I first heard about Carla Gover from a friend when her wonderful first CD, “Hush My Restless Soul,” was released by June Appal in 1995. I could not find it in my local record store and had to get a copy from the label to play on my radio show. Not long after that, another friend told me that Carla was coming from Kentucky to California to perform with her then husband, Mitch Barrett. I arranged for them to open for another band at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, and they did a house concert in my living room. At the time, Carla was pregnant with her daughter Zoey, who appears on this new recording “Kentucky Queen,” as does Mitch and ten other musicians. Of the 13 tracks, ten are originals by Carla, two are traditional, and one, “Mornin’ Dove,” was written by Robin Ella Bailey.

Carla describes “Pine Mountain High” as a “love song for Letcher County with a nod to John Denver’s ‘Rocky Mountain High.” Blakely Burger is on fiddle on this and four other songs with Arlo Barnette on guitar. Zoey and Sarah Kate Morgan add harmony.

 

“Angels Gather Round” was written when a loved one was struggling with addiction to opioids. Sam Gleaves sings harmony. Sarah Kate Morgan adds lap dulcimer to Carla’s guitar.

“Raise a Little Cane” is about stirring sorghum to make molasses. The melody is like that of “Lazy John.”

“Crazy Love” comes from Kentucky banjo player Rufus Crisp. Brett Ratliff accompanies on vocals and banjo.

“Kentucky Queen” is a tribute to Kentucky women and singers who influenced Carla, such as Lily May Ledford, Jean Ritchie, and Dora May Wagers.

“Pretty Little Snake” is an original banjo tune by Carla done as a duet with Burger’s fiddle. Note that there are lots of Appalachian tunes whose titles begin with “Pretty Little.”

“Hug More Necks” is some down home advice with a modicum of debt to the late John Prine. Bret Ratliff joins Carla again.

“Tired of C” features Diane Timmons on piano and harmony vocals. I should add that I love to play tunes in the key of C.

“Alchemy” has Claire Rose on accordion. It has a dark side but is also filled with hope.

“Long as You Want” is a song about lasting love with John Looney on mandolin.

“Mornin’ Dove” is another love song. Dianne Timmons plays flute. and Zoey sings harmony.

“What’s the Matter Judas” is a duet with Mitch. Arlo Barnette adds organ and Yani Vozos adds electric guitar. It’s a song about life and fate.

“Lord Daniel” comes from Nimrod Workman; it is an a capella rendition of an eastern Kentucky version of a child ballad. It is also known as “Mattie Groves.”

I have always admired Carla’s song writing and singing, and this recording features a bunch of keepers which may be new but are firmly planted in the fertile earth of tradition.

You can purchase this CD or download here

Carla Gover’s website