Coming of Age

by Jude Johnstone

Overview

Her songs have been recorded by the biggest names in rock and country, including Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Nicks, Trisha Yearwood, and Johnny Cash. Now songwriter Jude Johnstone unveils her own debut album, on which she's assisted by Yearwood and Raitt, plus Jackson Browne and Jennifer Warnes. A recent profile on NPR's Morning Edition cast a bright spotlight on this tremendous talent.

Product Details

Release Date:	04/30/2002
Label:	Bojak Records
UPC:	0662582801422
catalogNumber:	8014
Rank:	134280

Tracks

1. Cry Wolf
2. Coming of Age
3. Wounded Heart
4. Not Long for This World
5. Hearts in Armor
6. Doesn't Anybody Know but Me
7. Unchained
8. The Nightingale
9. The Water's Edge
10. Let's Leave It Open
11. When Someone Speaks Your Name

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jude Johnstone   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals,Harp Keyboards
Trisha Yearwood   Background Vocals
Jackson Browne   Background Vocals
Bonnie Raitt   Background Vocals,Slide Guitar
Jennifer Warnes   Background Vocals
Valerie Carter   Background Vocals
Sam Bacco   Percussion
John Catchings   Cello
David Davidson   Violin
Charles Duncan   Dobro,Guitar,Accordion,Rhythm Guitar,Background Vocals,Penny Whistle
Garth Fundis   Background Vocals
Shannon Forrest   Drums
Salvador Garza   Violin
John Hobbs   Synthesizer,Piano,Keyboards,Hammond Organ,fender rhodes,Keyboard Accordian
Mary Alice Hoepfinger   Harp
Mauricio-Fritz Lewak   Drums
David Mansfield   Violin
George Marinelli   Electric Guitar
Dave Pomeroy   Bass,Upright Bass
Mary Ramsey   Viola
Biff Watson   Acoustic Guitar
Kris Wilkinson   Viola
John Willis   Mandolin
Joe Jenkins   Background Vocals
Jill Knight   Background Vocals

Technical Credits

Charles Duncan   Programming,Producer,Engineer,Contributor
Garth Fundis   Producer,Executive Producer,Audio Production
Jude Johnstone   Producer
Dave Sinko   Engineer
Kris Wilkinson   String Arrangements
Steve Crimmel   Engineer
Nancy Terzian   Graphic Design
Matt Andrews   Engineer

Editorial Reviews

This singer/songwriter has a lot of friends, but with such a wide array of talent lending backing vocals to her album, Jude Johnstone is worthy of such collaborations. The lovely acoustic alt country "Cry Wolf" could be a calmer version of a Lucinda Williams track; others of the female folk elite, such as Shawn Colvin, or one with an Americana flair à la Stacey Earle would be wise to enjoy this fine opener. The only minor problems might be an extra half-minute, which is needless. Johnstone's bread and butter is finding a melody and working her slightly Southern delivery around it, as is the case on the mid-tempo title track that recalls Bruce Hornsby, Amy Farris or Lori McKenna. Valerie Carter lends backing harmonies as well on a chorus that pays off. Yet again the song should be curtailed roughly by about a minute, even with the slow fade. The melancholic piano touches of "Wounded Heart" are where Johnstone excels tremendously as Jackson Browne offers subtle but important backing harmonies. It's also a combination that meshes as well as Steve Earle and Emmylou Harris do. The album soars from this moment on, as a pop-folk blend greets the rather breezy but strong "Not Long for This World." The Celtic-tinged brilliance of "Hearts in Armor" rivals Harris or Sinéad O'Connor in terms of her vocals causing shivers up one's spine or hairs to rise from this gorgeous piece of work. The momentum continues on the simpler, pop-inspired "Doesn't Anybody Know but Me" that would compare easily to Paula Cole. Johnstone isn't afraid to go down a gospel lane either, although "Unchained" doesn't quite live up to expectations despite the help of Bonnie Raitt and Jennifer Warnes. Perhaps to atone for the gospel lapse, she tries again with far greater rewards on the warm and gentle "The Water's Edge," that has all the nuances of Bruce Springsteen's softer side shown on Tunnel of Love. Another pop-folk nugget comes during "Let's Leave It Open," as Johnstone opens up a tad more vocally. Ending with another soulful Norah Jones-like number, "When Someone Speaks Your Name," Johnstone will be one you will hear from. A singer/songwriter's singer/songwriter if there ever was one.

All Music Guide - Jason MacNeil