MARK KNOPFLER’S THE RAGPICKER’S DREAM
By R. A. Pearson

Mark Knopfler’s new CD, The Rag Picker’s Dream, is an excellent CD released in late 2002 on the Warner Brothers label. While Knopfler’s name may be unfamiliar to many music fans, his voice and music are very familiar. Knopfler was the front man and guitar player for the band Dire Straits. In this 12 cut CD, the artist pays tribute to the blue collar working man in a complex, yet refined, return to the roots of blues and rock music. While most of this CD features a more laid back sound than his classic work with Dire Straits, the listener will easily identify the style and sound of Knopfler. The theme of the CD and its major musical features are more a continuation of his 2002 solo work, Sailing to Philadelphia, than anything released by Dire Straits.

The initial cut, “Why Aye Man,” sets the tone for the CD. The theme for the CD seems to be a longing blue-collar look for a better and more responsive world. Other songs on the work reflective of this genre include “A Place Where We Used to Live,” “Marbletown,” “Hill Farmer’s Blues,” and “Old Pigweed.” The title cut, “The Ragpickers Dream,” is a dreamy blue-collar look at whiskey, food, and life during the Christmas season. The music on the CD ranges from rock in “Why Aye Man” to country in “Daddy’s Gone to Knoxville” to an almost country-blues “Trailers for Sale or Rent” sound found in Knopfler’s “Quality Shoe.”

The Rag Picker’s Dream features Mark Knopfler on guitars and vocals, Richard Bennett on guitars, Jim Cox on keyboards, Glenn Worf on bass, and Chad Cromwell on drums. It was produced by Chuck Ainlay and Mark Knopfler.

Mark Knopfler’s The Rag Picker’s Dream is an exquisite CD, a tremendous follow up to Sailing to Philadelphia, and a great addition to any CD collection. If Sailing to Philadelphia slid in under your radar in 2002, now would be a good time to pick up this excellent CD also.

Another CD that should be of interest to our younger readers, as well as our “mature” readers, is Room for Squares, by the 25-year old artist John Mayer. Mayer’s vocals and guitar work stand out on this extraordinary CD. While the older listener may forget the youth of the artist and question some of the lyrics, Mayer’s music shows a great maturity for his age. Two songs on this work, “No Such Thing” and “Your Body Is Wonderful,” are receiving a lot of airplay, and Rolling Stone awarded this CD four stars. Mayer received a Grammy nomination as “Best New Artist” in 2002 for Room for Squares, and “Your Body Is Wonderful” took the Grammy for “Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.”

Susan Tedeschi’s new CD, Wait For Me, is an outstanding follow up to her 1998 CD, Just Want Burn, that earned her a “Best New Artist” nomination in 2000. Wait For Me is an 11 track release that ranges from blues to jazz to old rock and roll, always featuring the haunting, yet melodic voice of Susan Tedeschi. While the music and vocals on Just Want Burn was often compared to Bonnie Ratt, the artist shows unique and varied influences on her latest release. The Bonnie Ratt influence is evident on several cuts including; “Alone,” a good strong song used to open the album and nominated for a Grammy as “Best Female Rock Vocal Performance,” “Til I found You,” and “Hampmotized.” Bob Dylan’s influence can be felt in Tedeschi’s rendition of “Gonna Move,” a song by Paul Pena, and her cover of Dylan’s “ Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.” Tedeschi shows off her outstanding band in an almost Jerry Lee Lewis style, rock and roll, honky tonk, triad “I Fell In Love.” The listener can even hear an Allman Brothers Band sound in songs such as “The Feeling The Music Brings,” an influence from her husband, the young guitar sensation, Derek Trucks, a nephew of the legendary drummer of the Macon based band from the 1970s. The final cut, “Blues On A Holiday’” takes the listener to the basic roots of blues. The song seems like the type of song a group of friends would play on any delta front porch using a guitar and harmonica. Perhaps the best song on the CD is the bluesey love song “In The Garden.” This song features fantastic lyrics and tremendous instrumentation, including a violin solo by Jason Crosby who also is one of the bands keyboard players.

Susan Tedechi’s band includes Jeff Sipe on Drums, Jason Crosby on Keyboards and violin, Derek Trucks on guitar, and Johnny Johnson, an outstanding piano player who collaborated with many rock and rock super heroes including Chuck Berry.

Susan Tedeschi played in the friendly confines of Jacksonville’s Florida Theatre in February. The concert included outstanding performances of “I Fell In Love,” “In The Garden,” “Alone,” and a crowd favorite, “Angel From Montgomery,” by John Prine, from Just Want Burn. Her encore included Joni Mitchell’s “River.” The Clarion Issue recommends our readers catch one of her shows before her concerts outgrow the smaller, intimate, and personal venues.