A singer/guitarist and folk-influenced songwriter, Barbara Keith’s curious career began when she was discovered at Greenwich Village’s famous Café Wha?. Her first appearance on record was in 1968, with her background vocals and one of her songs appearing on the self-titled debut from Kangaroo. Verve Records released the first of two self-titled albums in 1969. Some critics fell in love with the album but as far as sales the album went nowhere. Her second self-titled album — released by Reprise in 1972 — coupled Keith with producer Doug Tibbles. Keith and Tibbles married and soon became unhappy with the music industry. Deciding to focus on family and develop their art with a major-label influence, Keith and Tibbles gave back their Reprise advance, a move that caused the label to under-promote her album. Once again, the album didn’t achieve much as far as sales, but Keith’s songwriting skills were being noticed throughout the record industry. Barbra Streisand, Lowell George, Tanya Tucker, Delaney & Bonnie, the Dillards, and many others covered songs from the album, “The Bramble and the Rose” and “Detroit or Buffalo” being the favorites.
Keith reappeared in the ’90s with her “AC/DC meets Patsy Cline” band the Stone Coyotes with her husband, and son John Tibbles, rounding out the band. The band found a cult following of which writer Elmore Leonard was a member. Leonard included the band in his sequel to Get Shorty, Be Cool, and included five Keith songs in the text. (source)
Tracks
1 All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan) 3:13
2 Rolling Water (Barbara Keith) 3:12
3 The Bramble And The Rose (Barbara Keith) 2:55
4 Burn The Midnight Oil No More (Barbara Keith) 3:09
5 Free The People (Barbara Keith) 3:48
6 Detroit Or Buffalo (Barbara Keith) 4:31
7 The Road I Took To You (Barbara Keith) 3:20
8 Shining All Along (Barbara Keith) 3:11
9 Rainy Nights Are All The Same (Barbara Keith) 3:27
10 A Stone\’s Throw Away (Barbara Keith, Doug Tibbles) 4:47
Musicians
1 All Along The Watchtower
Bass | Leland Sklar |
Drums | Jim Keltner |
Guitar | David Cohen |
Guitar | Tony Peluso |
Piano | Spooner Oldham |
Acoustic Guitar | John Brennan |
2 Rolling Water
Bass | Leland Sklar |
Drums | Russ Kunkel |
Guitar | Danny Kortchmar |
Acoustic Guitar | Barbara Keith |
Piano | Craige Doerge |
3 The Bramble And The Rose
Bass | Emory Gordy |
Drums | Dennis St. John |
Acoustic Guitar | Barbara Keith |
Pedal Steel Guitar | Richard Bennett |
Piano | Spooner Oldham |
4 Burn The Midnight Oil No More
Bass | Leland Sklar |
Piano | Barbara Keith |
5 Free The People
Bass | Leland Sklar |
Drums | Jim Keltner |
Pedal Steel Guitar | Richard Bennett |
Piano | Spooner Oldham |
Piano | Craige Doerge |
Percussion | Milt Holland |
6 Detroit Or Buffalo
Bass | Leland Sklar |
Drums | Ron Tutt |
Guitar | Lowell George |
Acoustic Guitar | Barbara Keith |
Pedal Steel Guitar | Pete Kleinow |
Piano | Craige Doerge |
7 The Road I Took To You
Bass | Leland Sklar |
Organ | Mike Utley |
Piano | Barbara Keith |
8 Shining All Along
Bass | Leland Sklar |
Drums | Jim Keltner |
Guitar | Lowell George |
Organ | Mike Utley |
Piano | Spooner Oldham |
Piano | Craige Doerge |
Percussion | Milt Holland |
9 Rainy Nights Are All The Same
Bass | Leland Sklar |
Guitar | John Brennan |
Guitar | Barbara Keith |
Piano | Spooner Oldham |
10 A Stone\’s Throw Away
Bass | Max Bennett |
Drums | Jim Gordon |
Guitar | Lowell George |
Acoustic Guitar | John Brennan |
Piano | Spooner Oldham |
Piano | Clarence McDonald |
Liner Notes
Producer – Larry Marks
Engineer – Henry Lewy, Lee Herschberg, Ray Gernhardt, Rudy Hill, Tommy Vicari