(Swift River Music)

Lee's version of "True Thomas," set to a tune called "The Langour of Love" brushes the dust off this astonishing medieval Scottish ballad; "The Gypsy Laddies/Blackjack Davy" appears here as "The Lady and the Gypsy," building to a parting as merciless as it is touching. Lee excells at leading a listener into the heart of a story - you hear and see the world beyond the words when he sings. The old country song "Look What Thoughts Will Do" by Lefty Frizzell, Jim Beck and Dub Dickerson, shines in a new context; Richard Farina's "Children of Darkness" and Ira and Charlie Louvin's "The Weapon of Prayer" address our current political/military situations with timeless relevance. "Thanksgiving," an early song of Rick's treasured and performed by Nic Jones is here, with instrumentals "Da Trowie Burn" (piano) and "Emo5." "Melinda" and "The Old Fish Song" add a bit of bliss.

with Rick Lee, banjo and electric piano
Andy May, guitars, mandolin, bass, vocals;
Hal Rugg, dobro, pedal steel guitar;
Dow Tomlin & Todd Cook, bass;
John Gardner, drums;
Dave Howard, guitar, mandolin, backing vocals;
Katie May, vocals

Here is a man with a voice that is warm enough to fry eggs on. This is also a guy who has lived more than a bit, and is now approaching the veteran stage. Now, I ask you to put these two facts together. And this is what you will get: an immensely pleasurable album that exudes a sort of folksy wisdom. Note I said "folksy wisdom"[good], not "folksy whimsy" [bad]. Above all, I like his eclecticism. Judging from this CD, nearest to his heart seems to be the traditional ballad from the British Isles. But hot on its heels comes a love of country artists like Lefty Frizzell and the Louvin Brothers; relatively recently deceased folk icons like Richard Fariña and Kate Wolf, and ace contemporary songwriter Bill "Country Roads" Danoff (here represented with a fine song of his co-written with autoharp virtuoso Bryan Bowers). The Lee voice has a very special DNA. I guess if some boffin could cross the voice of Johnny Cash with Burl Ives, then Rick Lee would be the result. And this great voice is backed by some consummate musicianship. If I had to pick out one musician then it would have to be Hal Rugg on dobro and pedal steel. His work on the best track on the album (Kate Wolf's "Sweet Love") is nothing short of sublime. An album I intend to keep and play. And not send to the charity shop.
-Dai Woosnam Folkworld, Germany

TRUE THOMAS/THE LANGUOR OF LOVE
Trad. Arr. Rick Lee, © 2003, Natick Music

True Thomas lay on Huntly bank,
And he beheld a lady gay.
A lady that was brisk and bold
Came riding down by Eildon tree.

Her shirt was of the grass green silk,
Her mantle of the velvet fine
And at each toss, her horse's mane
Rang fifty silver bells and nine.

Thomas he threw off his cap,
Falling down up on his knee,
"All hail, thou mighty Elfland Queen!
Your like on earth I've never seen."

As he looked in to her eyes,
So blind in love he fell, then said she:
"If you will dare to kiss my lips,
Sure of your body I will be.

Now you have kissed my two lips,
It's with me you now must ride
And you must serve me seven years
Through weal or woe as chance be tide.

They mounted on her milk white steed,
Wading through red blood to the knee.
For all the blood that's shed on earth
Runs through the streams in that country.

Soon they came to a garden green,
She pulled an apple from a tree.
"Take this, True Thomas for your wage.
And you'll have a tongue that never lies.

Be careful in your silences,
As you are careful what you say.
And may your truth outlive them all
For as I say, so it must be.

Oh see you not that narrow road
All thick beset with thorns and briers?
That is the path to righteousness
Though after it precious few enquire.

And see you not that broad broad road
That lies a cross the lily leven?
That is the path to wickedness,
Though some call it the road to heaven.

They rode on and farther on,
Wading rivers above the knee.
And they saw neither sun nor moon
But they heard the roaring of the sea.

He's got a cloak of the elven cloth
A pair of shoes of the velvet green.
And 'til seven years were gone and past,
True Thomas on earth was never seen.