The Lucky One

Rating

Album: The Lucky One
#	Song Title		Time
1)	The Lucky One	More Info...
2)	Little Red Hen	More Info...
3)	Ship Song	More Info...
4)	Someday	More Info...
5)	Weight Of The World	More Info...
6)	Wishin'	More Info...
7)	'Til I Die	More Info...
8)	Apple Doll	More Info...
9)	Today Is Yesterday's Tomorrow	More Info...
10)	Eloda	More Info...
11)	Fly Away	More Info...
12)	Cryin' Out Loud	More Info...

Album: The Lucky One
#	Song Title		Time
1)	The Lucky One	More Info...
2)	Little Red Hen	More Info...
3)	Ship Song	More Info...
4)	Someday	More Info...
5)	Weight Of The World	More Info...
6)	Wishin'	More Info...
7)	'Til I Die	More Info...
8)	Apple Doll	More Info...
9)	Today Is Yesterday's Tomorrow	More Info...
10)	Eloda	More Info...
11)	Fly Away	More Info...
12)	Cryin' Out Loud	More Info...

Performer Notes

Personnel: Christy McWilson (vocals); Rick Shea (6- & 12-string acoustic & electric guitars, pedal & lap steel guitars, mandolin, background vocals); Peter Buck (6- & 12-string acoustic & electric guitars, mandolin, bells); Dave Alvin (acoustic & electric guitars); Greg Leisz (Weisseborn silde guitar, pedal steel guitar, dobro, bass); Chris Gaffney (accordion); Skip Edwards (keyboards); Walt Singleman, Bob Glaub (bass); Don Heffington (drums, percussion); Rhett Miller, Mike Mills, Syd Straw (background vocals).
Recorded at Your Place or Mine, Glendale, California.
Before recording this solo album Christy McWilson was a key member of Seattle's critically lauded band The Picketts, over the course of their releases demonstrating herself to be a writer and performer of considerable talents. Her singing and songwriting is the centerpiece of this strong debut. She penned 10 of the album's 11 numbers, with the sole cover being Brian Wilson's "'Til I Die."
Producer Dave Alvin knows how to find and honor the heart of each song, while players on board include REM's Peter Buck and Mike Mills, Rhett Miller, Greg Leisz, and Chris Gaffney, who perform on various high lonesome country laments, sprightly pop tunes, western swing numbers, and hotwired rockabilly barn burners. It's a testament to both the sturdy songs and supple production that these varied settings come across as one impressive whole.

Professional Reviews

Entertainment Weekly (6/23/00, p.103) - "...A beautifully wrought, wickedly observant solo collection..." - Rating: B+

CMJ (7/00, p.56) - "...Borrows from the holy grails of alt.country....revealing that expanding your musical horizons is one of the nicer things about getting older."

Mojo (Publisher) (9/00, p.99) - "...From Tex-Mex to roots rock to a haunting ode to an ancestor, this album's American just does not stop....but the real stars of the show are [her] astonishing contralto and the deliciously sad songs around which she wraps it..."