Sally Spring, a folk-rock legend in the New York and Los Angeles music scenes during the 70s and early 80s, has just finished "Mockingbird," her fourth recording, that features not only her inimitable voice and evocative, powerful songwriting but also contributions from Gene Parsons (the Byrds),Tift Merritt, Marshall Crenshaw, Caitlin Cary (Tres Chicas,Whiskeytown), Fred Smith (Television), and Thad Cockrell.
Sally's new CD was produced by Ted Lyons with Chris Stamey and recorded in Hoboken (the Pigeon Club) and Chapel Hill (Modern Recording), the CD also includes a bonus track of Gene Parsons and Sally singing a duet on the Gram Parsons classic "Hickory Wind."
"Mockingbird" also features performances by Jim Mastro (Ian Hunter, Jayhawks, Bongos), Graham Maby (Natalie Merchant, Joe Jackson), Brandon Bush (Train recordings), Faye Hunter (Let's Active), John Teer (Chatham County Line), Lyons, Stamey, and NYC guitar ace Rich Feridun.
"A captivating performer" —Variety - NYC
"..striking results can be heard on Mockingbird ...first-rate compositions ...beautiful vocals"
—No Depression 2006
" While it's the gently piercing clarity of Sally Spring's voice that lights up Here Come The Memories and Floyd Johnson, the emotional heat she generates on Ain't No Ash Will Burn is white-hot. ...the songs reached deep inside, were beautifully layered and had something to say."
—Americana UK - (nine stars!) February 2007
"Blessed with a full voice reminiscent of Sandy Denny"
—Harp, February 2007
"The real show-stopper was Sally Spring." —Sing Out
"Spring's rich, slightly smoky voice (which suggests the clarity of Sandy Denny mixed with the sweet earthiness of early Marianne Faithfull) is a surprisingly malleable instrument"... a "wonderful voice" ... and "she's as gifted a writer as she is a performer"
—allmusic, 2006
"her mature, full, warm and clear feminine voice... reminds me of ... Emmylou Harris, Natalie Merchant or Tracy Chapman"
—Das Rock, Germany 2006
"Veteran folk-rocker Sally Spring's upcoming Mockingbird surrounds her
with the likes of Gene Parsons and Marshall Crenshaw as well as local
luminaries Tift Merritt and Caitlin Cary. But Sally's stunning voice and
captivating songwriting make her the heartbeat that keeps the whole
enterprise pumping." —Independent The Triangle's Weekly - Durham,
NC
"...her soulful, sweet and appealing voice... In short 'Mockingbird' is one of the best CD's I've heard recently from an American songwriter"
—Massimo Ferro, Radio Voce, Italy - 2007
"Held in high esteem by fellow musicians, she (Sally Spring) is joined by Gene Parsons, Tift Merritt, Marshall Crenshaw, Caitlin Cary, and Fred Smith but at no time does the veteran songwriter take a back seat. ...it is Sally who takes centre stage with her distinctive vocals and commanding presence"
—Maverick, UK - October 2006
"very intimate and beautiful"
—Melodic, Sweden - December 2006
"...her voice has that darkness and emotional complexity that reminds me more of June Tabor than any American singer. Her phrasing is fantastic..." —Net Rhythms, UK (10 stars!)
"Spring's Eternal...Sally Spring one of Winston-Salem's most distinctive
and distinguished musicians...who is making amazingly fresh music."
— Relish Winston-Salem, NC
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"I met Sally Spring about thirty years ago while touring through the South. I was taken by her wonderful voice, her gentle and soulful approach to song, her guitar and I was taken particularly with Sally as a person. Her vocal phrasing is unique and pleasing with a voice so rich and full that there is always more to discover as you listen over and over. She was fantastic thirty years ago but now she has even more depth and maturity in her performance. She is a treasure."
— Gene Parsons (Byrds)
Latest News
What's Coming up? Great article on Sally in the Nov/Dec issue of No Depression magazine!
We're excited about the response we've received so far. Radio play in America/folk (Acoustic cafe, COUNTRYBEAR, KBCS, KFAN, KGSR, kkfi-fm, KWMR, KWRP, WHEE, and many, many more in the US!!) and Europe, several reviews national and international (e.g. most recent: Maverick in UK Oct issue) The cd is distributed by Redeye (associated with Yep Rock) and has some wonderful musicians including Gene Parsons (Byrds), Marshall Crenshaw, Caitlin Cary, and Tift Merritt — see more below.
Hailed as a "captivating performer" by Variety and "show stopper" by Sing Out, Sally Spring casts a mesmerizing spell on both record and the stage. Her music is a unique blending of influences from folk, blues, country, old time and pop often with a crunching, rhythmic guitar. If you like Sandy Denny or Dar Williams with an earthier flavor somewhat like Lucinda Williams, you'll love Sally's music.
Sally performed in the 10th Anniversary Celebration for the internationally recognized No Depression magazine and just released "Mockingbird," her first new album in over a decade which features not only her inimitable voice and evocative, powerful songwriting but also contributions from Gene Parsons (The Byrds), Marshall Crenshaw, Graham Maby (Natalie Merchant, Joe Jackson), Fred Smith (Television), Caitlin Cary (Tres Chicas, Whiskeytown), Tift Merritt, Faye Hunter, and Thad Cockrell. The CD was co-produced by Ted Lyons (who accompanies Spring in concert) and Chris Stamey (known for his production work with Whiskeytown, Alejandro Escovedo, Cary and others).
The Winston-Salem Journal, recently described Sally as "one of Winston Salem's most distinctive and distinguished musicians... who is making amazingly fresh music" while Allmusic says "Spring's rich, slightly smoky voice (which suggests the clarity of Sandy Denny mixed with the sweet earthiness of early Marianne Faithfull) is a surprisingly malleable instrument"... a "wonderful voice" ... and "she's as gifted a writer as she is a performer". Spring creates music of timeless and boundless appeal.
