Drizzlin' Rain/ Full of the Moon

This is the kind of record that makes you stop and think, and then listen to it several times before you catch on. First of all, when I heard the tracks initially I thought Turner was a guy, no question. Then I read the extensive liner notes on the back of the sleeve, and woah! Not only is Turner female, she was 60 years old when she recorded this compositions of hers. By the time she recorded for Colonial--these tracks were the first, and this her first single--Turner had traveled extensively collecting African folk music, and she had studied music at a number of fine conservatories. She had arranged and led a touring company spreading word about this kind of African music and was well known in some circles. Following this single, Colonial recorded one LP of her music, and today that one LP is widely available to celebrate the lasting legacy of this (to most) obscure American singer.\r\n

Incidentally, while Drizzlin' Rain is the kind of song that could have been a country music classic, Full of the Moon borders on rockabilly with its joyous uptempo groove. The version of Full of the Moon that appeared on the LP was completely different... a rerecorded version that's slowed down and dreamy rather than uptempo and peppy.\r\n

Oh yeah, one last thing... The credits on the label read "Fashioned and sung by 'Cile Turner." Very unusual way of expressing it, but I really like that!