This record showcases ten songs by 1970s singer and songwriter Paul Siebel who released two albums on Elektra but retired early from music in the 1980s .
Siebel was known for ‘portrait’ songs and his best known tune - Louise . was recorded by Bonnie Raitt and Linda Ronstadt. The sad end of this young woman is typical of the bleak outcomes to the characters in his compositions.
Despite the deceptively sweet melodies and bouncy rhythms there are no happy endings in the ten bitter-sweet tunes. Romances do not end well. You Don’t Need A Gun is particularly savage: I told him he was useless, I proved it to his face, So with his knife he took his life.
These are stories of unrealised dreams and love turning sour. In Bride 1945 a dream future for a married couple gets lost somewhere in the suburbs. The life of Uncle Dudley is summed up by the line: The fish he caught were never bought by the market.”
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Suzy Thompson is a long-time fan and she rediscovered Seibel’s music during the pandemic. She met and befriended her musical hero before he died on April 5, 2022.
Although best known for her fiddling, she is also an accomplished guitarist and has created her own unfussy arrangements for the songs. Her long-time musical partner, Eric Thompson adds unobtrusive embellishments.
If you are looking for a tagline to sum up these sorry tales, the line it's not easy to undo the done” from Any Day Woman might fit the bill.
Suzy Thompson’s website
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