In Praise Of: Bobbie Gentry, "The Delta Sweete"

The Cocaine and Rhinestones episode last year did a lot to make me realize how great she was

https://cocaineandrhinestones.com/bobbie-gentry-exit-stage-left

I didn’t realize that she’s married to Jim Stafford... author & TV writer Nell Scovell has recently discussed a “#MeToo” experience with that guy. (Not that that reflects upon Gentry, of course)

Not currently married to him, I thought.

Ah, you’re right — Wikipedia says they were only married a year! I must have misread that detail in the Medium piece.

A tribute album is coming out in February – Bobbie Gentry's The Delta Sweete Revisited, recorded by Mercury Rev with female vocalists including Hope Sandoval (whose song is below). It'll also feature "Norah Jones, Margo Price, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucinda Williams, Vashti Bunyan, Rachel Goswell (Slowdive), Susanne Sundfør, Lætitia Sadier (Stereolab), Marissa Nadler, Kaela Sinclair (M83) and more" [Beth Orton and Carice van Houten].

Two tracks are out so far:

- https://mercuryrev.bandcamp.com/track/big-boss-man-feat-hope-sandoval

- https://mercuryrev.bandcamp.com/track/sermon-feat-margo-price

Also, a Bobbie G. box set was released this (sorry, last) year: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-bobbie-gentry-box-set-20181012-story.html

http://buzzbands.la/2019/07/26/mercury-rev-beth-orton-to-perform-bobbie-gentry/

Earlier this year, psych-pop greats Mercury Rev released “The Delta Sweete Revisited” — a remake of singer-songwriter Bobbie Gentry’s 1968 album “The Delta Sweete.” The original was a release that was lamentably overlooked, coming as it did on the heels of Gentry’s mega-hit “Ode to Billie Joe” and owing to the fact it was essentially a concept album about life in the Deep South.

“Bobbie Gentry’s ‘The Delta Sweete’ is an ascending monument of sound and fury that strides, strolls, soars and stretches thru the Southern American mystique of elusion,” Mercury Rev’s Sean Mackowiak (aka Grasshopper) says of the album.

For the remake, Mercury Rev enlisted different singers on each of the album’s 12 tracks. But when they take the project on tour this fall — including an October date in Los Angeles — British singer-songwriter Beth Orton (who performs “Courtyard” on the album) will front the band.

“Bobbie Gentry is the master at being able to sing a story from all directions at once,” Orton says. “Stories of hard-won, old-world sinister sweetness with a subtlety and precision no other songwriter has. When Mercury Rev asked me to come and sing the entire record with them live, I had to take a breath before I dove straight in. This is a dream collaboration. No one can touch what Bobbie Gentry is capable of unearthing, but on their version of ‘The Delta Sweete,’ Mercury Rev have grown Bobbie’s music into a psychedelic cathedral of sound, and to be a part of making that come to life in a live setting is awesome and I’m honored to be involved.”

So, are they bringing this to the UK, and/or will this be available as download/stream/DVD or what?

dunno but they're doing this at hardly strictly bluegrass in SF in October.

I do like that this happened..

Driving back cross country...

— grasshopper (@mercuryrevvd) October 11, 2019

I've listened to her first three albums, Delta Sweete just outclasses the others. Okolona River Bottom Band is such a great tune but I think Reunion left the biggest impression on me. I'm thankful for lyrics websites because there's no way I could have decoded all the harmonies myself. Does anyone know who the male voice is on that song? I'm sure it's not Roger Miller but that's certainly who it reminded me of.

This is such a strong album. The same year's Local Gentry is more lightweight - three Beatles covers is a bit much - but the original character studies are brilliant. A shame that her albums don't get more attention.

― Get wolves (DL), Tuesday, May 8, 2012 3:25 AM (eight years ago) bookmarkflaglink

There's a very strong correlation between the half-assedness of an 70s album and the number of Beatles covers present.

The 33 1/3 book on the Ode to Billie Joe album also includes a discussion of the rest of her work. It's not terribly extensive but well written and fair. I've only heard the first two albums and prefer Delta Sweete.

i know it's late in the day, but amoeba.com is doing 20% off everything (+free postage) and they have the box set in stock. i woulda ordered it but i just bought the pylon box set, so my music spending is on hold for a bit.

Does anyone know who the male voice is on that song? I'm sure it's not Roger Miller but that's certainly who it reminded me of.

I suspect it's producer Kelly Gordon

The box set is terrific. Delta Sweete is the only OMG album on it, but all the others have good bits.

Her vocal jazz album on it is amazing imo. Not adventurous or anything just beautifully performed

Does anyone know who the male voice is on that song? I'm sure it's not Roger Miller but that's certainly who it reminded me of.

I suspect it's producer Kelly Gordon

― Number None, Monday, November 30, 2020 3:08 PM (yesterday) bookmarkflaglink

I found Gordon's album Defunked on Youtube (certainly can't find it anywhere else) and it certainly sounds like the same person. Good listen too thus far.

Been listening to the box set on spotify today and really digging all the solo demos on there. I love the delta sweete but the production can be so big and wacky, its really nice to hear her with just voice and guitar

I wish that the lost 70s album with “thunder in the afternoon” would get released

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOd8FZclNvs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeybfH2xSLY

this is a treat