By John Tierney
Yes, DEBUT, as in what took you so long Paul? An artist who I have seen performing around these parts for a long as I’ve been covering music. You name the stage; Paul Davie has played on it. From the small stage at the city’s favorite neighborhood bar, to the NY state fair with his long running Beatlecuse project, a celebration of all things Fab that has from time to time included some pretty high-profile players. Some of those players are represented on Half and Half, where Davie has put together nothing short of an all-star team of musicians from CNY and beyond.
Half and Half is exactly that, half well composed originals and half well-chosen covers. Every one of the 11 tracks is expertly arraigned and beautifully sung, starting right off with the sweet lead off track, the original “Kiss Me Softly” which features some truly lovely harmony vocals from Tim Burns and Shawn Halloran.
The cover of the Rolling Stones classic “Ruby Tuesday” is given a Sgt Pepperesque treatment with the French horn of Jeff Stockham. Also notable on this track is the 12 string you hear on it is played by none other than long time Bowie guitar slinger Earl Slick.
Davie’s version of the Pretenders classic “I’ll Stand by You” features some nice piano playing by Davie along with top level drums by Cathy LaManna and the unmistakable soaring guitar of Anthony Saturno.
The second half of the album is an ambitious little song progression called “Ocean Suite” a four song reflection on place, identity and permeance that begins with “One With The Sun” a meditation on opening one’s self to the warmth of the summer sun after a long cold winter, featuring lyrics and bass by the unstoppable Misse Thomas.
The bonus track is a great cover of John Lennon’s “Grow Old With Me” which features none other than Badfinger’s Joey Molland on guitar.
It takes a fair amount of confidence and courage to take six of your own compositions and mix them with a similar number of covers by such writers as Lennon, Alan Parsons, and Leonard Cohen but Davie pulls this feat off with great success.
Paul Davie knows that it’s all about serving the song and all 11 songs featured here are served with great vision and Davie wears not only his heart, but also his influences on his sleeve.
I say this because Paul himself has mentioned it but there is something impressive about doing a new thing for the first time at a “certain age”. Maybe I feel it more acutely as I am of a “certain age” and as Dylan said,, “get busy living or get busy dying” I can’t help but gather some inspiration from what Paul has created. May all our endeavors be of such high quality as Half and Half.
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