Freedom's Child is an album by the American musician Billy Joe Shaver, released in 2002.[2][3] Shaver supported the album with a North American tour.[4] It was a hit on Americana radio stations.[5]
| Freedom's Child | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 2002 | |||
| Label | Compadre[1] | |||
| Producer | R.S. Field | |||
| Billy Joe Shaver chronology | ||||
| ||||
Kinky Friedman mentions "Freedom's Child" in his novel Ten Little New Yorkers.[6] Robert Duvall appeared in the video for the song.[7]
Production
editRecorded over three days in Nashville, Freedom's Child was produced by R.S. Field.[8][9] Shaver chose from around 24 songs he had written.[10] Jamie Hartford and Will Kimbrough played guitar on the album.[11] The sound mixed country with blues and rock.[12]
Some versions include an unlisted track, "Necessary Evil", by Shaver's late son, Eddy; it was Shaver's first album without his son since 1987.[13][14] "Corsicana Daily Sun" and "Day by Day" are autobiographical songs.[15][16] "That's Why the Man in Black Sings the Blues" is a tribute to Johnny Cash.[17] "Déja Blues" is a duet with Todd Snider.[18] "Magnolia Mother's Love" contains just Shaver's voice and a mandolin.[19] A version of "Good Ol' U.S.A." appeared on Shaver's album Tramp on Your Street.[20]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [13] |
| Robert Christgau |  [21] |
| Detroit Free Press | [12] |
| Orlando Sentinel | [17] |
| Ottawa Citizen |  [22] |
| Philadelphia Daily News | B[23] |
| Regina Leader-Post | [24] |
| Uncut | [25] |
| USA Today | [26] |
Uncut wrote that Shaver "mixes up gritty, almost Stones-like house-rockers with honky-tonk drinking songs, raw rockabilly romps and loss-tinged acoustic ballads."[25] Robert Christgau praised "That's What She Said Last Night".[21] USA Today concluded that Shaver "writes of patriotism, his heroes and a mother's love without resorting once to a cliche or a rhyme that sounds as if it were used simply to finish a line."[26]
No Depression noted that Shaver "most often delivers his songs in the high and spiritual southeastern tones of Roy Acuff and the Acuff-influenced part of Hank Williams, if in a less dramatic, more laconic way."[27] The Orlando Sentinel stated that the songs "reject glossy studio production to embrace a rambunctious, roadhouse feel."[17] The Washington Post deemed the album "a reflection on a lifetime of hardship and reward, struggle and sweet victory, it is country music clean to the bone at its gritty, thoughtful best."[16]
AllMusic called the album "a fine and moving album from one of country's least-appreciated major talents."[13] The Reno Gazette-Journal listed it as the third best album of 2002.[28]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hold on to Yours (And I'll Hold on to Mine)" | |
| 2. | "Freedom's Child" | |
| 3. | "That's Why the Man in Black Sings the Blues" | |
| 4. | "Honey Chile" | |
| 5. | "Good Ol' U.S.A." | |
| 6. | "Day by Day" | |
| 7. | "Corsicana Daily Sun" | |
| 8. | "That's What She Said Last Night" | |
| 9. | "Drinkin' Back" | |
| 10. | "We" | |
| 11. | "Wild Cow Gravy" | |
| 12. | "Déja Blues" | |
| 13. | "Magnolia Mother's Love" | |
| 14. | "Merry Christmas to You" (Bonus Track) |
References
edit- ^ Braley, Bethany (Jul–Aug 2005). "A Fallen Angel Flies". American Cowboy. 12 (2): 41.
- ^ "Billy Joe Shaver". The Pitch. December 12, 2002.
- ^ Doyle, Patrick; Hudak, Joseph (October 28, 2020). "Billy Joe Shaver, Seminal Outlaw-Country Songwriter, Dead at 81". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Brown, Donna (29 Nov 2002). "Billy Joe Shaver". The News Journal. p. Z16.
- ^ Musser, Jim (20 Feb 2003). "Shaver reaps just rewards with album". Iowa City Press-Citizen. p. D2.
- ^ Friedman, Kinky (March 8, 2005). "Ten Little New Yorkers". Simon and Schuster – via Google Books.
- ^ Beal Jr., Jim (November 15, 2002). "Shaver's words". San Antonio Express-News. p. 18H.
- ^ Lomax, John Nova (September 19, 2002). "Compadre Records honchito Brad Turcotte reports...". Racket. Houston Press.
- ^ "Billy Joe Shaver: Freedom's Child Album Review". www.austinchronicle.com.
- ^ Hall, Michael (Dec 2003). "The Ballad of Billy Joe Shaver". Texas Monthly. 31 (12).
- ^ Wolgamott, L. Kent (22 Nov 2002). "Shaver is razor-sharp on his latest CD". Lincoln Journal Star. p. X16.
- ^ a b Crawford, Greg (5 Jan 2003). "COUNTRY". Detroit Free Press. p. E3.
- ^ a b c "Billy Joe Shaver - Freedom's Child Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ Corcoran, Michael (5 Sep 2002). "Drag kings and unholy rollers". Austin American-Statesman. p. 21.
- ^ Reagan, Brad (May 16, 2004). "Ode to Billy Joe". Salon.
- ^ a b Heim, Joe (24 Nov 2002). "Billy Joe Shaver's Show of Strength". The Washington Post. p. G2.
- ^ a b c Abbott, Jim (15 Nov 2002). "BILLY JOE SHAVER ISN'T FANCY, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 12.
- ^ McKeough, Kevin (8 Dec 2002). "Life's a song for hard-luck Shaver". Arts & Entertainment. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
- ^ Tarradell, Mario (November 17, 2002). "Songs of a survivor". The Dallas Morning News. p. 7C.
- ^ Will, Ed (November 20, 2002). "Personal losses haunt Shaver's new CD". The Denver Post. p. F1.
- ^ a b "Robert Christgau: CG: Billy Joe Shaver". www.robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Langston, Patrick (7 Dec 2002). "Recordings". Ottawa Citizen. p. J4.
- ^ Takiff, Jonathan (19 Nov 2002). "TWANG TIME". FEATURES. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 54.
- ^ Krochak, Gerry (8 Feb 2003). "FREEDOM'S CHILD Billy Joe Shaver". Regina Leader-Post. p. A11.
- ^ a b "Billy Joe Shaver - Freedom's Child". Uncut. January 1, 2003.
- ^ a b Mansfield, Brian (19 Nov 2002). "Country". USA Today. p. D6.
- ^ "Billy Joe Shaver - Freedom's Child". No Depression.
- ^ Robison, Mark (27 Dec 2002). "CD Rack". Reno Gazette-Journal. p. H16.