Lucinda Williams Car Wheels On A Gravel Road (CD)

(Mercury Records) 13 tracks

Over the last 30 years, Lucinda Williams has translated her perspective as a proud yet vulnerable Southern woman into a series of magnificent albums, each one weaving rock, country, folk and blues so tightly that the individual elements seem to disappear. “Lucinda Williams” from 1988 marked her breakthrough, but her absolute masterpiece from 1998 - ‘Car Wheels On A Gravel Road’ - cemented her dazzling reputation as a great singer/songwriter.

It took three years to complete the alternative country masterpiece, but it was worth it. Williams writes songs that describe the rootlessness of American life with vivid imagery and edgy beauty. Guests on the album include Steve Earl, Emmylou Harris and Buddy Miller. Williams herself acted as co-producer; Rick Rubin and Jim Scott were responsible for the mix - “Metal Firecracker” was mixed by Ray Kennedy. The album won a Grammy for “Best Contemporary Folk Album” and was Lucinda Williams' first release to be honored with gold status.

Village Voice named “Car Wheels...” the best album of the year, while in 2003 it entered Rolling Stone's “500 Best Albums” list at number 304.