The Friday song (on a Sunday): ‘Answering Bell’ by Ryan Adams

When one-time punk rocker Ryan Adams formed alt-country band Whiskeytown in the mid-1990s, chaos was sure to follow in his wake, and it did. Whiskeytown’s moments of brilliance were often overshadowed by Adams’s temper, and his substance and alcohol abuse, and by 2000 they were done. 

Adams took a break, emerged as a solo artist and cut the remarkable solo debut album, Heartbreaker, which established him as a guiding light in the growth of the Americana movement. His second album, Gold, recorded when he was just 26, shifted progressively from the folk foundations of the debut into folk-rock territory. 

At his best, Adams was a ballad guy. On Heartbreaker, there’s Winding Wheel and the gorgeous Oh My Sweet Carolina with Emmylou Harris singing the harmony vocal. Gold had When The Stars Go Blue and La Cienega Just Smiled. 

The answer: Answering Bell

All of those have become classics, but rather than choosing an obvious ballad, I’ve pulled Answering Bell from Gold as my pick. It’s eminently listenable and stands out as a key single from the album. The phrasing in parts, and the bridge, seem to nod to Van Morrison. The banjo that forms part of the opening recedes, as acoustic guitar, pedal steel and a grooving organ solo make for a captivating listen. 

Adams is as prolific as they come. He has recorded numerous full cover albums as varied as Taylor Swift’s 1989, and Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks, gems like Prisoner and (possibly self-fulfilling) failures like Demolition. 

A careful picking through the catalogue has much more to recommend than to slate. But it’s been an arduous road for both Adams and his faithful fans. Almost inevitably, Adams was to fall, dogged by allegations of women abuse. He was cancelled, abandoned by fans and the music press, and he sought redemption and forgiveness, which saw a slow recovery through apologies in words and songs.  

He has slowly reemerged, rebuilding his fan base and credibility as one music publication put it, “One fan at a time” – and continuing to release, in the main, really high-quality records. 

Those first two Adams albums are among his best. Explore them a little if you’re inclined and don’t know them. Hope you enjoy Answering Bell and have a good weekend!

Listen to Answering Bell on Spotify here and on Apple Music here.

I started a music WhatsApp group in 2023. I send one song a week on a Friday, with links to both Apple and Spotify, and an accompanying narrative/capsule piece. If you want to engage about a song, get a playlist or just get in touch, email me on markgrosin@gmail.com.

For more of Mark’s memorable picks, go here.

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