Search - Bobbie Gentry :: Chickasaw County Child: The Artistry of Bobbie Gentry

First-rate anthology of an unusual, underrated artist

Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 04/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Most folks know Southern songwriter Bobbie Gentry as the singer of the spooky 'Sixties hit, "Ode To Billie Joe," which soared to the top of the Pop charts in 1967, and went Top 20 on the Country charts. She had a few other Country hits, mostly duets with Glen Campbell, but her success came mainly as a pop stylist, and the success of her first single eluded her afterwards, in part because she was just so dynamically innovative and outside the box that her work defied easy categorization and promotion. This impressive 23-song collection will be a real eye-opener for folks unfamiliar with the rest of Gentry's career. The grand, sweeping, orchestrations and dense pop arrangements stand in contrast to her sultry, plainspoken, vocals, which often dip into bluesy soul-drenched phrasing. Gentry comes off a bit like Dusty Springfield on the magnificent "Dusty In Memphis" album, except that Gentry didn't just sing these songs -- the wrote all of them as well! It's an impressive body of work, consistently creative and outside of the well-defined boundaries of the rock, pop, soul and country traditions she draws on... This is a great collection, artistically rich and consistently engaging. Recommended!"

Simply Brilliant - Chills Up The Spine

David S. Jenkins | On the Road | 10/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For 40 years I had appreciated "Ode to Billie Joe" as one of the most perfect and unique few minutes ever committed to vinyl, but had never too seriously dug into the rest of her music. This collection has me kicking myself and resolved to make up for my sad oversight. This is an EXTRAORDINARY cd by a tremendous talent. I mean EXTRAORDINARY. If the world can rediscover and shower respect upon Nancy Sinatra, it's certainly time to spread the word about Ms. Gentry. I haven't found a cd by a female artist as riveting and compelling since I first discovered Kate Bush, and that's 25 years ago. My favorite female vocalist of all time is dear departed Dusty Springfield... but I'll tell you, Ms. Gentry is beginning to affect me in the very same way, with her voice getting under my skin, as though she were singing just inches from my ear. Stunning work...unlike anything I've ever heard...and she wrote the songs! Bobbie, wherever you are (are you still in the Savannah area?) please know that your work lives on and is clearly unsurpassed."

Best collection yet of her earlier work.

dpwstory | Boston Area | 09/29/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"(This is a partial rewrite of my epinions review.)

I grew up listening to Bobbie Gentry's first three albums with my family (and they are well-worn records) so it surprised me to realize years later when I went to track down her music on CD that she wasn't exactly a household name (save a few radio hits.)

I further found it frustrating and bewildering that the available compilation albums seemed to lean more towards her later mainstream, pop radio friendly work (Glen Campbell duets, etc.)

Chickasaw County Child: The Artistry of Bobbie Gentry is a important step in the right direction. Of the 23 tracks more than half are from the early albums (Ode to Billie Joe and The Delta Sweete) and most of the last ten were at least worth a listen - coming mostly from singles and her last album Patchwork. As an introduction to her entire career it's a good start.

Having said that, I would point out that her material NOT included in this collection would make an excellent second volume in it's own right. I easily count another dozen originals that could have been included before considering her many covers. The exclusion of the very cool rap-like tune 'Reunion' and her cover versions of Blues numbers like 'Tobacco Road' and 'Niki Hoeky' (to name just two) are my biggest disappointments with this compilation.

It probably wishful thinking, but hopefully this collection precipitates the re-release of her entire catalog (The Delta Sweete in particular should be enjoyed in it's entirety as cuts are transitioned one into the next.)

Bobbie Gentry was the prototypical female singer-songwriter and here she finally gets a chance to show what should have made her a pre-eminent performer throughout the world (not just Las Vegas and the UK) the first time around. If you enjoy artists who cross over musical boundaries (in her case Country, Delta Blues, Soul, R&B, Rock, Pop, etc., etc.) to create works that are personal and inventive then please check her out!"