Rahcel Carson

A new album of ten contemporary organ works from nine composers representing six countries.

Use of the word baby isn't improved by repetition. Though it doesn't crop up often on this "concept" record including only songs with the word baby in the title, Mindy Carson's vocal histrionics succeed only in dating Baby, Baby, Baby as a relic of its time. Blessed with a strong voice that she wielded with much talent, Carson had unfortunately devolved, by the time this was recorded in 1958, into a belter who attempted to equal the lungs of Kay Starr without her impeccable jazz smarts. There are many excellent songs that fit the bill for entrée on this record "I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby," "My Baby Just Cares for Me," "My Melancholy Baby" and the charts by Glenn Osser and Sherman Edwards goose a well-worn standard quite well, but Carson fails to let any syllable cross her lips without worrying it to death.

"Marian Sawa (1937-2005) began serious studies at the age of 14 at the Salesian Organ School, Przemyšl, Poland. He toured actively as an organ performer and from 1966 taught organ at several prestigious schools. As a composer he wrote about 800 pieces in various genres, centred round his music for organ.

Carson McHone, a songwriter from Austin, Texas, writes songs like her life depends on it (Ray Wylie Hubbard), bringing an intelligence to alt-country that is both immediate and lyrical. Her new album Carousel was recorded in Nashville with Producer Mike McCarthy (Spoon, Heartless Bastards, Patty Griffin). She has shared the stage with Vince Gill, Ryan Bingham, Margaret Glaspy, Del McCoury Band, Charlie Mars, David Ramirez, Jerry Jeff Walker, Shakey Graves and Gary Clark Jr., among others.