Jackie De Shannon - High Coinage: The Songwriters Collection

JDS, up there with the best

For almost anyone else in the biz, this kind of crosssectional career overview would be a none-too-subtle method of flattering its subject by association. Like the sticker says, the CD features “songs and/or contributions from Van Morrison, Randy Newman, Bobby Womack, Warren Zevon, Jack Nitzsche, Van Dyke Parks, Carole King, Dr John, Robbie Robertson, Burt Bacharach and Lennon & McCartney”. Heck, there’s no room to note Barry White’s subsonic presence on 1968’s Laurel Canyon, or even a John Barry/Hal David-penned Bond filler. But the point is, De Shannon’s own written contributions quite easily stand shoulder to shoulder with those of all these big shots, right throughout the 60s.

So, a generous 26-track counterpoint to any standard greatest hits collection, mapping Jackie’s growth from early-60s LA lollipopper via groundbreaking folkrock (Where Does The Sun Go?) and on into the rich vein of country-soul that she handles just as gutsily as Dusty Springfield. From this golden age, hear the Bobbie Gentryish Laurel Canyon and Bobby Womack’s What Is This? from 1969. There’s only room for three smoother MOR 70s tracks and one from ’84, but no complaints.

Raven | RVCD-248

Reviewed by Derek Hammond
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