PAUL BURCH — WORDS OF LOVE : SONGS OF BUDDY HOLLY (Self-Released)

[Maurice Hope]

www.paulburch.com 

In celebration of what would have been Buddy Holly’s 75^th birthday, if he had lived, East Nashville singer-songwriter Paul Burch for once shelved his own compositions in favour of paying homage to Lubbock, Texas’ favourite son, Charles Harding Holley otherwise know as Buddy Holly. It was only after a spelling error he decided to drop the ‘e’ and adopt the name of Holly. Of all the 1950’s rock’n’roll greats it is the music of Holly that tends to travel best from one generation to the next. Among those to either cover or be supportive of his music you can list Waylon Jennings, Paul McCartney, Linda Ronstadt, Nanci Griffith, Don McLean among others but none of them has recorded a full album of his music.  

 

Backed by members of the WPA Ballclub, Dennis Crouch, Jen Gunderman, Fats Kaplin, Kenny Vaughan, Jim Gray, Marty Lynds, Tommy Perkinson and Will Kimbrough plus his son Henry Burch East Nashville act Paul Burch comes up with a 13-track no frills straight ahead affair. Such is his quick footed confident approach and sensitive handling of the songs no sooner had the music started then the last note was about to fade. On the subject of starting, opening track ‘Rave On’ is a five-start affair as the amazing Gunderman plays stirring Cajun accordion and from hence successions of short, sharp songs roll on through.

Much of this is down to Burch and co keeping everything simple and true to the feel of Holly’s music but, every now and again they hatch out something to prick your ears. As in a funky ‘Not Fade Away’ that sees Paul play drums, a wonderful and most vibrant ‘Think it Over’ (it is one of those songs Burch lends a little something special to in the way of vocals plus has young Henry help him out too) and with some tremendous drumming and upright bass ‘Peggy Sue’ just about goes into orbit. It is a five-star recording if ever there were one. Take a bow all involved!   

 

Far from repeating the style of Holly Burch has brought in various other flavours, and with the WPA at the top of their game this isn’t particularly hard to do. Among the better known fare we have we have fellow Texan Ben Hall’s ‘Blue Days Black Nights’, I just love the bass and choppy lead guitar and Burch’s vocals up there with a sprightly ‘Love’s Made A Fool Of You’ a sensitive version of ‘It Doesn’t Matter Anymore’ and of course there is the title track ‘Words Of Love’. What a gem it is too as you have Burch whisper, gently the words of one of Buddy’s most melodic of recordings. If it is good, honest as the day is long dance you hanker for then take a listen to the rhythmic ‘Midnight Shift’ as lead guitar, bass and percussion lend great support to Burch’s superbly toned vocal entries.

 

                                                         Maurice Hope