I decided to play David Ackles for the first time in a while last night. I have loved his music since I bought 'American Gothic' from the Record & Tape Exchange in the late 1970s. Listening to David Ackles properly requires a certain mood and, tonight, he appealed. All his albums are masterpieces, but my favourite is his first Elektra album. The start of 'Down River' plunged me back in time to the Catskill Mountains in the 1980s, a magical place in my mental mythology.
I first bought this as a tape at a shop in the Catskills, that is probably long gone.
'Down River' one of those alchemy-inducing songs that can a bring a tear of joy to the eye, but is full of deep sorrow.
'Laissez-Faire' might just be the one of the best love songs that has been written.
'The Road to Cairo' is a powerfully moving piece of sad dread. There is a exceptional cover of this song by another great contemporary voice , that of Julie Driscoll, when she was singing with the Brian Auger Trinity.
What makes this album so special in Ackles' sadly very small catalogue, is his backing band, who would become Rhinoceros.
My other favourite David Ackles album, 'American Gothic' was produced by Ackles' fan Bernie Taupin.
David Ackles' music is held in high regard by many and if you haven't heard it you should.
I urge you to take 36 minutes and 51 seconds to actively listen to one of the greatest and most original song writing voices of the 20th century.
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