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Friday, February 9, 2018

Ron Davies - Silent Song Through The Land (1970 us, fantastic folk country silky rock, 2013 japan mini LP remaster)



Ron Davies was born in Shreveport, Louisiana during the time his father, a country singer from Texarkana, was performing on the famed Louisiana Hayride. He spent his early years in the Texas/Oklahoma region before moving to Washington state, where his mother remarried. He was given his first guitar at the age of eleven, and immediately began writing his own songs. Influenced by the music of Lavern Baker, Hughey “Piano” Smith, Blind Lemon Jefferson, The Everly Brothers and the melodies of great songwriters like Boudleaux & Felice Bryant, Ron’s songs took on sophistication in composition that was uncommon for one of his age. By the time he was seventeen, he had written an album’s worth of stellar material for Seattle based, rock band, The Wailers, who had gained national attention for their instrumental hit, Tall Cool One.

At nineteen, Ron landed a publishing deal with Trident Records in San Francisco, where he met his friend and songwriting mentor, Tim Hardin. His unique singing and writing ability (referred to by Joan Baez as a cross between Bob Dylan and John Lennon) soon came to the attention of A&M record executives in Los Angeles, who signed him to record his debut album, Silent Song Through The Land. Produced by Chad Stewart and featuring Jim Keltner on drums and Leon Russell on piano, the record contained nine brilliantly written originals including Ron’s gritty, blues standard, It Ain’t Easy. 

Though often mis-credited to Ray Davies of The Kinks, the song gained international fame when it was recorded by Three Dog Night and British pop singer, David Bowie, on his RCA album, Ziggy Stardust. Before long, Ron Davies’ songs were in demand and being recorded by artists like Joe Cocker, Helen Reddy, Dave Edmunds, Maria Muldaur, Long John Bauldrey, Merry Clayton, Steppenwolf’s John Kay and many others. 


Tracks
1. It Ain't Easy - 3:30
2. What Life Must Be Like For Some - 2:26
3. Change - 2:51
4. Clown - 4:12
5. Silent Song Through The Land - 2:33
6. Yesterday Is All I Want - 2:46
7. Open Road, The Open Sky - 2:54
8. Lover And The Loved - 6:06
Words and Music by Ron Davies

Musicians
*Ron Davies - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
*Mike Daesy - Lead Guitar
*Dimitri Callas - Lead Guitar
*Leon Russell - Piano
*Mike Lang - Piano
Larry Knechtel - Organ
*Chad Stuart - Bass
*Jim Keltner - Drums
*Vicki Davies - Harmony Vocals
*Doug Dilleard - Banjo, Mandolin
*Byron Berline - Banjo, Mandolin
*Merry Clayton - Background Voices
*Clydie King - Background Voices
*Venetta Fields - Background Voices

1978  Ron Davies ‎– I Don't Believe It (2010 korean remaster) 

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8 comments:

  1. Thank you for this and Arlo Guthrie!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Marios...

    Although I knew of his music through a myriad of interpretations by others, I'd never actually heard those songs performed by the writer himself. After additional exposure to many other tunes he'd written, I finally decided that it was about time I explore his own renditions. Unfortunately by that time his LPs were out of print and difficult to come by. As time marched on, his name eventually slipped out of mind, then I saw it listed here at Rockasteria.

    Thanks for reintroducing me to both his name, and his music.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Many thanks for Improved Sound Limited over at P&F!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Καλησπέρα Μάριε, και τα δύο link οδηγούν σε κάποιον άλλο δίσκο και όχι σ' αυτόν της ανάρτησης. Μήπως είναι εφικτό να το διορθώσεις; Ευχαριστώ θερμά προκαταβολικά.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sadream, το διόρθωσα, αν και υπάρχει και η πιο πάνω επιλογή απ όπου θα μπορούσες να κατεβάσεις.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Μάριε χίλια συγγνώμη. Έχεις απόλυτο δίκιο, τό είδα αφού έγραψα το σχόλιο. Αν σε έβαλα σε περιττό κόπο και πάλι συγγνώμη και φυσικά σ' ευχαριστώ πολύ.

    ReplyDelete
  7. In the early 70s
    I met Ron. Great person and great player / writer. I played on a few songs both 70s and 2000. A great friend also Gail ..Ernie Corallo

    ReplyDelete