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Hal Ketchum
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Hal Ketchum's Bio:

Hal Ketchum is one of those Texas singer/storytellers like Jerry Jeff Walker+ Townes Van Zandt and Lyle Lovett who can make you hang on every line no matter how dry and sandy his voice is. Ketchum"s fourth album+ "Every Little Word+" is no different; it"s full of sharply etched stories about men lost on the street and down the road and looking for a woman to lead them back home. "Every Little Word" is Ketchum"s best album not because the words are any different but because the music is.<P> Ketchum is finally learning how to sing. His voice is a modest instrument+ but on this new recording he sounds much more relaxed. For example+ the album"s title tune explains that true love isn"t simply a matter of saying+ "I love you+ baby"; it"s an excitement and commitment that can be heard in "Every Little Word" one love says to another. You can hear just what the lyrics are trying to describe in Ketchum"s vocal. There"s no strain in his throat as he opens up and simply lets the warbling notes spill out. When he sings about his wife "in the kitchen singin" like a bird+" there"s a chirping giddiness in his singing+ too. <I>--Geoffrey Himes<I>
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Hal Ketchum's Albums
COUNTRY ROADS (Warner France) (2 CDs)
The King of Love

Hal Ketchum Album Editorial:
2003 HDCD release on Curb Records. Hal is influenced by Buck Owens Marty Robbins and is a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
King of Love
Lucky Man

Hal Ketchum Album Editorial:
Through this song cycle of loves salvation Hal Ketchum tries to renew the commercial success he enjoyed a decade ago with Small Town Saturday Night without sacrificing the critical respect he earned with his previous release IAwaiting Redemption. The plainspoken simplicity and heartfelt sincerity of You Cant Go Back and Richest Man in Texas bring out the best in Ketchums reedy tenor while overblown duets with Dolly Parton (Two of the Lucky Ones) and Lisa Brokop (Keep Mom Dad in Love) succumb to schmaltz. The sound is generally slicker and sweeter than one might expect from producer Rodney Crowell though Ketchums soulful reading of a pair of Crowell originals Loving You Makes Me a Better Man and Dreams of Martina reflects an artistic kinship. Don McLeese
Awaiting Redemption

Hal Ketchum Album Editorial:
Throughout his career Hal Ketchum has pitted his pushing gritty roots rock against his pushing wimpy singer-songwriter muse; his Lyle Lovett smarts against his Michael McDonald sensibility. On IAwaiting Redemption the grit and the smarts win out most thanks to soulful skittering grooves (the title track) distressed blues licks (When Blue Was Just a Color) and a sense of spirituality that comes across more wise than preachy (a fine version of producer Stephen Brutons great Too Many Memories). And while lines like You let down your golden hair and I climbed into your garden dont sing any better than they read Ketchum usually pulls them off through a sheer commitment to their worth. One more argument for the importance of being earnest. David Cantwell
I Saw the Light
The Hits
Every Little Word

Hal Ketchum Album Editorial:
Hal Ketchum is one of those Texas singer/storytellers like Jerry Jeff Walker Townes Van Zandt and Lyle Lovett who can make you hang on every line no matter how dry and sandy his voice is. Ketchums fourth album Every Little Word is no different; its full of sharply etched stories about men lost on the street and down the road and looking for a woman to lead them back home. Every Little Word is Ketchums best album not because the words are any different but because the music is.P Ketchum is finally learning how to sing. His voice is a modest instrument but on this new recording he sounds much more relaxed. For example the albums title tune explains that true love isnt simply a matter of saying I love you baby; its an excitement and commitment that can be heard in Every Little Word one love says to another. You can hear just what the lyrics are trying to describe in Ketchums vocal. Theres no strain in his throat as he opens up and simply lets the warbling notes spill out. When he sings about his wife in the kitchen singin like a bird theres a chirping giddiness in his singing too. Geoffrey HimesI
Sure Love
Past the Point of Rescue

Hal Ketchum Album Editorial:
With this 1991 albums opener Small Town Saturday Night Hal Ketchum served as perceptive a slice of Americana as country radio had tasted in years. While he didnt pen this hit its accompanying album (his second and best) shows he could write songs with salt-of-the-earth perspective and easy-going charm whether dealing with the melancholia of love or the simple pleasures of relationships. Hes not an especially original songwriter nor does he cultivate a rooted country sound but he has the common touch and a just-shy-of-smooth delivery thats effective on I Know Where Love Lives (another hit) and Old Soldiers. Roy Francis Kasten

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