Willard Robison's 'Deep River Music'

The fine and highly individual composer Willard Robison gets little attention today, but he was a favorite of many musicians during his career, which lasted from the 1920s into the 1950s.

This very early Capitol LP was likely inspired by the admiration of fellow songwriter-singer Johnny Mercer. It contains six Robison songs, two sung by Mercer, three by Robison and one, anonymously, by the great studio singer Loulie Jean Norman.

Robison in the 1920s

The title is "Deep River Music," an evocative term derived from Robison's old Deep River Orchestra, which he led on the radio and records from the 1920s into the early 1930s. Robison was from Missouri, and his music reflects the rural and religious sensibilities of his youth. His songs often have a sense of trying to hold on to something that is slipping away - even in songs where he didn't write the lyrics, such as "A Cottage for Sale" and "Old Folks," possibly his most famous number, which he recorded several times, including for this album.

Johnny Mercer

There is much to enjoy here, with fine contributions from Mercer, who is on his best behavior, and from the reedy voiced Robison. But the best number is certainly Loulie Jean Norman's "Deep Summer Music," an entrancingly beautiful performance.

Loulie Jean Norman

I have to assume that Robison knew the singer: he once wrote a piece called "Poor Loulie Jean", and how many Loulie Jeans can there have been? She was a fine musician who is worth remembering as well as Robison. Here is a link to a remembrance of her.

This record came near the end of Robison's recording career. He made another LP for Coral a little later and some other items. Most of his records were made much earlier in his career, both as a bandleader and as a singer-pianist.

My copy of this particular record is worn, but the sound is certainly acceptable - and the sounds are worth getting to know.