Knockout music from Shawn Camp
THE CD: “Shawn Camp: Fireball”
PERFORMER: Shawn Camp
Shawn Camp is a Nashville veteran who made his major label debut in 1993. Since then, his songs have been recorded by Ricky Skaggs, Ralph Stanley, Brooks & Dunn and Garth Brooks, among others.
Camp, who performs on Sunday’s “Mountain Stage” at the Cultural Center in the state Capitol Compex, has a new recording, “Fireball,” that shows his versatility as a singer, musician and songwriter. From the very danceable title cut, a wide variety of different moods and colors ensues — and fun. Camp plays guitar guitar, mandolin, fiddle, bass and dobro, in addition to his songwriting.
And the lyrics? Take “Hot Wired, ” an ode to Miss Demeanor:
“My baby’s got a talent/she don’t like to talk about/they sent her daddy to the pen and he still ain’t got out/it runs in the family like some kind of burning fire/ her kin can get a free ride/it don’t matter where they are.”
Or “Just As Dead Today” (with Camp’s bluesy country fiddle):
“He’s just as dead today as he’ll be tomorrow/might as well just plant him where fell/let the preacher say some mournful worlds of sorrow/and pray that them bones ain’t bound for hell.”
OK. Steinbeck, it ain’t. Who cares? These tunes are pushed along by a band. Camp has assembled a crew of fine musicians, including rock ‘n’ roll legend Billy Burnette, who plays guitar and drums on two tracks (and also helped to engineer and co-produce.)
Another song, “Would You Go With Me,” is in full newgrass mode, with Scott Vestal on five-string banjo. Speaking of bluegrass, “Beagle Hound” has a snippet of the late, great Jimmy Martin and his hunting dogs. Camp also released a fine bluegrass album, “Live at the Station Inn,” in 2004.
“Fireball” came in the mail Monday, and has been in my CD player all week. This is some knockout music from a very talented songwriter and musician.
DETAILS: “Shawn Camp: Fireball” will be released March 21 on Skeeterbit Records. PO Box 550, White Bluff, Tenn 37187.
– Paul Gartner
