Peter
Gallway – Hello Stranger (Independent)
Born and raised in New York, though now based in
California, Peter Gallway is a singer-songwriter-musician-producer-poet. You
may have heard of him. In the ‘70s he cut a trio of albums for Warners/Reprise,
later, he produced music for a host of other artists, including Laura Nyro, and
helped curate the tribute release “Time and Love: the Music of Laura Nyro”,
which featured contributions from Rosanne Cash and Jill Sobule. He was also
responsible for the Grammy nominated “Bleecker Street: Greenwich Village in the
60’s”, featuring Jonatha Brooke, Chrissie Hynde, Marshall Crenshaw, Suzanne
Vega, etc – which just happens to be one of the finest concept collections ever
released.
Though obviously much in demand, he still makes time
for his own projects, and “Hello Stranger” is his new album. It’s a collection
of songs arranged for voice and one instrument, usually guitar or piano, and
was inspired by Gallway’s earliest musical experiences, with his group The
Strangers, and the music that he heard around Greenwich Village in the mid/late
‘60s. He’s also revisited songs he originally penned at the time, and for the
most part they’re also influenced by the popular Motown groups of the period.
Early Tom Waits makes for an easy point of reference, as does the pre-E-Street
Band, Bruce Springsteen recordings. Gallway begins “Hello Stranger” with the
title track; its doo-wop backing and sparse instrumentation makes for a
striking launch. “Fast Freight” is dense and deep, wrapped tightly in electric
guitar, and “Country Time Rhymes” reveals a
gentler approach, with flowing piano working beautifully with the words. It’s
an engaging record, and connects effortlessly with the listener. I’d love to
hear him perform these songs live.
Phil S.
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