ONE OF the highlights of the Kilkenny Country Roots Weekend is sure to be a rare solo appearance by Nashville based singer/songwriter Rodney Crowell.
Arguably one of the most consistently creative figures to have emerged from the original new country scene of the late 1970's, Crowell has had his songs covered by a long list of major names among them Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Aaron Neville. As well as scoring hits in his own right, he has also produced a wide range of artists including Jim Lauderdale, Sissy Spacek, Guy Clark and most notably, his ex-wife Rosanne Cash.
Crowell's most recent visit to Ireland was in late 1997 when he took part in the Celtic Harmony songwriting festival with over 40 other songwriters who gathered at Abbyglen Castle for a week of collaboration. He has fond memories of that trip, as he explained down the line from his Nashville home.
I didn't sleep for the entire week, but it was really great fun. I just opened myself up to whoever might approach me. I met great people like Eleanor McEvoy, Jimmy McCarthy and Liam O'Maonlai. I wrote a song with Kieran Goss called 'Heaven On Earth' which I'm quite fond of. Initially, I'd said to Kieran that I wanted to write an Irish emigrant ballad and he laughed and said Oh God no!' but in the end we wrote this sweet song together.
Crowell first came to prominence in the mid 1970's as a member of Emmylou Harris' legendary Hot Band. (Harris was also one of the first to record Crowell's songs and continues to champion his work 'Waltz Across Texas', a Crowell composition, appeared on her acclaimed Wrecking Ball album.) On going solo he formed his own backing band The Cherry Bombs which included in its line-up three names who have since become among Nashville's most in-demand producers Tony Brown, Richard Bennett and Emory Gordy Jr along with Vince Gill and session guitarist Albert Lee.
His marriage to Rosanne Cash which lasted from 1979 to 1991 was also a successful creative partnership yielding groundbreaking albums like Seven Year Ache, Rhythm And Romance and King's Record Shop. Despite his undeniable, success, however Crowell remains on the periphery of the mainstream Nashville scene, as he explains.
What's called country music now, is really pop with cowboy hats," he offers. I'm not knocking it, a lot of people like it. But what I do is more usually called Americana these days. I originally came from what they called 'alternative country' back then, but lately I've gravitated more towards folk influences. I think the artists I admire most are those where the lyrical narrative is stronger. I can draw a line from Bob Dylan to Steve Earle and Bruce Springsteen and to someone like Gillian Welch, who I think is a true poet.
Crowell's songs are among the most intelligent and enduring in the country music pantheon, with many now regarded as standards. They include classics such as Till I Gain Control Again' recorded by Emmylou Harris and Willie Nelson, among others, 'Even Cowgirls Get the Blues' also recorded by Harris as well as Johnny Cash, and 'Shame On The Moon' which was a huge hit for rocker Bob Seger. One of his biggest solo hits, 'Stars On The Water', was recorded by Jimmy Buffett and Patty Scialfa (Mrs Bruce Springsteen), while other artists who've recorded his songs include Patty Loveless, Trisha Yearwood, Alan Jackson and Guy Clarke. His most critically acclaimed albums include Ain't Living Long Like This, the Grammy winning Diamonds And Dirt and Keys To The Highway.
Given his success at selling his songs, does he have any particular favourites among the many versions of those that have been covered?
Actually, if it doesn't sound too immodest of me, I think I do better versions of my songs then most other people, but I wouldn't like to tell them that! Having said that I thought Bob Seger's version of 'Shame On The Moon' surpassed my own and I've always like Waylon Jennings version of 'Ain't Living Long Like This'. Otherwise, I like everything that Emmylou does. I thought Wrecking Ball was a great album, a huge artistic statement for her.
Crowell has always had wider artistic influences than most he's studied the impressionists Monet and Renoir and concedes that his songwriting success has allowed him the leeway to pursue other projects.
I'm working on a book right now, a collection of short stories. It's not a whole lot different to writing songs except that you have a lot more room to work with the narrative. It's loosely based on some of the more poignant things that I've experienced. I've discovered over the years that it has to be real to have any meaning. Most of the songs I've made up from nothing don't resonate as much as real life experiences.
Crowell has a new album in the can, which he describes as a concept record, based on his childhood recollections, but he continues to be heavily involved in production work.
I'm very excited about a record I've made with Mike Younger, a Halifax native. He's a very young man but he has potential to have an audience for people who like that Bob Dylan 'Boots of Spanish Leather', Freewheelin kind of thing. We did the album in five working days, nothing was thought about too much, we just got it down.
Finally, what can people expect to hear when he plays at Kilkenny?
I like to do newer songs in the set but people tend to want to hear some of the old stuff and that's OK. I still I have a fondness for a song like 'Stars on The Water'.
Rodney Crowell appears at the Watergate Theatre Kilkenny on Friday 30th April.