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Another Sleepy Dusty Delta Day: Bobbie Gentry's Complete Capitol Masters Collected On New Box Set

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Why did Billie Joe McAllister jump off the Tallahatchie Bridge?  It's almost as big a mystery as why Bobbie Gentry vanished from view after 1981.  Happily, the enigmatic singer-songwriter left behind an enduring and diverse body of work which is now being celebrated on a comprehensive box set from Universal's U.K. arm.  On September 21, the 8-CD collection The Girl from Chickasaw County: The Complete Capitol Masters will collect all seven of Gentry's 1967-1971 Capitol Records studio albums plus more than 75 previously unreleased recordings.  This treasure trove of lost material includes a completed "jazz" album, outtakes, demos, and other rarities including the live performances from her BBC show of 1968-1969.  (Some of these were issued on vinyl this year for Record Store Day; there are additional tracks here.)

Gentry, of course, will always be best remembered for "Ode to Billie Joe."  The 1967 single from the country songstress - recorded far from Chickasaw County, Mississippi, in Hollywood, California - went to No. 1 on the U.S. Hot 100 while also charting on the Easy Listening, Country, and R&B (!) surveys.  It topped the charts in Canada, and made an impressive No. 13 showing in the United Kingdom.  "Billie Joe" also picked up four Grammy Awards out of eight nominations, and the album of the same name displaced Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band from the top spot on the U.S. chart.  Yet this box will prove that there was much more to Gentry than just that one phenomenon of a song.  The Girl from Chickasaw County boasts her U.K. No. 1 cover of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" and an acclaimed album recorded with Capitol labelmate Glen Campbell.

The set is organized by album, with each disc containing copious bonus tracks.  Among the rare treats are Spanish-language recordings of "Here, There, and Everywhere" and I'll Never Fall in Love Again," a Japanese language take of "The Fool on the Hill," alternate takes of "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" and "Wedding Bell Blues," single and demo versions of The Sherman Brothers' haunting "Hushabye Mountain," covers of Randy Newman's "Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear," and the ubiquitous "Spinning Wheel," the San Remo Festival entry "La Siepe," and a duet with Kelly Gordon, "Love Took My Heart and Mashed That Sucker Flat."  The box contains an 84-page book with an essay and rare and unpublished photos, as well as a replica of Gentry's handwritten lyrics to "Ode to Billie Joe," and four postcards.  David Downton has provided the new cover art.

The Girl from Chickasaw County: The Complete Capitol Masters is due on September 21.  You'll find preorder links and the track listing below for this tribute to Bobbie Gentry and her remarkable artistry.

Bobbie Gentry, The Girl from Chickasaw County: The Complete Capitol Masters (Capitol/Universal U.K.) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada TBD)

CD 1 - ODE TO BILLIE JOE (1967)

  1. Mississippi Delta
  2. I Saw an Angel Die
  3. Chickasaw County Child
  4. Sunday Best
  5. Niki Hoeky
  6. Papa, Woncha Let Me Go to Town With You?
  7. Bugs
  8. Hurry, Tuesday Child
  9. Lazy Willie
  10. Ode to Billie Joe
  11. The Seventh Son [Demo]*
  12. I Saw an Angel Die [Demo]*
  13. Niki Hoeky [Demo]*
  14. Papa, Woncha Let Me Go to Town With You? [Demo]*
  15. Hurry, Tuesday Child [Demo]*
  16. Mississippi Delta [Alternate version]*
  17. Sunday Best [Alternate take]*
  18. Show-Off [Stereo version]*
  19. La Siepe [Original 7"]
  20. La Citta E' Grande [Original 7"]

CD 2 - THE DELTA SWEETE (1968)

  1. Okolona River Bottom Band
  2. Big Boss Man
  3. Reunion
  4. Parchman Farm
  5. Mornin' Glory
  6. Sermon
  7. Tobacco Road
  8. Penduli Pendulum
  9. Jessye' Lisabeth
  10. Refractions
  11. Louisiana Man
  12. Courtyard
  13. The Seventh Son [Band version]*
  14. Feelin' Good [Demo]*
  15. I Didn't Know [Demo]*
  16. Morning to Midnight [Demo]*
  17. Refractions [Demo]*
  18. Louisiana Man [Demo]*
  19. Sermon [Demo]*
  20. Morning Glory [Demo]*
  21. Jessye' Lisabeth [Demo]*
  22. Courtyard [Demo]*
  23. Louisiana Man ['The Tom Jones Show' 06/07/1968]*
  24. Ode to Billie Joe ['The Tom Jones Show' 06/07/1968]*

CD 3 - LOCAL GENTRY (1968)

  1. Sweete Peony
  2. Casket Vignette
  3. Come Away Melinda
  4. The Fool on the Hill
  5. Papa's Medicine Show
  6. Ace Insurance Man
  7. Recollection
  8. Sittin' Pretty
  9. Eleanor Rigby
  10. Peaceful
  11. Here, There and Everywhere
  12. Hushabye Mountain [Original 7"]
  13. Skip A Long Sam [Ode to Bobbie Gentry]
  14. Conspiracy of Homer Jones*
  15. Sweet Peony [Alternate Version]*
  16. Cotton Candy Sandman [Demo] *
  17. Hushabye Mountain [Demo]*

CD 4 - BOBBIE GENTRY & GLEN CAMPBELL (1968)

  1. Less of Me
  2. Little Green Apples
  3. Gentle on My Mind
  4. Heart to Heart Talk
  5. My Elusive Dreams
  6. (It's Only Your) Imagination
  7. Mornin' Glory
  8. Terrible Tangled Web
  9. Sunday Mornin'
  10. Let It Be Me
  11. Scarborough Fair/Canticle
  12. All I Have to Do Is Dream [Original 7"]
  13. Walk Right Back [Original 7"]
  14. Sunday Mornin' [Alternate version]*
  15. Let It Be Me [Without strings]*
  16. Scarborough Fair/Canticle [without strings]*
  17. Love Took My Heart and Mashed That Sucker Flat [Duet with Kelly Gordon] [Defunked, 1969]
  18. Fool on the Hill [Japanese language version] [Original 7"]
  19. No me quiero enamorar [Spanish Language 'I'll Never Fall In Love Again'] [Original 7"]
  20. En Todas Partes [Spanish Language 'Here There and Everywhere'] [Original 7"]

CD 5 - TOUCH 'EM WITH LOVE (1969)

  1. Touch 'Em with Love
  2. Greyhound Goin' Somewhere
  3. Natural to Be Gone
  4. Seasons Come, Seasons Go
  5. Glory Hallelujah, How They'll Sing
  6. I Wouldn't Be Surprised
  7. Son of a Preacher Man
  8. Where's the Playground, Johnny
  9. I'll Never Fall in Love Again
  10. You've Made Me So Very Happy
  11. More Today Than Yesterday*
  12. Spinning Wheel*
  13. Touch 'Em with Love [Stereo version]*
  14. Glory Hallelujah, How They'll Sing [Alternate take]*
  15. Seasons Come, Seasons Go [Demo]*
  16. Suppertime*
  17. God Bless The Child*
  18. Since I Fell For You*
  19. Save Your Love For Me*
  20. Here's That Rainy Day*
  21. Stormy [Ode To Bobbie Gentry]
  22. This Girls In Love With You
  23. Windows of the World [The Best of Bobbie Gentry: The Capitol Years]

CD 6 - FANCY (1970)

  1. Fancy
  2. Delta Man
  3. Something in the Way He Moves
  4. Find 'Em, Fool 'Em and Forget About 'Em
  5. He Made a Woman Out of Me
  6. Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head
  7. If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody
  8. Rainmaker
  9. Wedding Bell Blues
  10. In the Ghetto [I'll Never Fall In Love Again (UK)]
  11. Fancy [Mono radio edit]*
  12. Apartment 21 [Original 7"]
  13. Away In A Manger [The Christmas Sound of Music, 1969]
  14. Scarlett Ribbons [The Christmas Sound of Music, 1969]
  15. Circle 'Round the Sun*
  16. Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head [Alternate take]*
  17. Wedding Bell Blues [Alternate take]*
  18. Apartment 21 [Without strings]*
  19. Scarlett Ribbons [Alternate version]*
  20. If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody [Live on 'Top Of The Pops']

CD 7 - PATCHWORK (1971)

  1. Benjamin
  2. Interlude 1
  3. Marigolds and Tangerines
  4. Interlude 2
  5. Billy the Kid
  6. Interlude 3
  7. Beverly
  8. Interlude 4
  9. Miss Clara/Azusa Sue
  10. Interlude 5
  11. But I Can't Get Back
  12. Jeremiah
  13. Interlude 6
  14. Belinda
  15. Mean Stepmama Blues
  16. Your Number One Fan
  17. Interlude 7
  18. Somebody Like Me
  19. Lookin' In
  20. Smoke [The Best Of The Capitol Years, 2007]
  21. Joanne*
  22. Salome Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear*
  23. Benjamin [Alternate take]*
  24. Belinda [Alternate version]*
  25. Smoke (Demo)*
  26. The Girl from Cincinnati [Original 7"]
  27. You and Me Together [Original 7"]

DISC 8 - LIVE AT THE BBC

  1. Mississippi Delta [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 08/03/1968]*
  2. Papa Won't You Let Me Go To Town With You [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 08/03/1968]*
  3. I Saw An Angel Die [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 08/03/1968]*
  4. My Dog Sargent [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 08/03/1968]*1.15
  5. Ode to Billie Joe [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 08/03/1968]*
  6. Mornin' Glory [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 07/27/1968]*3.15
  7. Sunday Best [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 07/27/1968]*
  8. Hurry Tuesday Child [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 07/27/1968]*
  9. Nikki Hokey / Barefootin' [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 08/10/1968]*
  10. Penduli Pendulum [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 08/10/1968]*
  11. Ace Insurance Man [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 08/10/1968]*
  12. Chickasaw County Child [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 08/10/1968]*
  13. Recollection [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 07/16/1969]*
  14. Sweet Peony [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 07/16/1969]*
  15. Refractions [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 07/16/1969]*
  16. Greyhound Goin' Somewhere [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 07/16/1969]*
  17. Cotton Candy Sandman [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 07/16/1969]*
  18. Open Your Window [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 02/01/1971]*
  19. Mother Nature's son [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 02/01/1971]*
  20. Mr. Bojangles [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 02/01/1971]*
  21. Your Number One Fan [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 02/01/1971]*
  22. He Made A Woman Out of Me [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 03/08/1971]*
  23. Billy the Kid [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 03/08/1971]*
  24. Wailing Of The Willow [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 03/08/1971]*
  25. Belinda [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 03/08/1971]*
  26. Circle 'Round The Sun [Live on 'Bobbie Gentry' 03/08/1971]*

(*) denotes previously unreleased track

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Joe Marchese

JOE MARCHESE (Editor) joined The Second Disc shortly after its launch in early 2010, and has since penned daily news and reviews about classic music of all genres. In 2015, Joe formed the Second Disc Records label. Celebrating the great songwriters, producers and artists who created the sound of American popular song, Second Disc Records, in conjunction with Real Gone Music, has released newly-curated collections produced by Joe from iconic artists such as Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Laura Nyro, Melissa Manchester, Chet Atkins, and many others. He has contributed liner notes to reissues from a diverse array of artists, among them Nat "King" Cole, Paul Williams, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, The 5th Dimension, Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and the Papas, Carpenters, Perry Como, Rod McKuen, Doris Day, Jackie DeShannon, and Andy Williams, and has compiled releases for talents including Robert Goulet and Keith Allison of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Over the past two decades, Joe has also worked in a variety of capacities on and off Broadway as well as at some of the premier theatres in the U.S., including Lincoln Center Theater, George Street Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, and the York Theatre Company. He has felt privileged to work on productions alongside artists such as the late Jack Klugman, Eli Wallach, Arthur Laurents, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. In 2009, Joe began contributing theatre and music reviews to the print publication The Sondheim Review, and in 2012, he joined the staff of The Digital Bits as a regular contributor writing about film and television on DVD and Blu-ray. Joe currently resides in the suburbs of New York City.

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Comments

  1. What an awesome collection and a great price for an 8 CD set! It would be nice if Ms. Gentry could be lured out to promote this set and perhaps do some signings across the country. I won't hold my breath though.

    Reply

    • Really can't wait for this set! But I wonder if bobbie even spoke to the guy doing the liner notes. I wonder if she participated in any way, shape or form. I'm guessing not.

      Reply

  2. The gentleman who put this set together has been answering questions on the Steve Hoffman forums. Bobbie was not directly involved, but will receive a portion of the profits.

    Reply

    • Good to know. She's really the Garbo of pop music. If this set can't wedge her into the spotlight, even in a limited fashion, nothing will

      Reply

  3. My folks had the album with Glen Campbell when I was a kid. Loved it.

    I ordered this a few days ago from Amazon UK. With 2 day shipping to Colorado it was about $84.

    Reply

  4. It says Touch Em With Love as a “stereo bonus track”- does that mean the album is MONO? I am a little worried about quality, especially as it is noted some tracks are lifted from previous cd collections.....
    Some mp3 albums have popped up in mono in the US......

    Reply

    • I gather that "Touch 'Em With Love" was in mono on an otherwise stereo album back in the day. The compilers have maintained the integrity of the original album by including a stereo mix of the song as a bonus track, rather than swapping out the mono version from the tracklist. Sound programming, I think.

      Reply

    • Hi Eric, I'm the compiler and producer. Everything was taken from the Capitol master tapes, or in the case of the BBC material, from their archive. Anything that has a reference to a previous collection is just information that it first appeared there. The mastering on this set is superior to anything heard before on CD.

      Reply

      • I have to say this is without a doubt the most gorgeous box set I have EVER SEEN IN MY F8CKIN LIFE! It is so well researched, the sound is phenomenal and Bobbie is given the respect she deserves. The book is splendid and I hope this wonderful artist gets her due. Thank you so much for your work - it's beyond.

        Reply

  5. What a nice surprise to see this collection. I have a couple of the Raven Label CDs and have appreciated Bobbie Gentry’s versatility tackling a variety of music styles. Hopefully it will be realeased in Australia too.

    Reply

  7. As of May 19, 2019, Universal Records has released five c .d pressings of the Bobbie Gentry box set to keep up with worldwide demand. It currently sits at at #10 on the U.K Top Country Compilation chart in it's 31 week on the chart. It held the #1 spot for five weeks( three consecutive at #1).

    Reply

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