Arkansas Traveler, the third and last album Michelle Shocked released for Mercury/Polygram records ‘received little commercial notice’ according to Shocked’s Wikipedia entry. Which shows you exactly how underrated this album is. Not only to ‘the public’ (which proves once again how poor taste it has, generally speaking), but also in the music critics and opinions – at leat that is the impression you get looking for information about the album in places such as her own website, not to mention other places you would expect to find one of the classic and most amazing Roots music records ever. It’s not really mentioned all too often and when it is it’s mostly the album that didn’t do well – a greatly undeserved accolade.
It was, fortunately, however re-released together with her other early work on her own Mighty Sound label, made possible thanks to the fact that she retained the rights to her work when she signed to Mercury (wise move, that). Which means that if you don’t know the album you should still be able to get it should my review entice you to do that. The album I am writing about here however is the original 1992 version.
She is undoubtedly best known and most revered for her 1988 album Shot Sharped Shocked with its iconic cover image – and the standout track Anchorage, her ‘greatest’ (and pretty much only) chart hit. However good that album is (haven’t heard that in ages I have to confess, as I don’t currently own a copy – it’s been on my to-buy list for a very long time). Of course I love Anchorage a lot too (how can you not?), but Arkansas Traveler is most definitely my favorite album of hers by a long shot.
Even just reading a list of the artists involved on here is jaw-dropping, really. And that’s a long list indeed, but I just have to give you that here, although I am not too keen on name-dropping generally: The Band. Don Was/Mitchell Froom/Jerry Scheff/Kenny Aronoff. The Red Clay Ramblers (w/Bernie Leadon). The Hothouse Flowers (Anybody remembering them?). Uncle Tupelo. Taj Mahal. Doc Watson (R.I.P) & Jerry Douglas. Alison Krauss & Union Station. Rising Fawn String Ensemble (feat. Norman and Nancy Blake). (Paul Kelly) & The Messengers. Jimmy Driftwood (R.I.P.) Her father ‘Dollar Bill’ and brother Max Johnston (later of Uncle Tupelo, Wilco and The Gourds).
So far, so good. Just names. But what this list doesn’t tell you is what each and every single artist mentioned here (and the ones not mentioned by name in their respective bands) contributes to making this album, well, one of the best albums of all-time, especially as far as Roots music is concerned. I kid you not. Of course this is an entirely personal and subjective matter. But the sheer quality you get on each track is utterly amazing. I would assume she had the time of her life recording this album – although getting all the artists together must have been a hell of a lot of work. Pleasant in nature of course, but doubtless there must have been a lot of hurdles to get them all to commit to this project. But given they must have all been artists for which the joy of playing comes first it most probably didn’t take them too much convincing to join the fun. In any case all of the tracks on the album are brimful with energy, enthusiasm and the fun I assume was had by all is palpable anywhere, but especially in her vocals.
Irish band The Hothouse Flowers for example. Not the first band you would expect to creep up on here, but they were huge in the late 1980’s, if only for a short time (if I remember correctly). I have got no idea what became of them, but their track on here is brilliant. It’s pretty much a classical upbeat Irish Folk tune, with Tin Whistle, Bodhran and Bouzouki and it sounds exactly as you would expect it to, best part is the high-speed part towards the end – full of joy and as entertaining as the best songs that fall into that category ever sounded.
Secret To A Long Life has written The Band (although I have to confess to a rather sketchy familiarity of their work) all over it, with Garth Hudson’s unmistakable Accordion the most prominent instrument. Contest Coming, recorded with the until then unbeknownst to me, Red Clay Ramblers (excellent name that btw), is the first track on here steeped ankle-(actually rather knee)-deep in traditional music with entirely acoustic instruments such as Banjo, Accordion, Fiddle and the like – the result ia a good-natured romp through Bluegrass and Hillbilly with a short vocal and a longer up-speed and instrumental Jam-band part.
Jump Jim Crow features only Michelle Shocked’s (or as she called herself throughout the album Arkansas Traveller’s) mandolin and voice and Taj Mahal’s guitar – his vocal contributions however are limited to growled/grunted ‘mmmh’s and ‘hhh’s. This sounds a tad stupid written here, but actually it sounds bloody amazing. The music is reduced, primeval acoustic Folk-Blues at its very best. From: https://backroadbound.com/2014/05/13/michelle-shocked-arkansas-traveler/
