Only CDs Is Sounding Like These # 8: Lucinda Williams, Essence (2001)

A new occasional series - CDs are coming back baby! And I’m here for it. BIGTIME! Also, some albums just REALLY suit the format, right

I can remember exactly where I was (in my life) and what I did (literally) the day I first bought — and heard — Essence by Lucinda Williams. I knew her mostly by reputation, I’d heard most of the Car Wheels album and liked it, I loved her song Change The Locks, which I first knew through the Tom Petty cover, and I knew Bob Dylan rated her, and Elvis Costello, and many people.

And so, on a whim I bought Essence. On CD. For the full $35. In 2001. When it was released. I bought it from a store in Manners Mall, in Wellington. Not one I shopped at a whole lot, but I bought so many CDs back then, and from everywhere, so this store had seen my Eftpos card more than a few times.

I took Essence straight home and blasted it. And fell in love with it on first listen. It just floored me. Every song was brilliant. Every single song. It felt like a greatest hits record, goddamnit. Later that day we went out to The Warehouse and I bought a cheap Chick Webb CD (the legendary jazz drummer). God knows why I remember that, but it’s just how my brain works. I’d played mild hooky from work, in that I was ‘sick’ but this was back when sick days were barely frowned on, either that or I just gave less of a shit, or both. I bought the album as a pick-me-up, and boy did it work (the Lucinda that is, the Chick Webb was just for the files; the archive…)

Back then, I’d get paid once a fortnight. And it wasn’t great pay — though it was always great getting paid. I’d blow my wage in a weekend (covering my rent and other things too of course). And then we’d live off Katy’s money (me and her that is). Until I got paid again. And then I’d blow it all in another weekend, buying CDs and having experiences. Dinners out. Concerts. Movies. It wasn’t smart, but it was fucking fun!

Later that night we went to the movies, and saw Shallow Hal. Which is a shit film — it was at the time, I can only imagine how horrific it is now. But we flipped at the fact that Lonely Girls, the first song from the Lucinda album was there in the film. A new release movie, a new release album, stars all aligned. 2001 baby.

I bought the entire Lucinda Williams catalogue — the five earlier records, and then would go on to get everything she released after. I like almost all of them, and many of them I love. Still, and always. Later on, a half dozen years or so after Essence was released, I spoke to Lucinda on the phone, ahead of her shows in New Zealand. She was fun to speak with — that drawl! — and we hit it off I reckon. She told me I was great to speak to, and she normally didn’t like interviews, but I was asking good questions, she said.

Somehow I got her to name her favourite album of her own. And she said that Essence was the special one; the one that felt most right, or most important in her life. I can’t quite remember how she phrased it exactly, but of course I told her that was my favourite too. And felt a bit sheepish, and like she didn’t really believe me — it somehow cheapened my question, and its result. But I’ve always liked taking those sorts of risks in interviews, and seeing if they pay off. And also, I believe in being honest, and little “fanboy” moments like that are (still) real to me (damnit!)

All of this came flooding back, when I bought a $2 copy of Essence last weekend. Ripped straight home with it and put it on the stereo. The same kind of rush. Even though I’ve been listening to it for close to a quarter-century now, and it’s been on my stereo most years in that time.

I tell you something (more)…in that moment, it didn’t just feel like Lucinda Williams’ best album. It felt like the best album in the fucking world. I love that it’s not even the most obvious choice as her best or most loved record. But it is. And she said so. And I agreed. And if you don’t agree with us, that’s fine. You can be wrong. And we can be right. And you’ll still love it, if you like any of her music at all, or if you have a heart, and a soul, and a pulse, and love great writing, strong performances, a killer band, and — well — music!

Isn’t music (like this) just the best?

It was an ordinary and boring day when I bought and first heard Essence. But something about it (and primarily the music on that CD) stays with me still. And is dialled back up when I hear the songs. Instantly.