After her debut album Loango charted in bluegrass and Americana in 2010, Nell Robinson was named one of the most "utterly charming," "freshest voices" in roots music, and likened to early Emmylou Harris and Hazel Dickens. Nell returns with her anticipated 2nd release with more of her original compositions, On The Brooklyn Road, titled after the red clay dirt road that led to her family’s farm in rural Alabama.
The album’s songs are interspersed with field recordings of stories by her mother and uncles about an innocent time long since passed. Nell sings in the name of her late grandmother and as a way to honor her Southern ancestry. Having just turned 50, and singing for a short four years, Nell has had extraordinary success, appearing on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion, Strawberry Music Festival, the Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival, and selling out the venerable Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse.
On The Brooklyn Road was produced by Nell and by Jim Nunally, who also adds splendid harmonies that complement Robinson’s warm clear-as-a-bell lead vocals. Just listen to their chemistry on Richard Brandenburg’s tender ballad “Mayflies, ” a highlight of the album.
Reviewers clamored for more of Nell's original writing after getting a taste of her talent from Loango. Her original songs on On The Brooklyn Road display her gift of humor, story-telling and deep feeling. From the Cajun-flavored song about temptation “Don’t Light My Fire” to her co-write with Laurie Lewis, "Wahatchee" to “I’m Brilliant" about the denial of alcoholism. On many of the tracks Nell is backed by the remarkable John Reischman and the Jaybirds, a highly-gifted and respected bluegrass band from the Northwest. Her spare and soulful rendition of Loretta Lynn's "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl" features Rob Ickes on dobro and Nunally on guitar. The CD closes almost like a Southern revival with “Last Old Shovel” and “Sweet Sunny South”. As on Nell’s first album Loanga, there are 2 bonus tracks by The Henriettas, which is her and Cary Sheldon’s tribute to the 1930’s sister act, the DeZurik Sisters. Their funny and intricate yodeling style has to be heard to be believed.
There is something very charming and timeless going on On The Brooklyn Road and the CD’s celebration of life in the rural South is not to be missed. (Bill Frater, Freight-Train Boogie)
A note from Nell
So, I just turned 50 and one of my good friends characterized my new-found devotion to music as a midlife crisis. I sang by myself in my car for 30 years and ventured out to sing in public at age 45. All I can say is, if you have music in your soul, bring it out. It has changed my life.
Story-telling is a Southern pastime and some of the stories I know are best told like they happened yesterday, even though they are 150 years old. They foster this deep connection to people and place, so much that sometimes I miss a past that I wasn't even present for. The family recordings and songs, mine and others, in this album are my way of breathing those memories into life today.
Thank you to my mother and her brothers, Uncle Bill, Uncle Marc, Uncle Carroll (who has passed already), and her sister, Aunt Mary Nell, whose stories from the farm on the Brooklyn Road have shaped my love for the south.
My love and gratitude goes to my sweetheart Skip for putting up with crazy yodeling and hours; to Jim Nunally for his talent, hard work and inspiration; and to the world-class musicians who performed on this album, especially Jim, John Reischman, Nick Hornbuckle, Greg Spatz, Trisha Gagnon - who also perform as John Reischman and the Jaybirds - and to Keith Little and Cary Sheldon.
Enjoy listening to the music and stories and let me know what you think!
