Music
Press
"Patsy Cline tribute, done as well as the living can do." - Rodeo Bar, NYC
Carolyn Sills' exuberant "George Bailey" is a successful and tasteful ode to two American archetypes of both film and music… the song uses the same method and ethos of production that gave Spector his signature sound and stack of hits back in the day. It's been around 50 years since the Ronettes and Crystals sang to us about Christmas lore so a track dedicated to recreating that special feeling shall not be deemed irrelevant nor derivative in my book. - Indiedots.net
"Carolyn Sills and her band, A Poor Man's Roses, dare to emulate the sounds of country music icon Patsy Cline - and they exceed all expectations! Sills uses her own voice, a mix of beauty and soul, with a dose of Cline's inflections to achieve a sincere tribute that is full of confidence." - Michael Anthony (Host of the Country Show on WHPC 90.3 FM, Long Island, NY)
"Carolyn's musical talent is exceptional, she delivers 110% with a a band that is on-the-money. I look forward to having them back again and again"
- Mike, owner of Dockside Pub, Mahopac, NY
"... old-timey country and rock and roll band from New York City, this one good enough to make you forget you're standing in the middle of Brooklyn in 2006."
- The L Magazine: Brooklyn, NY
"To say that Sills' singing is sultry is an immense understatement. She's part Billie Holiday, part Sade... her vocals resonate with a throaty anguish, torch songs sung straight from the heart." - Michael Dregni, Vintage Guitar Magazine
"Swing meets cool jazz & blues with a touch of country twang... Carolyn’s voice soothes your tired soul, leaving you aching for more." - Go Kat Go, New Haven
“This one (George Bailey) is so sweet and catchy, it should be an instant classic. Really, it's that good. And the animation is a whimsical tribute to the old Fleischer cartoons of the Capra era. Give it a listen. And no matter your woes or last minute shopping pressures, you'll think, yeah, It's a Wonderful Life. Just amazing what one little song can do to alter your outlook.” - Amy Beth Arkawy, Radio Graffiti
“Capturing the seemingly forgotten classic Christmas rock sound (the echoing drum and cymbals lead in told me right off this would be special), "George Bailey" could have been recorded in 1959 as easily as 2009. Great lyrics, great music and a great subject all add up to an instant classic now in my top ten Christmas songs of all time.”
- – Travis, She’ll Grow Back
"This (George Bailey) is one of my favorite Christmas singles, not only this year by the way, of the past 10 or 15..."
- - Paul Richards, WHLI New York
Discography
Four new tracks from the upcoming solo project (2009/10):
1. Stop Going Through the Motions
2. Be Nice To Me (I Gave Blood Today)
3. Aces and Eights
4. George Bailey
Merry Christmas from Carolyn Sills (2008):
1. Blue Christmas
Five Little Lies - Boss Tweed (2007) on Silent Stereo Records
1. Lie To Me
2. Bottles & Cans
3. Prince Of The Upper West Side
4. I Never Cared For You
5. Mona Lisa
Boss Tweed's Vinyl 45 (2006) on Silent Stereo Records
1. Buzz Like Houseflies
2. Perhaps...
Boss Tweed Debut Album (2005)
1. GWB
2. 12th Street
3. Pretty Violent
4. Done Wonders
5. Real Good Sell
6. Then It Hits You
7. Cleanin' Upsa Ditty
8. After Awhile
9. Hellbent
10. Self Made Man
11. Pontchartrain
12. Goes Like Nothing
Photos
Bio
"To say that [Carolyn] Sills' singing is sultry is an immense understatement... her vocals resonate with a throaty anguish, torch songs sung straight from the heart... The effect is mesmerizing." - Michael Dregni, Vintage Guitar Magazine
Carolyn Sills, vocalist, bassist and songwriter, has gained an international reputation for being the small bassist with the big voice. No doubt a highlight of Sills’ career was when she was asked to sit in with the late, legendary Les Paul as a guest vocalist at the Iridium Jazz Club, recreating the songs he made famous with Mary Ford.
For the past three years, Carolyn has been touring Europe with Boss Tweed, her dark blues & rock n' roll twang trio, with which she recorded a full length, self-titled album (2005), a vinyl 45 (2007) and a 5 song EP, called Five Little Lies (2008). Sills also lends her voice to the music of Patsy Cline, touring the country as Carolyn Sills & The Poor Man’s Roses, giving fans a chance to experience hearing Patsy’s songs performed live with unbelievable authenticity.
With a four song sampler from Carolyn’s upcoming solo release now available for download, emails have been pouring in from new fans asking why they are only now hearing about Carolyn and her music. One of these tracks, George Bailey, a love song for Jimmy Stewart’s character in It’s A Wonderful Life, is on its way to becoming a classic holiday hit. "This (George Bailey) is one of my favorite Christmas singles, not only this year by the way, of the past 10 or 15..." - Paul Richards, WHLI New York.
More 2009 Review of George Bailey:
“This one is so sweet and catchy, it should be an instant classic. Really, it's that good. And the animation is a whimsical tribute to the old Fleischer cartoons of the Capra era. Give it a listen. And no matter your woes or last minute shopping pressures, you'll think, yeah, It's a Wonderful Life. Just amazing what one little song can do to alter your outlook.” – Amy Beth Arkawy, Radio Graffiti
“Capturing the seemingly forgotten classic Christmas rock sound (the echoing drum and cymbals lead in told me right off this would be special), "George Bailey" could have been recorded in 1959 as easily as 2009. Great lyrics, great music and a great subject all add up to an instant classic now in my top ten Christmas songs of all time.”
– Travis, She’ll Grow Back
“… it pleases me no end, that this song sent over recently, completely and utterly reminds me of the happy up beat moods of that glorious (Phil Spector) album… the lo-fi-but-not production, the jingle bells, the vocals, well, everything really… to add the heart warming charm is a chucklesome animation that proves that it’s not only ireallylovemusic hq that gets a complete scrub down prior to the cracking open of any wine bottle.” – Mark E., ireallylovemusic.co.uk
“Carolyn Sills' exuberant "George Bailey" is a successful and tasteful ode to two American archetypes of both film and music. Sills' track is an obvious homage to the classic Spector Christmas recordings that (for better or for worse) presented to us the template of what a good Christmas themed pop record should be. Additionally, the song uses the same method and ethos of production ("The Wall of Sound") that gave Spector his signature sound and stack of hits back in the day. It's been around 50 years since the Ronettes and Crystals sang to us about Christmas lore so a track dedicated to recreating that special feeling shall not be deemed irrelevant nor derivative in my book (or blog).”
– IndieDots.Net
“Carolyn Sills' "George Bailey" is the best holiday song of the year.” – Todd, South Dakota Dark
“ It’s interesting to find how many current holiday songs mention It’s A Wonderful Life. Brooklyn-based singer-bass player Carolyn Sills goes them all one better by devoting an entire song to Frank Capra’s classic flick and its put-upon hero. Set to an inviting arrangement that mixes twangy Country & Western music with a bit of the 1960s girl group sound, “George Bailey” merrily whisks us off to Bedford Falls.” – Terry Flamm, Broken Hearted Toy
“… And our current fave seasonal delight is the song “George Bailey” by singer/ songwriter, Carolyn Sills and chums. The infectiously catchy tune was inspired by the Frank Capra Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life and its small-town hero, George Bailey (James Stewart)… With its up-tempo chirpy 50s flavour, the song is a treat for those both unfamiliar and well accustomed with the film. And the lyrics themselves are packed with cute and clever references, the chorus especially spot-on… The classic-in-the-making has… gorgeous complementary black and white animation from Rob Ludacer. Enjoy and you just try not to get in the Xmas atmos!” - Boxwish Music Reviews
“George Bailey - Carolyn Sills slaps the back-beat rhythm on her bass and swings a love song to the character that comes into our homes and hearts each year with 'It's A Wonderful Life', George Bailey. Yes,
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