[.ca] Ahern Sessions,the

Unfairly obscure country spinoff of TV's Mary Hartman:
Raven's 2-fer reissue collects both of actress-singer Mary Kay Place's mid-70s country albums. Place's singing career was a spinoff from the singing career of her character Loretta Haggers on the late-night television soap-opera "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman," and much like earlier TV creations, such as The Monkees, her music greatly transcended the novelty of its origins. This was due, in part, to her incredible musical team h (Brian Ahern, who'd produced numerous hit albums by both Anne Murray and Emmylou Harris, together with the cast of musicians -- including Harris -- who populated his works), but, even more, the success of these records is a reflection of just how good Place could sing. The debut album, "Tonite! At the Capri Lounge, Loretta Haggers," spun directly from the series, is descended from Place's eccentric TV character, and is tilted towards kitsch. Peaking at #6, the album spun off the #3 single, "Baby Boy," written by Place as a lovesong to her TV alter-ego's older husband, Charlie. Place ramps up her Okie accent for the hicks-night-out "Settin' the Woods on Fire," blending smoothly with the tight harmony backing, fiddle and pedal steel. Her cover of The Louvins' "Get Acquainted Waltz" moves away from the schmaltz, and adds a fine fiddle line from former Dillard, Byron Berline. Loretta Haggers' reputed role model, Dolly Parton, turns up to sing harmony on her own "All I Can Do." For her second album, Ahern gathered a more stable group of players, including legendary guitarists James Burton and Albert Lee, fiddler Richard Greene and pianist Glen D. Hardin. Place struck up a songwriting relationship with session ace (and Hot Band member, and eventual Patty Loveless producer and husband) Emory Gordy Jr., which resulted in three original songs. Combined with a trio of songs by Rodney Crowell, the sophomore release wasn't as tightly bound to Place's trailer-trash TV character. Highlights include a gospel-tinged take on Crowell's "You Can't Go to Heaven (If You Don't Have a Good Time)", a duet with Willie Nelson on "Something to Brag About," and a delicate, slow take of "Save the Last Dance For Me." Sadly, Place's second album peaked at #40, and her singing career folded along with it. Still, two solid albums are more than most people produce in a lifetime, and Raven's reissue, with fine liner notes from Glenn A. Baker, provides everyone the chance to keep spinning these impressive sides.

At long last!:
I never really believed these two terrific LPs would show up on CD and what a treat! It's a shame that Mary Kay didn't continue with her singing career but at least we still have these incredibly fun and well-crafted recordings to enjoy. She is backed by some of Nashville's finest musicians and more than holds her own. I would highly recommend this CD to anyone who is a fan of Mary Kay Place or of country music in general!

Actress Mary was a great singer too:
As part of her acting career, Mary played the roile of a country singer (Loretta Haggers, loosely based on Dolly Parton) in a TV comedy series (which went under various titles). Two albums resulted, and they can be found together on this twofer. Produced by Brian Ahern, who was Anne Murray's producer in the early seventies and Emmylou's producer in the late seventies, these recordings are as good as those by a lot of specialist country singers, and a lot more fun. Dolly clearly didn't mind the scriptwriters basing their character on her, as she sings backup on Mary's cover of All I can do. Anne and Emmylou also sing backup on other songs. Many of the songs are origanal including her big hit Baby boy, but apart from Dolly's All I can do, there are fine covers of Settin' the woods on fire (Hank Williams) and three songs written by Rodney Crowell, including Even cowgirls get the blues, which has been recorded by several top country singers. Although the by-product of a TV series, these albums are of a remarkably high quality - and you don't have to be a fan of the TV series to buy this. I never saw it on TV.

A PLACE in Time:
I had recently gone though my stacks of old vinyl albums looking for the two country albums Mary Kay Place recorded in the 70s. Unfortunately, I didn't find them. I was definitely pleased to learn about the Ahern Sessions CD and ordered one immediately. What a treat to hear those songs again! Now if I could just find a DVD with Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman episodes!!

A PLACE in Time:
I had recently gone though my stacks of old vinyl albums looking for the two country albums Mary Kay Place recorded in the 70s. Unfortunately, I didn't find them. I was definitely pleased to learn about the Ahern Sessions CD and ordered one immediately. What a treat to hear those songs again! Now if I could just find a DVD with Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman episodes!!

• Vitamin L
• Streets of This Town (Ode to Fernwood)
• Gold in the Ground
• Settin' the Woods on Fire
• Good Ol' Country Baptizin'
• Baby Boy
• Get Acquainted Waltz
• Coke and Chips
• Have a Little Talk With Jesus
• All I Can Do
• Dolly's Dive
• Paintin' Her Fingernails
• Don't Make Love (To a Country Music Singer)
• Marlboro Man
• Anybody's Darlin' (Anything But Mine)
• You Can't Go to Heaven (If You Don't Have a Good Time)
• Cattle Kate
• Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
• Something to Brag About
• Save the Last Dance for Me