Penny Nichols
Album: Golden State
Label: Pensongs
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.pennynichols.com

This is most definitely an album that you will find in the "Easy Listening" section of your local record store if you still have such a thing. It is a gentle mix of folk and country all delivered by a lady that has been on the music scene since the late 1960's. In that time, the number of releases she has produced can be counted on one hand so she will never be called prolific.

Penny now spends more time teaching people to sing and write songs than she spends recording. The tracks on this album are primarily stories of her childhood in Los Angeles and have been written between the years of 1966 to 2015. Her story is well worth reading and is indicative of someone who really cares about her music and its roots. "LA Man" the penultimate track on the collection most clearly portrays her story and the journey.

Penny has a very self-deprecatory sense of humour, very evident in Paco El Poco. I am sure her brothers will appreciate the mention. The first track on the CD threw me a bit as it starts off sounding like a Shadows track from the 60's. The album contains a fabulous song about Penny meeting Stevie Wonder at a party when she was just 19 and being completely and totally star struck. She describes him as being beautiful and the coolest cat in town. Who is going to argue with that?

My favourite track is one of only two not written by Penny but delivered beautifully. It is a song written in 1966 by Steve Noonan entitled "Leanin Back & Laughing." It is very much a West Coast song of that period with subtle harmonies and a delightful melody. It really is a beautifully constructed piece of music.

"Kick The Can" is a relatively recent song, 2010, and shows Penny's voice off to its best. A great late night listening song! "Winter Fires" contains a lovely guitar accompaniment very reminiscent of CSN&Y from the 60's but was in fact written in 2012 by Jonita Beede.

Having never heard of Penny before receiving this album to review I must say that I am completely won over by both her singing and her songwriting. I wonder how long it will be before she decides to release another. Not too long I hope.

Rory Stanbridge