A troubadour, a singer/songwriter, a folky, and a storyteller -- all fair labels for this artist, but they do not quite suffice. However, the tattoo of Woody Guthrie worn proudly on his arm is a good starting place from which to grasp Ellis Paul, for it is from the Woody Guthrie tradition that he hails, and Maine, as well. Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, and James Taylor are also listed among his influences, and their spirits seem to occasionally grace his work. With an acoustic guitar in hand, he weaves intimate, provocative, and romantic tales of lives that were obviously witnessed by a most-talented voyeur. Based in Massachusetts, Ellis has been called the quintessential Boston songwriter more than a few times and has garnered the recognition and awards to back up that claim, including a shelf full of Boston Music Awards.

Ellis Paul is one of the best singer/songwriters of his generation. And for many of us he is the face of contemporary folk music—few are as smart, as literate and as poetic as Paul. He has spun his story songs for nearly twenty years now, and has eleven studio recordings (with an additional two early recordings on cassette—now available on CD) to his credit. I cannot think of another artist on the acoustic music scene who is better-loved by fans, or more respected by his contemporaries.

I suspect that turning forty, having a child and putting down roots all had something to do with Paul's taking a look back at his body of work in the newly released Essentials. While Paul's 2000 Live recording captured Ellis Paul the live performer, 2006's Essentials captures Ellis Paul the artist.

Essentials presents the richness, the range and the beauty of Paul's work in a double CD package. Ralph Jaccodine, Paul's longtime manager and friend, is named as executive producer. He successfully pulls together the many strands of Paul's career here. There are thirty-two songs in all—many are the originals available on earlier recordings. But this is not simply a "best of" recording. The bonuses include two new songs and eight new versions of his classic tunes, some recorded live.

Putting all of the assessments aside for a moment, what impresses most is the stunning beauty of Ellis Paul's art. Just listening to the music and taking it all in - you become swept away by the songs and immersed in the stories they tell.

Classic Ellis Paul songs, like Conversation with a Ghost, which put him on the map, are all here. Hearing the original version of the song with Patty Griffin's achingly beautiful harmony, Johnny Cunningham's violin, and the haunting melody, brings back the excitement of hearing Paul perform it for the first time.

There are also new songs, like If She's the One, co-written with Flynn, who produced the cut as well. It lets us know how you will feel when you come across the love you have been looking for. Flynn mixes in an electric guitar and a percussive beat to rock the tune to the place it needs to go. The other new song is Welcome Home to Maine, Paul's beautiful homage to his home state. No matter where you are from, you will find your own sense of home here.

New renditions of Ellis Paul favorites like Maria's Beautiful Mess, and the gorgeous Words appear here in lovely new arrangements provided by John Jennings. The recording closes with a live version of Woody Guthrie's God's Promise from the stage of the Boothbay Opera House in Maine.

Essentials contains much of Ellis Paul's best work to date. But unlike most retrospective collections, this one clearly shines a light on the future. And what we know is this—that the brilliance of his body of work tells us that there are great things to come. This is a must have collection for music fans everywhere.

Tracklists:

CD1
01. Take Me Down
02. Eighteen
03. Paris in a Day
04. Home
05. If She's the One (Ellis Paul/Flynn)
06. Take All the Sky You Need
07. Maria's Beautiful Mess
08. The Only Way (Mark Erelli)
09. Conversation with a Ghost
10. The World Ain't Slowin' Down
11. Angel in Manhattan
12. If You Break Down
13. Words
14. Snow in Austin Intro
15. Snow in Austin
16. Did Galileo Pray?
17. Jukebox on My Grave

CD2
01. Sweet Mistakes
02. 3,000 Miles
03. Blacktop Train
04. Seventeen Septembers
05. Autobiography of a Pistol
06. The Martyr's Lounge
07. Midnight Strikes Too Soon
08. Alice's Champagne Palace
09. Roll Away Bed
10. All Things Being the Same
11. Deliver Me
12. Welcome Home to Maine
13. She Loves a Girl
14. She Was (Ellis Paul/Slaid Cleaves/Jeff Plankenhorn)
15. Snow in Austin
16. The Speed of Trees
17. God's Promise Intro
18. God's Promise

All songs written by Ellis Paul except where noted.

(download includes high resolution scans of all artwork, including booklet)