features in: Album Chart of 1971 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s |

The Karen Dalton album story ends here – although it doesn’t quite have the strength in depth of her 1969 debut, it’s another goodie, with some exceptional treasures. The set was recorded at Bearsville Studios and originally released by Woodstock Festival promoter Michael Lang's label, Just Sunshine Records. The album was produced and arranged by Harvey Brooks, who also plays bass throughout. In his liner notes, Fred Neil was full of praise for Karen’s unique style:
“Karen has been my favourite female vocalist as well as a heavy influence on my own style of singing since the early sixties. I first picked up on her one night in the village at ‘Cock and Bull’ (which later became ‘The Bitter End’). Her voice grabbed me immediately. She did “Blues on the Ceiling” (which is my song) with so much feeling that if she told me she had written it herself I would have believed her. Her voice is so unique, to describe it would take a poet.”
Whilst she never sung her own words, she sure could interpret. “Something On Your Mind”, one of 3 originals on this LP, emerges absolutely as one of the years’ greatest songs. It was donated to Karen by her old pal from the East Village, Chet Powers. What a gift. She served it back to him wrapped with the most beautiful bow ever. Not so great, however, are the ill-advised showband stylings of “When A Man Loves A Woman” and “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” which are a bit of a turn-off. Her strengths lie in folk roots – “Same Old Man” (The Holy Modal Rounders, 1964) and “Katie Cruel” (a traditional) are pure, true and completely Dalton. What a pity the album story ends here.
The Jukebox Rebel
16–Mar–2014
Tracklist |
A1 | [03:23] ![]() |
A2 | [02:59] ![]() |
A3 | [04:18] ![]() |
A4 | [02:22] ![]() |
A5 | [03:43] ![]() |
B1 | [03:52] ![]() |
B2 | [04:40] ![]() |
B3 | [02:45] ![]() |
B4 | [03:19] ![]() |
B5 | [03:14] ![]() |