Bitter Sweet

by Kim Richey

Overview

Kim Richey's second album avoids any sophomore slump and moves her toward a more pop-oriented sound than heard on her debut. The southern California sound of the late '70s looms large; the most obvious point of reference, both musically and thematically, is Karla Bonoff's self-titled first album, the one that Linda Ronstadt mined for her, Hasten Down the Wind. This means that on contemporary terms, Bitter Sweet falls somewhere between Rosanne Cash's country and Shawn Colvin's folk. Richey's songs are intimate examinations of romantic relationships between women and men, more often than not ones that have gone awry. But Richey sings even the most broken-hearted of the songs with a sense of optimism, and thus avoids sinking into maudlin self-pity. Best of all, Richey is a fine lyricist, capable of taking a cliche and twisting it or reinvesting everyday language with meaning. One such example is the single "I'm Alright," which starts with the throwaway line, "After all was said and done," followed by the abrupt, "There was nothing left to do." Throughout Bitter Sweet, Kim Richey makes it plain that she was one of the most gifted songwriters working out of Nashville in the late '90s. ~ Martin Monkman

Product Details

Release Date:	03/04/1997
Label:	Mercury Nashville / Polygram
UPC:	0731453425521
Rank:	123648

Tracks

1. Every River
2. I'm Alright
3. Wildest Dreams
4. Straight as the Crow Flies
5. I Know
6. Fallin'
7. To Tell the Truth
8. My Whole World
9. The Lonesome Side of Town
10. Don't Let Me Down Easy
11. Let It Roll
12. Why Can't I Say Goodnight

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Kim Richey   Primary Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Mandy Barnett   Guest Artist,Vocals (Background)
Sam Bush   Guest Artist,Mandolin
Andrew Mazzone   Bass (Upright),Bass
Kenny Vaughan   Guitar,Baritone,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Kristin Wilkinson   Viola
Chris Rodriguez   Vocals (Background)
Pamela Sixfin   Violin
David Davidson   Violin
Billy Beard   Drums
John Crooke   Vocals (Background)
John Leventhal   Bass,Guitar,Keyboards,Percussion
Jim Fitting   Harmonica
Will Kimbrough   Vocals
Dan Dugmore   Banjo,Mandolin,Pedal Steel
Tony Harrell   Piano,Accordion,Vox Organ,Organ (Hammond),Vox Continental
Joy Lynn White   Vocals (Background)
Shawn Pelton   Drums
Ty Tyler   Dobro
Angelo   Guitar (Rhythm),Guitar (Acoustic)
Tom Littlefield   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
John Ketchings   Cello

Technical Credits

Angelo   Producer,Composer,Producer
Hank Williams   Mastering
Kevin Killen   Engineer
Larry Gottlieb   Composer
David Davidson   Arranger
John Crooke   Composer
Kim Richey   Composer
John Leventhal   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Peter Coleman   Mixing,Engineer
Angelo Petraglia   Composer
Tia Sillers   Composer
Greg Griffith   Assistant Engineer
Dan Leffler   Assistant Engineer
Gerard Dubois   Illustrations
Tom Littlefield   Composer
Jill Dell'Abate   Production Coordination
Buddy Jackson   Art Direction
Jim Kemp   Art Direction
Christie Knubel   Design
Frank Ockenfels   Photography