Description
Paler Shade is the sixth studio album by the American singer and songwriter Pam Mark Hall, released on Storyville Records in October 1993, a “new folk” oriented division of R.E.X. Music. The album was produced by Dave Perkins. Featuring a rhythm section consisting of Glenn Worf and Mike Radovosky on bass and drums respectively, with Reese Wynan sitting in on keyboards.
After several years concentrating on her songwriting as well as performing admirable work for the Salvation Army, Hall returns as a recording artist with a flawless debut for Storyville. Producer Dave Perkins frames Hall’s dusky voice (which sounds as though it’s gotten stronger during her absence) with a folk-rock backing; the acoustic approach also hints at a twinge of country, blues and bluegrass as well. Kathy Mattea, Bonnie Raitt and Ashley Cleveland would be comparable artists as far as Hall’s vocal style goes, and Pam shares with Cleveland (who guests on one track) the ability to write songs in a very personal tone that can still relate to a much larger audience. If you’re dizzied by the pace of life, Hall reminds us that «Today is All That I Have» (“Between hope and fear/ One thing is perfectly clear”); Cleveland’s guest stint occures on the starkly confessional «Love’s Possibility», a plea to the Creator for the comfort of a human lover (“I don’t know if he’s there or he’ll ever be/ God have mercy on a girl like me”). Many songs speak of stretching one’s boundaries as a believer, none so succinctly so as «See Me Grow». Over an almost baroque arrangement, Hall implores “I need your strong approval to pull me from the mire/ I need you as a witness to watch me through the fire.” Hall’s honesty and integrity as a writer put her in pretty elite company and it’s great to see her music available to a wider audience once again. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM, February 1994]
This is one of the finest forgotten recordings of the early-’90s singer/songwriter boom. It received absolutely no attention because of Pam Mark Hall’s prior history of second-rate pop recordings for the Christian music market and the fact that this album was released by a label that no one heard of, was not promoted, and hence died a quick and unnoticed death. Paler Shade was tastefully produced by guitarist Dave Perkins, whose beefy sound adorned the lone, underrated Chagall Guevara release and late-’70s Jerry Jeff Walker albums, among others. Here Perkins employs a gentler approach to complement the tender ballads and acoustic suggestions of Hall’s songs. Her voice possesses both the glow of Jewel and the strength of Trisha Yearwood as she explores a variety of roots-related styles. «Today Is All That I Have» is an up-tempo neo-traditionalist country number featuring the mandolin and accordion playing of Phil Parlapiano. «Rock Me on the Water» is an acoustic blues piece with Parlapiano on slide guitar, and «Paler Shade of You» is a world music smorgasbord with Italian accordion, exotic percussion, and gypsy violin. «All Right Now» and «See Me Grow» are two of the most thoughtful and tuneful pieces that the overpopulated and loosely defined category of singer/songwriter can lay claim to. In addition to Perkins’ meticulous production and the invaluable contribution by multi-instrumentalist Parlapiano, Paler Shade boasts some superb spot duty by fiddler David Davidson and guitarist Brent Rowan. And, arguably, the glue that holds this album together is provided by Glenn Worf, who subsequently became, perhaps, the busiest bassist in ’90s roots-based music. [Dave Sleger, AMG]
CD tracklist:
01. Personal Rescue – 4:04
02. Today Is All I Have – 3:23
03. Rock Me On The Water – 4:32
04. Paler Shade Of You – 3:58
05. Love’s Possibility – 4:11
06. All Right Now – 4:40
07. Family Tree – 3:58
08. On Your Side – 4:09
09. See Me Grow – 4:24
10. Shine On Me – 3:14
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Storyville Records. Later re-issued on CD by Pam Mark Hall.
CREDITS. Produced by Dave Perkins. All songs written by Pam Mark Hall
Musicians: Pam Mark Hall (Vocals, Acoustic Guitar), Reese Wynans (Keyboards), Dave Perkins (Guitar, Background Vocals), Brent Rowan (Acoustic Guitar), David Davidson (Violin), Phil Parlapiano (Accordion, Guitar, Mandolin), Glenn Worf (Bass), Mike Radovosky (Bongos, Drums, Shaker, Tambourine, Trap Kit).
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