Iris Dement - Mama's Opry

...from the "Infamous Angel" 1992. Rounder

A remarkable debut, Infamous Angel established Iris DeMent as one of the greatest artists of her generation. With her gift for poignant, confessional songwriting and a voice that makes raw beauty seem like a brand new thing, she invokes the elemental magic of the Carter Family while sounding as fresh and modern as John Prine (who, not surprisingly, is one of her biggest champions). DeMent's concerns are largely family and tradition, and many of these songs deal with memories of life and love. Her Carter influence is revealed in a spirited cover of the classic "Fifty Miles of Elbow Room" as well as "Mama's Opry," a tribute to her mother, who also sings lead on "Higher Ground." These are wonderful, but DeMent's greater talent is the ballad, and she delivers an astonishing handful, including "When Love Was Young," "Sweet Forgiveness," and "After You're Gone," a tribute to her dying father that is so profoundly affecting that one is rendered nearly helpless listening to it. In the end, one finishes this record somber but refreshed by DeMent's charming, almost naïve, outlook on life. That naïveté isn't an act, either -- DeMent claims in her liner notes that she's never thought of herself as a great singer. She couldn't be more wrong, and listeners can thank heaven that she changed her mind, for this is an album to be cherished and played as long as one has life to listen. AllMusic Review by Jim Smith

[kctby]

She has the most "honest and authentic" voice as a singer I have ever heard! She is a treasure as an artist and, from what I have been told by some folks I know who have either met her or who have performed with her, she is a loving and caring person as well!

[logowatchman]

Iris..you rock! Beauty and talent and sings with feeling.

[drychaf]

Exraordinary talent. I've loved her work on casette since the 90s. I think it's about time I upgraded!

[michaelray]

This song gives me goosebumps! Thanks!

[matthewetzel]

LOVE YOUR MUSIC IRIS.... REMINDS ME OF AMERICA

[emperorhundredhead]

Her Mama is lead singer on "Higher Ground" at age of 74, listen and enjoy

[cityzen]

She grew up plain and simple in a farming town
Her daddy played the fiddle and use to do the calling
When they had hoedowns
She said the neighbors would come
And they'd move all my grandma's furniture 'round
And there'd be twenty or more there on the old wooden floor
Dancing to a country sound
The Carters and Jimmy Rodgers played her favorite songs
And on Saturday nights there was a radio show
And she would sing along
And I'll never forget her face when she revealed to me
That she'd dreamed about singing at The Grand Ol' Opry
Her eyes, oh how they sparkled when she sang those songs
While she was hanging the clothes on the line
I was a kid just a humming along
Well, I'd be playing in the grass,
To her what might of seemed obliviously
But there ain't no doubt about it, she sure made her mark on me
She played old gospel records on the phonograph
She turned them up loud and we'd sing along
But those days have passed
Just now that I am older it occurs to me
That I was singing in the grandest opry
And we sang Sweet Rose of Sharon, Abide With Me
'til I ride The Gospel Ship to Heaven's Jubilee
And In That Great Triumphant Morning my soul will be free
And My Burdens Will Be Lifted when my savior's face I see
So I Don't Want to Get Adjusted to This World below
But I know He'll Pilot Me 'til it comes time to go
Oh, nothing on this earth is half as dear to me
As the sound of my Mama's Opry
And we sang Sweet Rose of Sharon, Abide With Me
'til I ride The Gospel Ship to Heaven's Jubilee
And In That Great Triumphant Morning my soul will be free
And My Burdens Will Be Lifted when my savior's face I see
So I Don't Want to Get Adjusted to This World below
But I know He'll Pilot Me 'til it comes time to go
Oh, nothing on this earth is half as dear to me
As the sound of my Mama's Opry


Songwriters: Iris Dement


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[wilhelmschroeder]

She's a real cutie pie. Beautiful voice and a big heart. Greg Brown is a lucky man.