The Best of Tracy Nelson & Mother Earth

by Tracy Nelson

Overview

Janis Joplin may have gotten all of the fame and glory, but she was far from the only white female blues shouter to emerge from the San Francisco music scene of the mid-'60s; The Best of Tracy Nelson & Mother Earth is proof positive of that, providing an excellent introduction to one of the more sadly overlooked talents of her time and place. Despite any number of passing similarities to Joplin, Nelson sings with greater finesse; her style is more adaptable as well, capable of fitting comfortably into R&B, psychedelia, and pop ballads, all the while remaining grounded in classic roots music traditions. Highlighted by her perennial "Down So Low" -- subsequently recorded by everyone from Linda Ronstadt to Etta James -- this 17-track compilation also spotlights performances spanning from a wrenching cover of Little Willie John's "Need Your Love So Bad" to contemporary material like Steve Young's "Seven Bridges Road" and John Hiatt's "Thinking of You," offering a comprehensive overview of her earliest and most enduring work. ~ Jason Ankeny

Product Details

Release Date:	09/10/1996
Label:	Reprise
UPC:	0093624623229
Rank:	51731

Tracks

1. Down So Low
2. Cry On
3. Goodnight Nelda Greb (The Telephone Company Has Cut Us Off)
4. Mother Earth
5. Won't Be Long
6. Need Your Love So Bad
7. The Soul of a Man
8. Satisfied
9. Ruler of My Heart
10. Temptation Took Control of Me (And I Fell)
11. Soul of Sadness
12. Tonight the Sky's About to Cry
13. I'll Be Long Gone
14. Seven Bridges Road
15. Tennessee Blues
16. Thinking of You
17. I Don't Do That Kind of Thing Anymore

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tracy Nelson   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals,Vocal Harmony,Vocals (Background)
Sadie Cantrell   Vocals (Background)
Bob Cardwell   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Sylvia Caldwell   Vocals (Background)
Irma Routen   Vocals (Background)
Richard Kraus   Vocals (Background)
Gene "Bowlegs" Miller   Trumpet
Joyce Dunn   Vocals (Background)
Losella Funque   Vocals (Background)
Steve Mendel   Bass
Ronnie Eades   Baritone
Frank Morin   Sax (Tenor)
Clay Cotton   Organ,Piano
Farrell Morris   Percussion
Boz Scaggs   Guitar (Rhythm)
James Day   Pedal Steel
Barry Goldberg   Organ
Ben Keith   Dobro
Dave Zettner   Bass,Vocals (Background)
Link Davis Jr.   Sax (Alto)
Mark Naftalin   Organ,Piano
Martin Fierro   Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor)
Lonnie Castille   Drums
Tim Drummond   Bass
George Rains   Drums
Joe Arnold   Sax (Tenor)
Andy McMahon   Organ,Piano,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Karl Himmel   Drums
The Honeycombs   Vocals (Background)
Hargus "Pig" Robbins   Organ
Johnny Gimble   Fiddle
Michael Bloomfield   Guitar
Aaron Varnell   Sax (Tenor)
Dianne Davidson   Vocals (Background)
Lady Corder   Vocals (Background)
Ron Taormina   Baritone
Bob Salisbury   Baritone
Bob Arthur   Bass
Jack Lee   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
John Andrews   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Gerald Richardson   Trombone
Shalimar Samuelson   Vocals (Background)
Sammy Dodge   Fiddle

Technical Credits

Sylvia Caldwell   Composer
John Henry Andreolli   Composer
David Gahr   Photography
Earthettes   Group
Jim Marshall   Photography
Travis Rivers   Producer
Tracy Nelson   Composer,Producer
J. Leslie McFarland   Composer
The Earthmen   Group
Gregg Geller   Producer
John Hiatt   Composer
Bobby Charles   Composer
Boz Scaggs   Composer
Mother Earth   Producer
Barry Goldberg   Executive Producer
Eric Kaz   Composer
Little Willie John   Composer
Mark Naftalin   Producer
Martha Carson   Composer
Naomi Neville   Composer
Martin Fierro   Leader,Arranger,Interpretation
Oliver Sain   Composer
Memphis Slim   Composer
Al Kooper   Liner Notes
Dan Healy   Producer
Andy McMahon   Composer
Steve Young   Composer
Lee Herschberg   Mastering
Arlo Guthrie   Composer
Allen Toussaint   Composer
Jo Motta   Project Coordinator
Andy Boehm   Liner Notes