Will Kimbrough is the real deal. A masterful singer-songwriter who has been recording a wide range of music since his debut band The Bis-Quits recorded their 1993 album on John Prine’s Oh Boy label. That band had Kimbrough work with, amongst others, Tommy Womack and he’s kept recording with him ever since.
He’s got nine albums to his name to date – but his amazing work also includes his roles as a renowned session musician, a truly respected producer and an amazing songwriter. He’s produced albums for the likes of Rodney Crowell, Todd Snider, Kim Richey, Matthew Ryan, Josh Rouse, Steve Poltz and many others. His songs have been recorded by Jimmy Buffet, Little Feat, Fastball, Jack Ingram and Adrienne Young. His collaborations are legendary and include working with Roseanne Cash, Guy Clark, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, The Jayhawks, Mark Knopfler, Buddy Miller, John Prine, Billy Joe Shaver, Mavis Staples, Garrison Starr amongst many others. His guitar playing is so fluid that his fans have created a t-shirt suggesting he is an alien!
He has also performed with other bands and two of those are included in this selection. He’s sixty years old now and is based in Nashville and seems to be as busy as ever – with a splendid recent album – “For The Life Of Me” – released earlier this year. He co-wrote our very own Song Of The Year with Dean Owens – ‘Southern Wind’ – on this recent album.
This selection of ten songs really does demonstrate the range and quality of his music – he’s genuinely respected in the industry and these ten songs are testament to his incredible musical talent.
Number 10: ‘Less Polite’ (from “Americanitis” 2007)
This is a track from his “Americanitis” album and is a smartly paced, guitar-driven piece with some real crunch as he declares his independence from the core reserve that is the hallmark of his Alabama upbringing. “I’m trying to be less polite/I’m fed up with the Christian wrong”.
Number 9: Willie Sugarcapps – ‘Mr Lee’ (from “Willie Sugarcapps” 2013)
Back in 2013, Kimbrough collaborated with four other incredible musicians – Grayson Capps, Corky Hughes and the Sugarcane Jane duo Savana Lee and Anthony Crawford. The band came about around some jam sessions that happened in Silverhill, Alabama, where local pickers, troubadours and touring bands had been gathering and sharing the stage. The album is glorious with the musicians sounding as though they’ve been playing with each other for decades. It effortlessly combines acoustic guitar, lap steel, pedal steel, mandolin, banjo, bass, piano, harmonica, fiddle, percussion and ukelele, with four of the five alternating vocals. On ‘Mr Lee’ we have a fantastic foot-stomping bluesy rocker that can’t help but put a smile on the face of the listener. Glorious stuff.
Number 8: ‘You Don’t Know Me So Well’ (from “Home Away” 2002)
This track is taken from Kimbrough’s second solo album and it featured a sterling selection of musicians including Tommy Womack, Brad Jones and Kim Richey amongst others. It included ‘Piece of Work’ that Jimmy Buffet had made famous and ‘The Champion of the World’ which Little Feat had made their own. This beautiful, gentle belter of a song was co-written with Rob Trucks.
Number 7: ‘Down In My Mind’ (from “This” (2000)
From his debut solo release, this is another magnificent melody which was co-written by Tommy Womack. Kimbrough’s knack for creating magnificent melodies is brilliantly demonstrated on this song. The album was well received and again features the likes of Kim Richey. David Henry and Brad Jones.
Number 6: ‘Hey Big Sister’ (from “Home Away” 2002)
Another gem from his second solo album – this song is another hook-laden, gentle song which lingers in the mind for ages. This song features David Gherke on drums and Mike Daley on pedal steel.
Number 5: ‘Let The Big World Spin’ (from “Sideshow Love” 2014)
This track is taken from an album many thought a career highlight – another collection of simply outstanding songs with a cracking band supporting him – Chris Donahue on bass, Paul Griffith on drums, vocalist Lisa Oliver Gray and David Henry on cello. Kimbrough himself plays guitar, banjo, mandolin, and keyboards and many of the songs here become mini operas. This is a joyous, playful and masterly album of which this is the stand-out track.
Number 4: Daddy – ‘Glory Be’ (from “Live At The Women’s Club” 2005)
In 2005, Kimbrough teamed up with his old mate Tommy Womack as well as John Deadrick on piano, Paul Griffith on drums and Dave Jacques on bass to form Daddy. They chose to release as their debut album a stunning live album, recorded at the Frankfort Women’s Club in Kentucky. It’s a rumbunctious and stirring set of mostly self-penned songs and shows Kimbrough in a very different light. The band went on to release two other brilliant albums – but this opening track to their debut is as good a piece of gospel raunch as you’re ever likely to hear. Clear the dance floor!
Number 3: ‘Goodnight Moon’ (from “This” 2000)
It’s back to Kimbrough’s debut album for this sumptuous tune – the closing track which was co-written by Gail Owen. There’s some magnificent trumpet playing from Dennis Cronin and tuba, euphonium and alto horn playing from Dave Jacques. Sublime.
Number 2: ‘Too Beautiful’ (from “Godsend” 2004)
Back in 2004, Kimbrough released an album of unreleased songs from 1994 – 2002. He explained on the liner notes – “These are songs for swingin’ drifters, notes from the road, recorded in big, nice studios, little home studios, attic cassette studios, dive bars and back porches, recorded with friends.” This song was recorded in Nashville in 1999 and featured with Kimbrough and Womack, Michael Grimes on bass, Kirk Yoquelet on drums and Michael Webb on keyboards. This has a glorious seventies Steely Dan vibe – how it was unreleased until this album is anyone’s guess.
Number 1: ‘Chimayo’ (from “This” 2000)
So it’s back to his astonishingly accomplished debut for this corker of a tune. From the moment it starts, there’s a warm and engaging feel with a tune to die for. His trusted set of great musicians back him with Mike Grimes on bass, David Henry on cello, Ned Henry on violin, Kim Richey on vocals and Dennis Cronin on trumpet. For a genuine piece of classic americana you can’t get better than this and it amply demonstrates why Kimbrough is so revered as a superb all-rounder.
