Upon reflection, the front sleeve for Rumplestiltskin’s Resolve might have helped its initial dismissal, in 1976, as raggle-taggle hippie meandering, but it’s worth fresh appraisal today.
Shawn Phillips delivered a work of lyrical invention and gentle beauty – though he could also surprise, as the disco-influenced Hie Away proves with its tale of “the thanatoid elite, with rattling and multi-prattling tongues” riding on a bed of ARP synths, bass and sax.
Mostly recorded and mixed in California, Rumplestiltskin’s Resolve varies from the strong and suitably ordered Early Morning Hours, through the lengthier Today and the lyrically simpler Serendipity Peace, to the multi-sectioned title track that closes the album. Throughout, Phillips ensures that his vocals suit each song’s needs, whether that be invoking the intimacy of Nick Drake or Cat Stevens, or, elsewhere, providing a bolder, confident delivery. Still sounding fresh nearly 40 years on, this is certainly one to investigate.
by Kingsley Abbott
Tracks
1. Early Morning Hours - 5:22
2. Spitefull - 4:55
3. Today - 10:24
4. Wailing Wall - 5:54
5. Hie Away - 5:33
6. Serendipity Peace - 2:50
7. Rumplestiltskin's Resolve - 7:16
All compositions by Shawn Phillips
Musicians
*Shawn Phillips - Chimes, Guitar, Sitar, Vocals
*Paul Buckmaster - Keyboards, Organ
*Michael Clarke - Drums
*Barry Desouza - Drums
*John Gustafson - Bass
*Steve Hammond - Guitars
*Paul Jackson - Bass
*Robert Lichtig - Bass
*Mike Miller - Bass, Guitars
*John Pullen - Oboe, Organ
*Caleb Quaye - Guitar
*Peter Robinson - Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Synthesizer
*Bill Summers - Percussion
*Albert Wing - Saxophone
1970 Shawn Phillips - Contribution / Second Contribution (2009 remaster)
1969-72 Shawn Phillips - Faces (2014 remaster)
1974 Shawn Phillips - Furthermore (2014 issue)
1977 Shawn Phillips - Spaced (2013 remaster)
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