Steve Young - Seven Bridges Road (1970-81 us, brilliant outlaw country folk rock, 2005 remaster and expanded)

If you’re a fan of country-rock, Americana, or the 70s Outlaw Movement, you know that Steve Young is no run-of-the-mill artist.  1969′s Rock, Salt and Nails was a fine debut but on this disc Young comes into his own as a songwriter.  One could make the case that this is Young’s best LP, though the next 3 records that follow Seven Bridges Road are also very good.

Confusingly, there are three versions of Seven Bridges Road, each one featuring a slightly different song lineup.  For my money the 1971/1972 Reprise version (the green album) is the best, but the Blue Canyon (1975) and Rounder LPs (1981) each have something to offer fans.  Recording originally commenced in Los Angeles with Ry Cooder on hand but then sometime later, sessions were moved to Nashville.  Things didn’t go so smoothly down in Nashville.  Steve Young recalls: “These sessions were a clash of vibes.  Some pickers were into it.  Others, I had to fight it out.  There was a lot of friction between those Nashville players and me because of the way they were used to doing things, but it came out quite well.”

Seven Bridges Road is full of incredible performances.  Young’s songwriting is stronger than ever this time around, his singing is often compelling and the musicians that support him are in excellent form.  The title cut and “Lonesome On’ry and Mean” (a big hit for Waylon Jennings) are outlaw classics that have made other artists lots of money.  That being said, much of this album’s strength is in it’s variety: “Come Sit By My Side” is gorgeous folk-rock, there are two hard driving, boozy country-rockers in “Long Way To Hollywood” and “The White Trash Song”, the gutbucket country of “Many Rivers” and quirky Americana (“Ragtime Blue Guitar” and “One Car Funeral Procession”).  Seven Bridges Road is one of the truly great country-rock records.

by Jason Nardelli

Tracks
1. Seven Bridges Road (1981 Version) - 3:37
2. Montgomery In The Rain - 4:08
3. Ragtime Blue Guitar - 2:48
4. Long Way To Hollywood - 3:59
5. Down In The Flood - 2:34
6. Ballad Of William Sycamore (Lyrics by Stephen Vincent Benet) - 4:16
7. My Oklahoma (Cheryl Young) - 3:00
8. Wild Goose - 3:43
9. Days Of '49 (Traditional) - 3:35
10.Lonesome, On'ry And Mean - 3:37
11.I Begin To See Design (Steve Young, Cheryl Young) - 2:57
12.One Car Funeral Procession - 3:06
13.Many Rivers - 2:59
14.Come Sit By My Side (Fred Carter, Jr.) - 3:01
15.True Note - 2:56
16.I Can't Hold Myself In Line (Merle Haggard) - 2:17
17.Crash On The Levy - 2:34
18.The White Trash Song (L.A. Version) - 3:03
19.The White Trash Song (Nashville Version) - 2:50  
20.The White Trash Song (N.M. Version) - 3:13
21.Seven Bridges Road (Original Version) - 3:22
words and Music by Steve Young except where stated

Personnel
*Steve Young - Guitar, Vocals
*Pete Drake - Steel Guitar
*Weldon Myrick - Steel Guitar
*Josh Graves - Dobro
*Buddy Spicher - Fiddle
*Charlie Mccoy - Harmonica
*David Briggs - Keyboards
*Fred Carter, Jr. - Bass
*D.J. Fontana - Drums
*Bobby Thompson - Guitar
*Ray Edenton - Guitar
*Bob Moore - Guitar
*Dale Sellers - Guitar
*Pete Wade - Guitar
*Jerry Smith - Keyboards
*William Ackerman - Drums
*Jerry Carrigan - Drums
*Henry Strzelecki - Bass
*Paul Tannen - Vocals
*Ginger Holladay - Vocals
*Mary Holladay - Vocals

1969  Steve Young - Rock Salt And Nails (Korean remaster)

1968  Stone Country - Stone Country (Rev Ola remaster)

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