Obadiah (album) explained

Obadiah
Type:studio
Artist:Frazey Ford
Cover:Obadiah album.jpg
Genre:Folk
Length:58:33
Label:Nettwerk
Producer:John Raham

Obadiah is the 2010 debut album by Canadian musician Frazey Ford, who is also a member of the Be Good Tanyas.

Background

Obadiah is recorded in the style of soul music, a departure from the folk sound of the Be Good Tanyas.[1] The album takes its title from Ford's middle name, "Obadiah". When she was born, her parents asked her brothers to choose her middle name; they decided to name her after their pet cat Obadiah that had recently run away.[2]

Recording

Ford recorded the album with guitarist Trish Klein, also of the Be Good Tanyas. Klein's partner, John Raham, played drums and produced the record. Ford's mother, neighbour, and landlord also appear on the album.[3] [4]

Themes

Ford has said that the album relates to an emotional time she had with her family.[5] The record, according to Ford, also allowed her to bring together "a soul rhythm section...[and]....folk style writing", two of her great loves in music that had previously been "divided in [her] musicality".[6]

Reception

Ben Ratliff of the New York Times gave the album a favourable review and commended Ford's blending of soul and country influences.[7] He compared her singing to a diverse group of artists, including Dolly Parton, Ann Peebles, and Feist.

Track listing

Track numberSongWriter(s)Length
1"Firecracker" Ford3:45
2"Lay Down with You" Ford4:32
3"Bird of Paradise" Ford5:17
4"If You Gonna Go" Ford3:56
5"Blue Streak Mama" Ford3:46
6"Lost Together" Ford4:31
7"I Like You Better" Ford4:36
8"Hey Little Mama" Ford4:24
9"The Gospel Song" Ford5:42
10"Going Over" Ford3:13
11"Half In" Ford5:05
12"One More Cup of Coffee" Bob Dylan4:19
13"Mimi Song" Ford5:27
14"Lovers in a Dangerous Time" †Bruce Cockburn4:37

† Bonus track on some editions of the album.

Notes and References

  1. News: Yeoman. Paula. Album helped grieving process. October 8, 2010. The New Zealand Herald. September 19, 2010.
  2. Web site: Ross. Rick. Another Country with Rick Ross. BBC Radio Scotland. October 8, 2010.
  3. Web site: Adams . Rob . Frazey Ford – finding therapy in music . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200918100124if_/https://www.robadamsjournalist.com/index.asp?pageid=589977 . September 18, 2020 . August 22, 2023 . Rob Adams Journalist . First published: The Herald Scotland, October 6, 2010.
  4. News: Adams. Rob. A talent for healing folk. October 8, 2010. Herald Scotland. October 6, 2010.
  5. Web site: Honigmann. David. Frazey Ford, Purcell Room, London. Financial Times. February 17, 2011.
  6. Web site: Gummeson . Shelly . 2010 . The Soulful Side of Frazey Ford . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20100926202634/https://www.earshot-online.com/features/2010/September/frazeyford.cfm . September 26, 2010 . August 22, 2023 . earshot.
  7. News: Obadiah. Ratliff. Ben. July 19, 2010. The New York Times. August 4, 2010.