Mark Elliott

Mark Elliott
'American Road'
(Cub Creek Records CCR-1967c)

Singer, songwriter, Mark Elliott has recently released one of the finest albums I've heard so far this year. His new album, American Road celebrates Mark's arrival among America's songwriting greats. For example, here's the first verse from the title cut:
I am an Irish lad walking through Ellis Island
I left my native land to see what dreams I’ll find
These two hands will work and fight to build for me a better life
Where I’ll go God only knows, walkin this American road ...

American Road is intelligent, witty, sophisticated, and stylish. It's the kind of album that snares new fans and keeps longtime supporters more than satisfied. More eclectic than electric, American Road is an acoustically charged, high-powered collection of smart songs and irresistible charm.

His songwriting skills shine in lyrics such as this line from Message In A Bottle which talks about a young boy at a summer church camp retreat. He picks up a whiskey bottle and polishes it off with some buddies:"...I chugged it down with my two best friends For me it was religion, for them it was sin..." Brilliant writing, Mark!
Within the twelve songs presented on American Road, Elliott examines a range of emotions and issues we all face at various times in our lives. There's optimism that rings true in the cleverly written and arranged - Baseball and Beatles, the pathos of Ride out of Reno and even a song destined to be a true classic, the opening track, and title cut, American Road. Mark says “it’s a song about a journey, a sojourn told through the eyes of travelers who have come before - ultimately, it asks the question of my own providence, my own American Road.” Mark looks at our place in the natural world, celebrates life and creates real harmonic convergence with the soul-filled spiritual power of doing what you love, and loving what you do best.

As a writer, Elliott is taken seriously by major media -- He is a well-published (Sony/ATV Music) Nashville recording artist with his songs having been covered by major label artists and performed both in the United States and internationally.

Mark Elliott's latest recording, American Road explores an internal dialogue of hope, regret, fear, and ultimately triumph of the human spirit. Highly recommended.

Review by Ben Kettlewell
information: website: http://www.markelliottmusic.com/
Cub Creek Records
8552 Cub Creek Road
Nashville, TN 37209

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- Alternate Music Press

Close to 50 minutes in length, this barnstorming tour of states of mind and place provides more than enough reasons for anyone to give it a listen. It’s a look at the real America, of situations and settings not all glossed up and packaged pretty, that are actually commonplace in all mankind. That's the beauty and strength of this release. The best of the cuts are "A Private In Patton's Army," "Old Berle Jones" and "Message In A Bottle." "Old Berle Jones" is a wonderful time and place song. "Jackass Family" deserves its own special mention. Reminiscent of but much darker (and funnier) than Robert Earl Keen's "Merry Christmas from the Family.
- Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews

Mark Elliott, AOPA 3390339, a Nashville-based singer-songwriter, has released a new CD titled American Road. "The CD is a collection of people I've met, stories I've heard, and places I've seen over my years of traveling," he said. One of the songs, "Born to Fly," was inspired by Elliott's passions for flying, stemming from childhood, that led him to become a pilot.
- Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association - Pilot Magazine, August 20

“Not only a great singer-songwriter, but a great entertainer with powerful stuff on this new CD”

- Dave Nemo (Open Road Network - XM Satellite Radio-171)

SING-OUT MAGAZINE
(ver. 46/3, pgs. 149-150 FALL ’02)
Mark Elliott, formerly part of the successful duo
Culley and Elliott, is a Nashville writer and solo
performer. My Great Escape is Mark's second
solo album to date; coming a mere thirteen years
after his first. Featuring Mark's powerful voice and eleven of his generally superbly well
written songs, this recording is well-worth several spins in your CD player. Produced by
Doug Wayne, it is a polished and professional product.
Unlike most Nashville projects, the songs on this album have mostly been written by one
person. Only four of the eleven songs are co-written. "Stars in Their Eyes" is a
collaborative creative effort and duet between Elliott and folk songwriting elder
statesman Tom Paxton. While co-writing is strongly encouraged in Nashville to build a
high flow of songs, it frequently leads to mediocrity. Not here, however. This album
reflects the vision of one man, and it does so clearly and precisely. The lyrics are
interesting and meaningful. Elliott delivers them cleanly so that every word is
understandable. My Great Escape is a superb album. Bravo. - VKH - Sing Out Magazine

Music: “Not All Who Wander Are Lost” is a country-gospel track. Mark wrote the tune, sang the lead vocal and handled all the recording and mixing duties. Pete Huttlinger played guitar and Missy Raines (Claire lynch Alumna) played bass. David Spak played provided the percussion and the awesome background vocals were compliments of Ann & Regina McCreary.
Recording: Mark has got it all going on here, folks. Great song and a very fine recording. Aside from some minimal compression sibilance on the lead vocal, this sparse mix delivers the goods. We particularly enjoyed the lack of processing on the vocals. When you sing like the McCreary Sisters, none is required! Mark surrounded himself with talent, and his straight forward recording brings that. Good stuff.
Suggestions: Given Mark’s strong vocal delivery, it’s understandable he’d reach for a compressor to help smooth out the vocals. We would suggest that Mark try a more organic approach by “working” the mic rather than relying on the compressor.
Summary: We like it!

-Marty Peters, Recording Magazine March 2007
- Recording Magazine - March 2007

Mark’s finely crafted songs really shone in this crisp production of well played, folk-bluegrass. He’s joined by a tight band that includes Pete Huttlinger (John Denver) on guitar and others on bass, mandolin, banjo, vocals and more. With a clear but slightly craggy voice, Mark sings uplifting songs about love through the years (the title cut), a banjo driven song about an orphan train, and a sly ode to redneck therapy. The latter, “Redneck Rehab,” tells of a guy who only needs a six pack, a bass boat and definitely a visit to the race track. There’s warm, nostalgic perspective in “When Christmas Trees Were Tall” and a view from a young Civil War soldier in “Yankeetown”; the last verse ending poignantly, “I swear I Can hear/A bugle boy blow Dixie and angels drawing near.” Say amen to “Not All who Wander Are Lost,” a great gospel tune featuring some solid backing vocals by the McCrary Sisters. There’s a Celtic flavor to ‘Red River Rose,” a song written by Jim Moran and Ken Forsythe, one of the few tunes Mark didn’t have a hand in writing. Buy this album for all of these great songs but especially “Stealing God,” a quietly emotional ballad that links suicide bombers with the murder of Mathew Sheppard. Highly recommended. - JA - Sing-Out Magazine (v.50/3)

MARK ELLIOTT - American Road, (Cub Creek 1967).
A Staff writer veteran of the Nashville hit factories; Mark Elliott is also a gifted performer, wisely continuing his solo career. His latest release showcases his tight, witty lyrics, nimble guitar playing and especially his strong, soulful singing, which carries the day even when a certain Nashvillian glibness occasionally crops up.

- Good album! – RM(Sing-Out Magazine Spring 2005; Volume 49, Number 1)
- Sing-Out Magazine - RM (Spring 2005)

This excellent album opens with the title track, "American Road," which is a driving beat song about the journey through America from the eyes of an Ellis Island arrivee.

Mark Elliott slows matters down to a lovely ballad with "Ride Out of Reno." Again, the ghost of history haunts the lyrics as he recalls the railroad and how many ancestors of those who ride the rails actually helped lay the tracks.

There is a feeling of authenticity about the writing and delivery on these tracks. "Message in a Bottle" is a sad reminder that all messages in bottles are not notes from distant lands. Here the message is the usual contents of the bottle. This is a well-crafted piece of writing.

Another song that will get deep into your heart and mind is "Private in Patton's Army." We are so used to hearing songs about the effects of war on veterans of Vietnam or the Great War that we too often forget the longterm victims of World War II. More recent and more domestic history is recalled on the marvelous retelling of a '60s childhood on "Baseball & the Beatles." If you are of a certain age this song will bring back the memories. Go on, be a teenager again.

From the light-hearted he brings us face to face with grim reality on "Old Berle Jones." We can all too often look through rose-coloured glasses at the people in the rural hills, but life was hard and despite their music and resilience they were cruelly used by big business, especially the men who worked the mines.

The writing skill of Elliott is to the fore when he weaves tales around a man imagining the former owners of a second-hand jacket on "The Jacket." One of my favourite tracks is "Old Dogs," which reminds us how hard we can often be on our loved ones.

This is a collection of excellent songs that will be an asset to any record collection, and with a little luck and a lot of justice they should become much better known.

by Nicky Rossiter
Rambles.NET
24 September 2005
- Rambles: Arts & Culture Magazine

BILLBOARD Reviews & Previews
August 26, 2000
* NEAL McCOY
Every Man For Himself (3:53)
PRODUCERS: Ed Seay, John Hobbs
WRITERS: M, Elliott, 'E Johnson
PRODUCERS: Sony/ATV Songs/EMI Blackwood
Music/Tim Johnson Music, BMI
Giant 100295 (CD promo)
McCoy is so well-known for up-tempo, good-time hits (think
"Wink") that it's easy to forget how effective he can be as a balladeer. This solid single
should go a long way in reminding programmers that there's more than one side to this
versatile entertainer. The lyric paints a por-trait of a group of men who paid too much
attention to careers and lost their families. It's an interesting twist, as most songs about
single life focus on how tough it is for women. The lonely men who populate the bar in
this song demon-strate that life alone can be difficult no matter what gender you are.
McCoy turns in an affecting performance that wistfully conveys the sense of loss
and frustration that dominates these lives. There's a smoothness and richness to his vocal
that is well-supported by the under-stated production. It's a strong outing that should help
draw attention to the Tuesday (22) release of his Giant debut album. - BILLBOARD Reviews & Previews 1