comes “Tell the Ones You Love You Do”. This song cautions that you should not take life for granted and even though you think someone knows you love them, you should still tell them so, because they need to hear it, and if you wait to long, you may not get the opportunity to tell them at all.
The final track, also written by Gravelle, is simply titled “Heaven”. You will find a really beautiful video for this song on her website. This is a sweet song about life after losing someone you love. "I hope your happy in your new home / surrounded by family and friends / I hope some day I'll get there too / we'll be together again / to share some laughs and talk of old times / oh that would be heaven to me / I shouldn't complain but life’s not the same / and oh how I need you here / to hear your voice / to see you smile / to hug you and know you're near / but I don't blame angels for taking your hand / and walking you through heaven's door / I guess heaven must have needed you more”.
After I perused the many song titles of her previous albums, I've decided I definitely need them all. I did gift myself her Christmas album last year and it quickly became one of my favorites. This year I think I'll gift myself “Ancient Hist'ry” and after that, hm-mm, probably “The Change” or maybe “Little Ol' Girl” – my goal is to eventually have them all. Yep, she's that good, and this new album is a good way to get to know her.
www.LindyGravelle.com
A Lindy Christmas
When you visit Lindy Gravelle's website, it will strike you as simple in comparison to all the flash sites that are now the norm. It says “singer-songwriter-pianist” on her main page which indicates to me that the singer is as modest, and as equally lovely, as her website design. What's missing are the appropriate adjectives; it should read, “amazing singer-brilliant songwriter-fantastic pianist”. Or perhaps it could say astonishing singer, magnificent songwriter, and marvelous pianist; seriously, I could go on and on. The beautiful Ms. Gravelle has been around a while so she has an incomparable body of work to showcase her skills. I, for one, found my way to this delightful entertainer via a song called “Bottle of Wine and Patsy Cline”. I have loudly proclaimed, to anyone and everyone, that it is one of the greatest country music songs ever written and I stand by that statement, but I digress, I'm not here to talk about her past success, I'm here to acknowledge her current one, a new album simply titled “Lindy Gravelle Music & Me”. There are eleven songs on this CD, six written by Gravelle alone and one co-written with Matt Engle. First song to last is an interesting musical journey.
The album kicks off with a very appropriate prelude, an acoustic rendition of “When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again” sung, back in 1975, by Gravelle's father, Ron Leonnig. This song transitions directly to “Music And Me” which is written and beautifully sung by Gravelle. The lyrics recount her musical journey from her first recollection to where she is with her music today. The lyrics are excellent and skillfully delivered: “Music's a gift God gave our souls / to heal our hurts and bring us joys untold / I hope the music I make is the lasting kind / worth listening to, time after time”. Trust me, it definitely is.
After an energized version of an old standard, “Walkin' After Midnight”, she delivers another up-tempo tune, “Fallin'”, which she co-wrote with Matt Engle. Next comes a beautiful rendition of another old classic, “Till There Was You”. Not exactly country music but I was totally awash with memories. This gal sure can sing.
“Don't Pull The Trigger” is an analogy about holding your temper and not spewing words that will hurt someone else when you can't take them back. “Up Yours” offers the opposite advice and I don't think I have to explain what “Viagra in the Water” is about.
The next two songs, both written by Gravelle, offer up great advice about life, and how you should deal with it, but in polar opposite ways. On a lighter note, all dog lovers will fully understand the advice given in “Wag More, Bark Less”. It's good advice about counting your blessings and not complaining so much. Then comes “Tell the Ones You Love You Do”. This song cautions that you should not take life for granted and even though you think someone knows you love them, you should still tell them so, because they need to hear it, and if you wait to long, you may not get the opportunity to tell them at all.
The final track, also written by Gravelle, is simply titled “Heaven”. You will find a really beautiful video for this song on her website. This is a sweet song about life after losing someone you love. "I hope your happy in your new home / surrounded by family and friends / I hope some day I'll get there too / we'll be together again / to share some laughs and talk of old times / oh that would be heaven to me / I shouldn't complain but life’s not the same / and oh how I need you here / to hear your voice / to see you smile / to hug you and know you're near / but I don't blame angels for taking your hand / and walking you through heaven's door / I guess heaven must have needed you more”.
After I perused the many song titles of her previous albums, I've decided I definitely need them all. I did gift myself her Christmas album last year and it quickly became one of my favorites. This year I think I'll gift myself “Ancient Hist'ry” and after that, hm-mm, probably “The Change” or maybe “Little Ol' Girl” – my goal is to eventually have them all. Yep, she's that good, and this new album is a good way to get to know her.
www.LindyGravelle.com
A Lindy Christmas
