​Gary Nicholson (from the album Common Sense

​Gary Nicholson (from the album Common Sense

​Gary Nicholson (from the album Common Sense on Qualified Records) (By Lee Zimmerman)
 
Gary Nicholson boasts the kind of credentials that only artists of the most hallowed status can claim. A two-time Grammy winner and member of the Songwriting Hall of Fame, his efforts extend to multiple musical genres, including Country, Blues, Pop, Rock, Folk, Bluegrass, and Americana. There have been over 700 recordings of his work, many written in collaboration with others. Over the past four decades, his songs have been covered by any number of icons — Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Bonnie Raitt, John Prine, Ringo Starr, BB King, Buddy Guy, Keb Mo, among the many. His music has been featured in movies as well, most notably Jeff Bridges’ Oscar-winning performance of “Falling and Flying”, the song Nicholson contributed to the film Crazy Heart. 
 
When he relocated to Nashville from Texas early on, he worked as an accompanist, playing guitar for the likes of Guy Clark, Billy Joe Shaver, Bobby Bare, and others, developing his skills as a co-writer in the company of Harlan Howard, Bobby Braddock, Don Cook, and Keith Whitley, His first number one hit was “That’s The Thing About Love” as recorded by Don Williams in 1984. Altogether, Delbert McClinton has recorded 35 songs that he and Nicholson co-wrote. So too, Nicholson produced five projects for McClinton, winning his Grammys in the Best Contemporary Blues category courtesy of the albums, Nothing Personal in 2001, and Cost of Living in 2005.  He also sat behind the boards for albums by The Judds, Wynonna, Pam Tillis, Marcia Ball, Billy Joe Shaver, and a number of others.

Those are impressive credentials indeed, but it’s a credit to his passion and perseverance that Nicholson continues to make music that’s relevant and still able to entertain and enlighten. His new album, appropriately titled Common Sense, focuses on the division and divide produced by the polarity of politics over the course of the past eight years. A twelve-song collection, it deals with that disparity with both hope and humor, an attitude borne by the fact he came of age in the turbulent ‘60s and has learned the lessons which resulted in its wake. That said, the music he makes never comes across as preachy or pedantic. The rousing “What a Little Love Can Do”, the well-considered mantra shared by “Bob Dylan Whiskey”, the steady assurance of “The Truth About a Lie”, and the soulful stride that underscores the wisdom conveyed with “Make Good Money” ensure the musings remain true to Gary Nicholson’s intents while remaining easily accessible at that. 
 
Much of the music sticks to a basic Blues and R&B template, as exemplified by “We Don’t Talk About It”, “Worry B Gone”, and “All That Makes My Baby Happy Is the Blues”, but when Nicholson opts for so mellow meandering with the well-meaning title track which references the murder of George Floyd and the unifying theme of “There’s No Them”, it’s the messaging that matters most. So too, when he summons up the spirit of Woody Guthrie on “Woody’s Dream”, the populist appeal is encapsulated both ably and effectively. 
 
Ultimately then, Gary Nicholson could be credited with making the most meaningful album of his entire career. Common sense seems in short supply these days, but thankfully this particular Common Sense provides us with a powerful perspective. (by Lee Zimmerman) 
 
 
Listen and buy the music of Gary Nicholson from AMAZON
 
For more information, please visit the Gary Nicholson website