Description
3 Horse Shoes is the third solo album by the American singer, songwriter, session musician and producer, Phil Madeira, independently released by Madeira in 1998, manufactured and distributed by Stunt Records. Re-issued by Silent Planet Records the following year. Producer, recorded, and written by Phil Madeira (with drums recorded by Russ Long).
When you’ve guested on as many albums as Phil Madeira, it’s only fitting that your own work should feature a host of guests. For this follow-up to Off Kilter, Madeira has filled out the sound with the help of such players as Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong (The Choir), Dave Perkins, Chris Donahue, Tommy Sims, Phil Keaggy, Terry Taylor, and Buddy Miller, to name a few.
The music continues in similar vein to Off Kilter, a melting pot of country, blues, folk, and rock, but more has been built upon the stripped back foundations laid earlier. The fiddle solo on the first track is probably the first sign of this, and the fuller guitar parts and frequent use of a mandolin all serve to make this album a suitable progression.
Naming the album after a pub in Derbyshire in the UK may not have been the most commercially sound move if Madeira wanted to appeal to the broad scope of the CCM market that his session appearances have reached. But once you get into it, it is obvious that forthright music is far more important to Madeira and his cohorts than commercial appeal. Recent visits to the UK have obviously been important to Madeira. The opening track, «Mysterious Ways», speaks of this clearly: “Here in the Midlands I found my spirit/ under a cloud in a field of green/ I can’t explain it, somebody woke me/ I opened my eyes and I walked into a dream.”
Tracks such as «England» continue this theme, while others consider further aspects of life, with the recurring image of journeying being very evident. Mixing a group of trained backing vocalists with some friends from the pub, the vocals on «Christmas This Year» make this one of the most memorable tracks, but this album rests more on an unhurried, well-crafted collectivism than hooky tunes.
The instrumental performances are well balanced with the vocals being the most prominent ingredient in the melting pot. Underneath everything, Chris Donohue’s bass is very appropriate with some nicely considered progressions. The other musicians all bring something of themselves. It was particularly interesting to hear Phil Keaggy’s mandolin work on «Candle to You», which is typically well performed and fits Madeira’s husky, understated vocals extremely well. Madeira’s trademark Hammond organ is present, of course, and while it seems slightly overpowering on «It’s Gonna Be Alright», it is mostly a fitting part of the songs.
«Candle to You» appears to be a simple love song and is performed in suitably poignant style, wrapped well around Madeira’s warm and husky vocals. «Christmas This Year» appears to be a simple song about not returning home for Christmas, but could equally be a metaphor for the passage of time and the changes it brings. The final two tracks, «It’ll Do for Now» and «Long Lane Rag», are a fitting close for the album. The former once again pays tribute to friends found at the ‘Three Horse Shoes’ and adds Matt Slocum (Sixpence None the Richer) to the already strong cast of musicians. «Long Lane Rag» is a slightly bluesy number about the continuing journeys in life.
A strong follow-up to an impressive solo debut, this album again showcases the fact that Phil Madeira is much more than just a session player. [James Stewart, The Phantom Tollbooth, 12/5/1998]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/three-horseshoes/1320296524)
CD tracklist:
01. Mysterious Ways – 3:29
02. The Better Part – 2:39
03. Amazing – 4:06
04. For Love – 3:43
05. Miracle – 3:11
06. It’s Gonna Be Alright – 6:06
07. Down To Earth – 3:33
08. Christmas This Year – 5:04
09. Candle To You – 4:15
10. England – 4:26
11. It’ll Do For Now – 4:26
12. Long Lane Rag – 4:21
Note: Available at Bandcamp: https://philmadeira.bandcamp.com/album/three-horseshoes
A full-page advertisement for two new releases on Silent Planet Records, Phil Madeira’s 3 Horse Shoes and Matt Auten’s New Found Land, was featured in the December 1999 issue of CCM Magazine.
CREDITS. Producer, Recorded, and Written by Phil Madeira. Engineer Assistant: Steve Hartley. Drums recorded by Russ Long. Pub Backing Vocals (track 08) recorded and mixed by Derri Daugherty. Conductor Pub Choir: Steve Hartley. Mastered by Matt Huesmann. Design and Layout by Tom Gulotta.
Musicians: Phil Madeira (Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Slide Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar, Accordion, Piano, Hammond Organ), Al Perkins (Pedal Steel Guitar), Buddy Miller (Lead Guitar), Electric Guitar, Dave Perkins (Electric Guitar), Matt Slocum (Cello), Phil Keaggy (Mandolin), Antoine Silverman (Fiddle), Tammy Rogers (Fiddle), Jim Hoke (Tin Whistle), Kenny Meeks (Mandola), Chris Donohue (Bass), Dennis Holt (Drums), Steve Hindalong (Tambourine, Shaker, Sleighbells). Backing Vocals: Derri Daugherty, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Tommy Sims, Gordon Kennedy, Dave Perkins, John Hartley, Kenny Meeks, Steve Hartley, Terry S. Taylor, Nicol Smith, Todd Smith. Pub Vocalists on track 08: Helen Drakeley, Ian Clifford, Ian Easthops, Jill Proudfoot, Joan Hambling, John Abrehalt, Ray Hambling, Steve Wilkes, Vicki Frost, Wendy Abrehalt.
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