JD HUTCHISON - music
>>> cds >>>

JD's Realbilly Jive release:

Track Listing
01 Since My Bird Has Flied Away
02 Love at a Distance
03 The Fools Hall of Fame
04 Money to Burn
05 Maybe He Has Changed His Mind
06 My Little Darlin’
07 Don’t Talk About Love
08 Ready on the Firing Line
09 The Coming Home of the Son And Brother
10 Rambler’s Blues
11 You and the World Outside
12 Jesus, Come Down From Your Cross

$10 (plus shipping)

JD's second CD, A Circus Jig:

Track Listing
01 Baby I’m in Love With You
02 Another Fool’s Café
03 I Step a Sidewalk
04 Since 1942
05 Money, Money, Money
06 Churchhouse Blues
07 Way South
08 What’s Become of My Creature
09 When World’s Collide
10 Hard to be Free (Here in America)
11 Smokin’ on the Highway

$10 (plus shipping)

>>> mp3s >>>

ORIGINALS/ COVERS
Let's Burn Down the Corn Fields
Boots of Spainish Leather
Sand and Foam
Deep Cut Tavern
Girl of the North Country
Hello Hello
When World's Collide
Love Hurts
Ready on the Firing Line

Hear Meghan Watkins sing JD's Ready on the Firing Line.
This song was recorded for our Girl With No Name CD, a benefit
album for Troy Gregorino. Hear the song | Discover the CD

>>>>> reviews >>>>>

J.D.'s 'Realbilly Jive' album remains musically intriguing
The Athens Insider, by Troy Gregorino

Following my recent review of J.D. Hutchison’s “A Circus Jig,” I came across Hutchison’s earlier, self-titled album. A firm believer that no worthwhile recording loses relevance with the passing of years, I figured I’d check out the Realbilly Jive collection. What I discovered was a CD that, on the whole, includes a host of tracks that are more musically intriguing and lyrically substantive than its follow-up counterpart.

In many respects, “J.D. Hutchison, Realbilly Jive” succeeds where “A Circus Jig” fails. “Churchhouse Blues” excepted, much of “A Circus Jig” sounds a bit more contrived, instrumentally crowded, and generally less compelling than “J.D. Hutchison.”

“Hutchison” successfully fuses J.D.’s trademark, unlikely combination of whimsical humor and stark, emotional crooning. The result is a well-developed sense of cohesion, pleasantly devoid of predictability.

Highlights include “Since My Bird Has Flied Away,” an old-fashioned, melodic, bluesy track that features some brilliant guitar work.

“Love At A Distance,” one of Hutchison’s best known songs, is a bit too slow and overly countrified, but is carried by its fresh lyrical take on a timeless subject.

“The Fools Hall of Fame” is a down-trodden, self-effacing tune, somewhat reminiscent of George Strait. It’s another example of Hutchison’s knack for providing inventive lyrics for songs that conceptually, and sometimes musically, would otherwise sound dry and unmoving.

Maybe the most gripping track is “Ready On The Firing Line,” a simple but striking song that involves experimental vocal effects over an eerily mesmerizing, sustained chord on keys.

Overall, Hutchison and Realbilly Jive — made up of John Borchard, Dave Borowski, and Jim Smailes, with appearances by G.M. Dearth and Jeff de Laval — succeed in providing a more impressive clinic of songwriting and musicianship than can be found on “A Circus Jig.”

Like its follow-up, though, “Hutchison” still falls a little short of the grit and all-out instrumental wowing of which Hutchison is more than capable. Though he gives us the best of his skills only in flashes, this one comes close to satisfying and deserves a listen.

'A Circus Jig' offers classic samples
The Athens Insider (12/16/2003), by Troy Gregorino

Though it was released in 2000 (prior to my arrival at The Athens Insider), J.D. Hutchison’s “A Circus Jig” hasn’t been reviewed in this publication. Given Hutchison’s considerable following and continued influence on the Athens music scene, I figure now is better than never.

“ A Circus Jig,” which Hutchison recorded with Realbilly Jive (guitar, pedal steel and lap steel player, John Borchard, bassist Borowski, and guitarist Jim Smailes), aptly displays Hutchison’s impressive versatility, but lacks a full unleashing of some of his best qualities.

That said, it’s a recording which, at its best, offers some classic samples of the local legend’s unique style and delivery. Even “Baby, I’m In Love With You,” despite being as unimaginative as the title implies, is a charming Little Richard-like rocker with a fun, strictly J.D., flavor about it.

The album, which is well-produced, also includes vocals by The Local Girls as well as appearances by pianist Jeff deLaval, cornet player Bob Montalto, and drummer Red Samples.

By far the best track on “A Circus Jig” is “Churchhouse Blues.” Under two minutes long, “Churchhouse Blues” says more than most songs more than twice its length. Hutchison’s slide guitar work combines with a remarkably effective falsetto vocal delivery for an engagingly memorable piece.

Following “Churchhouse Blues” is an unpredictable, yet catchy, instrumental called “Way South.” It’s a meditative, laid back song that conjures a light-hearted sort of surf rock imagery.

Another highlight (my favorites happen to appear successively, tracks six through eight) is “What’s Become Of My Creature.” A stark, spiritually melancholy song on which Hutchison’s voice is backed only by a slow, methodical drum beat, “What’s Become Of My Creature” is a nice addition to what is primarily a driving, upbeat collection.

The less more gritty and heartfelt (and less cheery and silly) the song, the more effective Hutchison’s work becomes. Though “A Circus Jig” is good, Hutchison provides ample evidence that he’s capable of a recording that’s great. Selfishly, I’d like to see him compile a CD entirely of the scaled down traditional blues style for which he has such a rare knack. “A Circus Jig” gives a glimpse of Hutchison’s most compelling work, but leaves me craving more.