Freedom's Child

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Not to be confused with Freedom Child.
Freedom's Child
Studio album by
Billy Joe Shaver
Released2002
LabelCompadre[1]
ProducerR.S. Field
Billy Joe Shaver chronology
The Earth Rolls On
(2001) 		Freedom's Child
(2002) 		Try and Try Again
(2003)

Freedom's Child is an album by the American musician Billy Joe Shaver, released in 2002.[2][3] Shaver supported the album with a North American tour.[4] It was a hit on Americana radio stations.[5]

Kinky Friedman mentions "Freedom's Child" in his novel Ten Little New Yorkers.[6] Robert Duvall appeared in the video for the song.[7]

Production[edit]

Recorded over three days in Nashville, Freedom's Child was produced by R.S. Field.[8][9] Shaver chose from around 24 songs he had written.[10] Jamie Hartford and Will Kimbrough played guitar on the album.[11] The sound mixed country with blues and rock.[12]

Some versions include an unlisted track, "Necessary Evil", by Shaver's late son, Eddy; it was Shaver's first album without his son since 1987.[13][14] "Corsicana Daily Sun" and "Day by Day" are autobiographical songs.[15][16] "That's Why the Man in Black Sings the Blues" is a tribute to Johnny Cash.[17] "Déja Blues" is a duet with Todd Snider.[18] "Magnolia Mother's Love" contains just Shaver's voice and a mandolin.[19] A version of "Good Ol' U.S.A." appeared on Shaver's album Tramp on Your Street.[20]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
Robert Christgau(choice cut)[21]
Detroit Free Press[12]
Orlando Sentinel[17]
Ottawa Citizen[22]
Philadelphia Daily NewsB[23]
Regina Leader-Post[24]
Uncut[25]
USA Today[26]

Uncut wrote that Shaver "mixes up gritty, almost Stones-like house-rockers with honky-tonk drinking songs, raw rockabilly romps and loss-tinged acoustic ballads."[25] Robert Christgau praised "That's What She Said Last Night".[21] USA Today concluded that Shaver "writes of patriotism, his heroes and a mother's love without resorting once to a cliche or a rhyme that sounds as if it were used simply to finish a line."[26]

No Depression noted that Shaver "most often delivers his songs in the high and spiritual southeastern tones of Roy Acuff and the Acuff-influenced part of Hank Williams, if in a less dramatic, more laconic way."[27] The Orlando Sentinel stated that the songs "reject glossy studio production to embrace a rambunctious, roadhouse feel."[17] The Washington Post deemed the album "a reflection on a lifetime of hardship and reward, struggle and sweet victory, it is country music clean to the bone at its gritty, thoughtful best."[16]

AllMusic called the album "a fine and moving album from one of country's least-appreciated major talents."[13] The Reno Gazette-Journal listed it as the third best album of 2002.[28]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleLength
1."Hold on to Yours (And I'll Hold on to Mine)" 
2."Freedom's Child" 
3."That's Why the Man in Black Sings the Blues" 
4."Honey Chile" 
5."Good Ol' U.S.A." 
6."Day by Day" 
7."Corsicana Daily Sun" 
8."That's What She Said Last Night" 
9."Drinkin' Back" 
10."We" 
11."Wild Cow Gravy" 
12."Déja Blues" 
13."Magnolia Mother's Love" 
14."Merry Christmas to You" (Bonus Track) 

References[edit]

  1. ^ Braley, Bethany (Jul–Aug 2005). "A Fallen Angel Flies". American Cowboy. 12 (2): 41.
  2. ^ "Billy Joe Shaver". The Pitch. December 12, 2002.
  3. ^ Doyle, Patrick; Hudak, Joseph (October 28, 2020). "Billy Joe Shaver, Seminal Outlaw-Country Songwriter, Dead at 81". Rolling Stone.
  4. ^ Brown, Donna (29 Nov 2002). "Billy Joe Shaver". The News Journal. p. Z16.
  5. ^ Musser, Jim (20 Feb 2003). "Shaver reaps just rewards with album". Iowa City Press-Citizen. p. D2.
  6. ^ Friedman, Kinky (March 8, 2005). "Ten Little New Yorkers". Simon and Schuster – via Google Books.
  7. ^ Beal Jr., Jim (November 15, 2002). "Shaver's words". San Antonio Express-News. p. 18H.
  8. ^ Lomax, John Nova (September 19, 2002). "Compadre Records honchito Brad Turcotte reports...". Racket. Houston Press.
  9. ^ "Billy Joe Shaver: Freedom's Child Album Review". www.austinchronicle.com.
  10. ^ Hall, Michael (Dec 2003). "The Ballad of Billy Joe Shaver". Texas Monthly. 31 (12).
  11. ^ Wolgamott, L. Kent (22 Nov 2002). "Shaver is razor-sharp on his latest CD". Lincoln Journal Star. p. X16.
  12. ^ a b Crawford, Greg (5 Jan 2003). "COUNTRY". Detroit Free Press. p. E3.
  13. ^ a b c "Billy Joe Shaver - Freedom's Child Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  14. ^ Corcoran, Michael (5 Sep 2002). "Drag kings and unholy rollers". Austin American-Statesman. p. 21.
  15. ^ Reagan, Brad (May 16, 2004). "Ode to Billy Joe". Salon.
  16. ^ a b Heim, Joe (24 Nov 2002). "Billy Joe Shaver's Show of Strength". The Washington Post. p. G2.
  17. ^ a b c Abbott, Jim (15 Nov 2002). "BILLY JOE SHAVER ISN'T FANCY, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 12.
  18. ^ McKeough, Kevin (8 Dec 2002). "Life's a song for hard-luck Shaver". Arts & Entertainment. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
  19. ^ Tarradell, Mario (November 17, 2002). "Songs of a survivor". The Dallas Morning News. p. 7C.
  20. ^ Will, Ed (November 20, 2002). "Personal losses haunt Shaver's new CD". The Denver Post. p. F1.
  21. ^ a b "Robert Christgau: CG: Billy Joe Shaver". www.robertchristgau.com.
  22. ^ Langston, Patrick (7 Dec 2002). "Recordings". Ottawa Citizen. p. J4.
  23. ^ Takiff, Jonathan (19 Nov 2002). "TWANG TIME". FEATURES. Philadelphia Daily News. p. 54.
  24. ^ Krochak, Gerry (8 Feb 2003). "FREEDOM'S CHILD Billy Joe Shaver". Regina Leader-Post. p. A11.
  25. ^ a b "Billy Joe Shaver - Freedom's Child". Uncut. January 1, 2003.
  26. ^ a b Mansfield, Brian (19 Nov 2002). "Country". USA Today. p. D6.
  27. ^ "Billy Joe Shaver - Freedom's Child". No Depression.
  28. ^ Robison, Mark (27 Dec 2002). "CD Rack". Reno Gazette-Journal. p. H16.
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