Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez – Let’s Leave This Town (2002)

Chip Taylor (born January 1, 1940 in New York City) is the stage name of American songwriter James Wesley Voight. His brothers are actor Jon Voight and geologist Barry Voight. He is the uncle of actress Angelina Jolie and actor James Haven.

Chip Taylor, the writer of "Wild Thing" and "Angel of the Morning," abandoned his musical career in the '80s to take up professional gambling. Returning in the '90s, he has taken a stripped-down, rootsy approach across a series of sharp releases. This largely acoustic outing of duets with singer-fiddler Carrie Rodriguez proves again that his hiatus hasn't hurt his songwriting: "Sweet Tequila Blues," "Him Who Saved Me," and the title tune stand with his best work–and up to anyone else's. His calling out for musicians to solo, and the playful comfort exhibited with Ms. Rodriguez, lend an air of casualness to the proceedings, but make no mistake, Let's Leave This Town is a passionate, finely crafted record. "Back porch" music is one of life's joys, and the intimacy of a musician or group of musicians performing for a small circle of friends and family is magical in a way that is hard to capture on disc. Kudos to Chip Taylor as producer for making you feel that he and Ms. Rodriguez are performing these fine songs just for you and yours.

Please note that this is an old but good rip, made with an old version of EAC, and coming from my archives on external hard disc.

Personnel:

Chip Taylor - Acoustic Guitar & Vocals
Carrie Rodriguez - Fiddle, Violin & Vocals
Seth Farber - Organ
Dave Mattacks - Percussion & Drums
John McCann - Acoustic Guitar & Mandolin
John Platania - Electric Guitar
Jim Whitney - Bass
Rushad Eggleston - Cello
Keiko Watanabe - Violin
Javier Vercher - Saxophone
Amelia Hollander - Viola
Ricardo Herz - Violin

Tracklist:

01. Sweet Tequila Blues
02. Him Who Saved Me
03. Extra
04. There's a Hole in the Midnight
05. Let's Leave This Town
06. Storybook Children
07. Do Your Part
08. His Eyes
09. Say Little Darlin'
10. Midnight on the Water
11. You Are Danger
12. Was That for Me

Produced By Chip Taylor
Recorded At Rear Window, Boston, Massachusetts
Additional Sessions At Boston & Midtown Sound, New York

Sound Quality: 8/9