Digging Up BonesDanny O’Keefe
Danny O’Keefe/Breezy Stories
(1971/1973 – Atlantic)
A music business buddy was thinking of doing a "covers" album with a known artist. The concept centered on combining unlikely elements to form something new, unique. The artist (female Americana/New Folk) and label were on board, so it was time to go-a-hunting for the cover tunes. Most would be familiar, but I suggested throwing in a few from left field. A woman singing "Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues" popped into my head, and off I went to unearth a one-hit-wonder from yesteryear.
Danny O'Keefe recorded two albums in the early 1970s that turned out to be phenomenal: Danny O'Keefe (his debut) and the follow-up, Breezy Stories. These recordings are gorgeously rendered, impeccably arranged, complex, and daring. They don't always succeed, but when they do it's thrilling. Check out “Drive On, Driver,” for example. “The Road” (a minor hit for Jackson Browne) is another keeper, along with “Magdalena.” O'Keefe took on jazz, psychadelia, and country honk. It amazes me how often he got it right!
The “covers” project is still a dream in the wings, but my music friend still talks about Danny O’Keefe.
JH
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5 comments:
I do not know this O Keefe. And who is this folk singer you talk of? Nice page!
These two are actually his first and third albums. His 2nd album, "O'Keefe" contains "The Road", and also the better version of "Goodtime Charlie's Got The Blues", and is widely considered to be his best album.
B.,
Sorry I can't tell you more about the "folk singer" in question. The recording hasn't happened, but maybe in the future... Thanks for the compliment.
Rob,
You are right. The follow-up to "Danny O'Keefe" is "O'Keefe" (not "Breezy Stories," as I wrote.) Thanks for the clarification.
Danny also recorded with the group Calliope before his solo album. It includes "Atlas Shrugged" which he included on a later album. His first solo, "Danny O'Keefe" has some really interesting arrangements, including some very unique story songs like "Canary" and "Rev. Jones" plus songs that he would later rerecord to greater effect such as "Good-time Charlie's Got the Blues," and "Covered Wagon." As Rob pointed out, "O'Keefe" included the definitive version of "Good-time Charlie" and man other great songs. However, and here I differ with Rob, it was really like a second-debut album (I get the contradiction, but everything that followed flowed more naturally out of the second album than from the first). Most would consider "Breezy Stories" to be his masterpiece although every album since then has been a major accomplishment. Danny O'Keefe is one of the finest songwriters of the past half century. Fortunately, nearly all of his albums have been recently rereleased.
Tim,
Thanks for dropping by. And thanks for the heads up on Calliope; I'll be on the lookout for it/them.
Rev. Stone (not Jones) is fabulous as well as Canary... I could've gone on, but in a limited space, my goal was to get people "into" O'Keefe, as, like you, I think he is grossly overlooked.
Glad there are a few of us fanning the flames!
JH
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