Mary Flower

When My Bluebird Sings

Bluesette Records

When you talk with Mary Flower, you have that first impression that she is a kindly, sweet, mild-mannered person who would never lead you astray by what she tells you. She recently came up to me and handed me a copy of her latest CD, When My Bluebird Sings, and told me that it was unlike anything she had ever done before. A completely new direction for her.

“You’re going to hate it,” she said. “It’s a reggae album.”

“Sounds interesting Mary,” I told her, thinking where is she going here, so tongue in cheek I responded, “I’ll do my best to lie and tell tall tales about it then for a good review.”

Well, it turns out that Mary lied to me. It’s not a reggae album at all. And for her second lie, I don’t hate this disc. I love it! All of a sudden 10cc’s song “Dreadlock Holiday” seems to be going through my mind right about now with new lyrics, “I don’t like Mary’s CD, woah no, I love it!” That may be as close to reggae as we’re getting here. And let me say now, no lies were told in the writing of this review.

What we really have here is an outstanding disc of all original acoustic songs performed solo by Mary. That is the something new she referred to. But it is still the music you’ve come to love from her with fine storytelling that conjures up images of what she’s singing about.

There is a reason why Mary is a two-time Blues Music Award nominee. She’s just flat out good. Good did I say? I meant great. When My Bluebird Sings is equally blessed with songwriting that can bring forth visions of the tales she is relating, matched with brilliant instrumentals on both fingerpicking and lap slide guitar.

The album opens with Mary telling us that “So Far Doin’ Alright.” It may seem like a familiar path for her music, but listening to her sing with those soothing vocals, you believe her. How can anything go wrong in the charmed life detailed? God willing and the creek don’t rise of course. In “Delta Dream” she lays down another easy pace that fits the laid back vision of the Southern Louisiana life-style of the backlands and bayous. Portlanders can easily identify with “Bicycle” because on one side they can be seen as moving targets, while they can also feel empowered by being given their own lane in traffic. And Mary provides a bit of humor in her number “Can’t Take It With You” as she addresses hoarders and collectors. Keep your house in order, because you cannot take it with you when you go, and imagine what you’re going to miss out on when your friends hold that huge estate sale of all your worldly valuable personal possessions.

But along with the lyrics that catch on so well in these numbers, to me it is the beauty of the instrumentals on the album. It conjures up favorite solo acoustic guitarists of mine like Terry Robb, Leo Kottke or the late John Fahey. These tracks rate just as high as anything I’ve ever heard before. They’re exceptional and well presented. I’m not sure if I could possibly pick a favorite amongst them, I love the softness of “Millwood Waltz,” the sitting on the back porch comfort I feel from “Atchafalaya” or “Ragtag Rag” which in my mind may be one of the finest rags she’s ever written.

This is another superb outing from Mary Flower. And not a reggae number to be found. But you know, if she ever did decide to do such an album it’d have to be another stellar disc. We are talking about Mary now.

Total Time: 40:25

So Far Doin’ Alright / Ragtag Rag / Delta Dream / Suspendimento / My Bluebird / Ruckus Rag / Millwood Waltz / Can’t Take It With You / Humbug Creek / Sashay My Way / Bicycle / Snail On A Rail / Atchafalaya