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Esmé Patterson: Music’s Women Answer Back
Denver singer songwriter Esmé Patterson releases a very interesting album today. Woman to Woman gives the subjects of some of music’s most famous tracks a right to reply. It’s a great idea, and Patterson has turned it into a very different collection of songs.
So if you’ve ever wondered what Dolly Parton’s Jolene might be thinking, or how Billie Jean might respond to Michael Jackson, now’s your chance to find out.
The essence of what makes Woman To Woman such an intriguing release is best described in Esmé’s own words: ‘I was learning to play a Townes Van Zandt song called Loretta and I started thinking about how these women were frozen in time, and frozen as archetypes, frozen in black and white. And I thought they deserved to be coloured in.’
The record is trailed by this track, The Glow, which Patterson wrote in response to the Beach Boys’ Caroline, No.
The full track listing of the album, including the song each track is responding to is:
1. Valentine (Elvis Costello – ‘Alison’)
2. Never Chase A Man (Dolly Parton – ‘Jolene’)
3. Oh Let’s Dance (The Kinks – ‘Lola’)
4. Tumbleweed (Townes Van Zandt – ‘Loretta’)
5. What Do You Call A Woman (Michael Jackson – ‘Billie Jean’)
6. The Glow (The Beach Boys – ‘Caroline, No’)
7. Louder Than the Sound (The Band – ‘Evangeline’)
8. Bluebird (The Beatles – ‘Eleanor Rigby’)
9. A Dream (Leadbelly – ‘Goodnight Irene’)
10. Wildflower (Bob Dylan – ‘To Ramona’)
If you’re looking for some good country tinged folk music, then Esmé Patterson’s wry and very clever songs might just be a good place to start.
Woman To Woman is out today on Xtra Mile recordings.