Merrimack County

Sound DNA

• Rock
• Folk Rock

• earnest
• pastoral
• warm

About

Tom Rush has a voice that can sing anything and make it sound like poetry. Over the years, he’s brought attention to struggling young singer/songwriters who’ve gone on to glorious careers of their own, such as Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, and Jackson Browne. Browne released his debut album in 1972, the same year as <i>Merrimack County</i>, which features a mellow country-rock version of Browne's classic "Jamaica Say You Will." Rush gives further exposure to songwriter Bob Carpenter ("Gypsy Boy," "Roll Away the Grey") and Eric Kaz ("Mother Earth"). But he also takes a leading hand, composing six of the songs himself. Trevor Veitch cowrote "Kids These Days" and adds a funky, hard rock electric guitar to the leadoff cut, which finds Rush adding a humorous spoken-word vocal. "Mink Julip" touches on southern rock. "Mother Earth" adds percussion to a catchy sing-along. The album also features several cuts that would sound at home on <i>The Circle Game</i>, including the touching "Wind on the Water" and "Seems the Songs." While the album is eclectic, it still features several classic Rush performances.

via Apple Music

Tracklist

Credits