RANDY LEWIS BROWN SHARES THE TRUTH OF PREJUDICE BEFORE MLK DAY VIA “”DESOTO PARISH NIGHTS”

With a gritty directness and a quiet strength, Randy Lewis Brown has been the voice of reason for quite some time. Just add him to each of our own never-ending lists of artists you must hear during these trying times. 

Brown was born in Louisiana, spending his childhood in pre-civil rights Shreveport, immersed in the formative strictures and music of the church. He discovered a new world when, at twelve, his family moved to Houston.  It was there, as he grew to adulthood, that he began to connect with and make music in a deeper sense.  Having grown up in both Louisiana and Texas, Randy Lewis Brown’s tales are those of hard resignation with the occasional dappled sunlight of wounded optimism shining through.Having been tapped to open for Ray Wylie Hubbard, David Olney, Jim Lauderdale and more, Randy Lewis Brown has played across the country — extensively through Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana — including to multiple festivals like Tommy Alverson’s Family Gathering and the South Florida Folk Festival. 

With a few days to go before a very important Martin Luther King Day, Glide is thrilled to premiere a studio version of Brown’s award-winning song”Desoto Parish Nights” (below) along with an accompanying video. Brown shot the video at home during December on his iPhone and added photos and video from his childhood years and edited it together with my new video editing discovery DaVinci Resolve. With shades of Rodney Crowell and Steve Earle, Brown’s well-worn voice is that of a punctuating intelligence and grace. 

“Do you remember the day you woke up to the real world? How it wasn’t at all like you thought? For me it happened at the age of 10. What I mistook for a safe, loving existence was shattered by a simple act of ignorance and prejudice on a fateful Sunday evening. Desoto Parish Nights is that story told as the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth,” says Brown.

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Kelly Henkins - Country Angel Blog - August 2019

I seem to have gotten lost in this album so much so I realized just a few moments ago I'd not posted my review. 

As I read through the notes from Randy about RED CROW, giving me an insight to each of the tracks, I had to wonder… How could someone who’s been so disillusioned by various aspects of life over the course of his years make those moments so beautiful? Trust the Sun captures this perspective as only a talented songwriter such as Randy is capable of. The other thing I find magical about this album is that Randy Lewis Brown’s vocal abilities belie his age. If there is such a thing as an ‘old soul’ in a young man, than Randy is the reverse. This nuance lends a stronger meaning to I’m Not Ready Yet. 

October Again is a haunting melody capturing the darkness of a painful memory. Close your eyes and watch the colored leaves become the death of summer like you’ve never seen them before. 

One Horse Town is a picture-perfect example of small town life... whether we want to escape from, come back to, or never leave from the beginning, there's a familiarity most of us can relate to. 

With the steel guitar as well as the lilt of the lyrics, She’s the Only Woman, co-written with Terry Klein, came out just as they’d hoped. If you like the older country with a bit of Beatles for seasoning this tune will have you seeing your wife in a fresh light and tapping your toes. 

The title track, Red Crow, was inspired by a painting by Jenny Joyce… the same of which is now the album cover. Randy brings images from his mind to life. If you listen, you can hear the slight flutter of wings as the crow takes flight. 

I love how Randy tells a story within a story such as he’s done in Any Old Train. Like a parallel universe, he takes you down two journeys at once. 

As I stated in my interview yesterday, Above Timberline pulled at memories for memories. I’m planning a trip back to my home state of Colorado and look forward to smelling the lichen-covered rocks, pine and seeing the beauty of the Aspens. Whether you’ve ever been there or not, Randy has the capability of making you feel at home in the beauty of the Rockies. 

With a hint of Native American tones, Other Campfires will stir the ashes of your soul. 

The simplicity of Good Old Days mimics the time, regardless of what that time period is, most of us wish we could revisit. 

Barlow Road is an outstanding example of how our past, while far from perfect is just that… a part of our heritage. This track tells a sad tale from the historic stretch of what was originally part of the Oregon Trail. Randy gives us the guts of history the way the stories should be told. 

The continuity of this album is perfect in every way. While four of the tunes have co-writers (Randy Palmer, Terry Klein, Richard Paul Thomas, and Jim Gilmore), they are his stories. Others lending their talents to the album Merel Bregante, Michael Dorian, Sarah Pierce Band, Riley Osborne, Mark Epstein, Dirje Childs, and Cody Braun. I have to say if Randy Lewis Brown believes the Trouble With Me is that he thinks too much, I hope he keeps letting those wheels turn out more original tunes like these. The depth of not just the lyrics but the undercurrent of emotions attached to each one makes this one of the best albums to ever cross my desk. I'm tipping my hat….

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Playing: Randy Lewis Brown’s ‘Red Crow’ 
By Will Phoenix 
Randy Lewis Brown is prepping for the release of a new full-length studio album.  It’s called Red Crow and it drops on September 27th.  But first, for those not yet familiar with the artist in question, a bit o’ background. 

Randy Lewis Brown 
Louisiana-born singer-songwriter and musician Randy Lewis Brown works out of Texas.  According to his official website as a boy Brown “was offered a $10 guitar and lessons for $1 a week by an older teen in church.”  He was hooked and “was a budding [singer-] songwriter” by the time he was 14. 
His rockin’ resume also includes a pair of previous releases, 2007’s Dream Big and 2013’s But Wait, There’s More.  He has won such songwriting awards as the TIME Songwriting Competition (2009), the New Traditions Award (2007), the Poor David’s BW Stevenson Songwriter Contest (2014) and the South Florida Songwriting Contest (2018).  He has toured across the country and opened for such other artists as Ray Wylie Hubbard, Jim Lauderdale, and David Olney. 

Signature sound 
While his music is generally labeled as Americana, his music often extends beyond that.  His signature sound is a blend of multiple musical genres including Americana, country, folk, and folk-rock. 

Red Crow 
Red Crow is an album that demonstrates Brown’s ability to take a less than perfect life and turn it into something positive and at points nigh beautiful.  It belays the wisdom of his years of experience and then some. 

Track by track 
On this album, Brown leads the way on acoustic guitar, banjo, and vocals.  He is backed by an assortment of other artists.  They include Merel Bregante (drums, percussion, and harmony vocals), Michael Dorian (electric guitar), Riley Osborne (Hammond B3),  Mark Epstein (bass), Dirje Childs (cello),  Cody Braun (fiddle, harmonica, mandolin), and Sarah Pierce (harmony vocals). 

The 13-track disc opens on the first single, “One Horse Town,” which is a surprisingly relatable songstory co-written with Richard P. Thomas and contains this underlying memorable groove making it a good cut for a road trip too. 

The second selection is the introspective “Trouble With Me". It’s slower, quieter and even a bit sad.  Perhaps that’s what makes it work. 

“Not Ready Yet”  is a shuffle groove and a musical metaphor concerning a pair of birds and an older couple.  It was co-composed with Randy Palmer and is the second single off the album.  “October Again”  has an effective melody that captures a painful memory’s darkness. 

Co-written with Terry Klein, “She’s The Only Woman” includes a quick reference to Don McLean, a steel guitar-fueled lilt and a tinge of Lennon-McCartney to boot.  The next number is “Trust The Sun.”  The songwriting remains solid as does the artists’ performance. 

The titular “Red Crow” follows.  Inspired by a painting by Jenny Joyce, this poetic piece presents the tuneful tale of a red crow that leaves crow calling cards and a specific revelation.  It’s ready-made for a film soundtrack. 

“Any Old Train”  is a song that tells a story within a story.  It presents a prerequisite tale in a unique way.  “Above Timberline” is both evocative and ponderous.  Written with Jim Gilmore it also has a homey, heartfelt feel to it. 

The evocative “Other Campfires” has an indigenous feel to it.  (Don’t ask: How?  It just does.)  The fun, reflective "Good Old Days" focuses on the simplicity of another time.  It is highlighted by more biographical bits and great pop culture references. 

“Barlow Road” has a specific musical composition that draws you into a sad song about pioneers on the famous Oregon Trail.  The closing cut is "Goodnight Good Luck."Perfectly placed, this apt album endnote probably works well as a live show closer too. 

Overall, the album is a quality collection of original material written or co-composed by Brown.  There is enough variety to hold the listener’s attention but not so much as to distract from the theme and flow of the work.  The songs have a familiar feel to them regardless of how unusual individual songstories might be.  So check out Randy Lewis Brown’s Red Crow and it just might take you back to the “Good Old Days.”

Will Phoenix - Aug 2019