360 records from 2000: 53. Victoria Williams: Water to drink

53. Victoria Williams: Water to drink

Country: US
Artist: Female solo artist
Career: recording since 1987
Language: English
Genre: Singer-songwriter

This casts its net far too wide to fit into the Americana section. Idiosyncratic songs about the simple things of life. A personal style of singing, somewhere between country and scat (she must have a couple of Laura Nyro albums), and some really great standards (Jobim’s ‘Water to drink’ amongst others) arranged by Van Dyke Parks. Parks is actually a good reference point for this, rooted in all sorts of traditions, but oddly and movingly its own. I can recommend this highly.

I can’t find anything from the album on YouTube, sadly.

At its best: Grandma’s hat pin, Water to drink, Joy of love, Little bird