Mary Chapin Carpenter – Personal History (Lambent Light Records)
Mary Chapin Carpenter’s Personal History is sad, lonely, nostalgic, reflective and, most of all, painfully honest.
The 67-year-old singer-songwriter has been making records since 1987, earning five Grammys along the way.
Her 1992 album, Come On Come On, went quadruple platinum while its follow-up, 1994’s Stones In The Road won two Grammys, including Best Country Album Of The Year.
The New Jersey native has been making quality records none-stop for almost 40 years.
So why haven’t we heard much about her lately?
That’s why I mention her age.
Actually her age is the overarching theme throughout the 11 original songs that make up Personal History.
The record begins quietly, somberly with What Did You Miss, finding our artist asking “What did you miss when the days went missing, What did you wish for when the world went dark?” No doubt a COVID reference, but not necessarily.
As someone of similar vintage, I can attest to the fact that questions like this run through the aging boomers’ mind on a regular basis.
Mary Chapin Carpenter’s voice is stunning…it cuts straight to the heart. In fact its almost too much to bear.
By the time I got to Girl And Her Dog, I was crying in my corn flakes.
Vaguely reminiscent of Gordon Lightfoot’s If You Could Read My Mind (talk about sad songs!), Carpenter looks back at her own Personal History…”A long time ago I got married once…” and does her best to come to terms with it.
Bruce Springsteen’s The River also comes to mind as producer John Kaufman’s mournful harmonica wails away…another sad song that hits home hard.
And if that’s not enough, the winsome country waltz that is The Night We Never Met will definitely have you crying in your beer.
Matt Rolling’s light touch on the piano is another highlight as is Anais Mitchell’s delicate harmonies during Home Is A Song.
But this is Mary Chapin Carpenter’s show…a beautiful showcase for her songs, her voice and her resilience…over old lovers, broken dreams and father time.
Mary Chapin Carpenter is still winning, and her victory is our victory. Share her Personal History with yourself.
Marty Duda
Personal History is out now on Lambent Light Records
