Lisa Dudley

How do you like your country music? Churned out by a honky-tonk devil or touched by an angel? Fundamentalists believe music was created solely to praise The Lord (and to beat up heathens), but Lisa Dudley offers a new genre: New Age Country.

On this self-produced CD, recorded at Ozark, Missouri, the Woodstock-based singer/songwriter croons in a supple, weather-beaten voice about healing light, guardian angels perched on various body parts and the love of a far more nurturing and forgiving Jesus.

The only lineage that Dudley reveals is that her great-grandmother hailed from Oklahoma. Whether she was born and raised there and channels family history or simply has a galloping case of Dustbowl envy is not apparent.

But Dudley's compositions are a refreshing change from the usual bunch of mewling pro-war hayseed pap currently on the charts and, uncannily, have the immediate feel of a lived-in standard.

Besides, I tip my hat to anyone who can sing of a convoy of trucker angels and insists it's a true story.

If Dudley's ditties of hard luck and sweet inspiration occasionally flirt with over-earnestness, the crack team of musicians she has assembled on fiddle, mouth harp, dobro, and upright bass gallantly rescue her from bathos.

www.lisadudley.com.
- Jay Blotcher
- the Chronogram

Dudley offers sentimental, spiritual message in new albums


Artist: Lisa Dudley
Albums: “Angel On My Shoulder” (DoRight Records)
and “I Believe in America” (DoRight Records)


Hailing from nearby Tivoli, Lisa Dudley is fast getting a national reputation with her latest CDs – and for good reason.

The daughter of two veterans who served during the Korean War, she seemed destined to write patriotic songs. Exhibit A is the three-song EP “I Believe in America.” Remarkably, for an independent release, “Bring ‘Em Home, Lord” has been getting mad airplay and chart success all over the land for obvious reasons. It has a gorgeous bluegrass chunk to it, with Dudley’s powerful, pure pipes carrying a message so many of us believe in.

The chorus says it all, “Bring ‘em home Lord, keep ‘em strong, bring ‘em home Lord, let us all get along, bring ‘em home Lord to solid ground, bring home – safe and sound.”

The unabashedly patriot “I Believe in America” and “Twenty-One Guns” round out the EP. The latter was produced locally at the Clubhouse in Rhinebeck with regional musicians John Platania (guitar), Gary Burke (drums), Daniel Goodwin (bass) and “Professor” Louie Hurwitz on the ever-popular accordion.

“Angel On My Shoulder” is more of the same, in a full-length context. Recorded in Ozark, MO., with Dudley’s pure, soothing voice leading the way, the gorgeous production by Jonathan David Brown is stocked with rich, lush acoustic instrument tones that allow her to soar above. From the peaceful “Angel On My Shoulder” the clever “Body By God” and the cute “Yesterday Again” (about running into an old friend at Wal-Mart), it is a simpler world she lives in, perhaps a better one.

When all is said and done Dudley’s two CDs are sentimental, spiritual, but most of all grateful journeys that are a joy to join her on.

Visit www.lisadudley.com.


David Malachowski
Daily Freeman, Preview
Kingston, New York
Friday, June 8, 2007
- Daily Freeman, Kingston, NY

How do you like your country music? Churned out by a honky-tonk devil or touched by an angel? Fundamentalists believe music was created solely to praise The Lord (and to beat up heathens), but Lisa Dudley offers a new genre: New Age Country.

On this self-produced CD, recorded at Ozark, Missouri, the Woodstock-based singer/songwriter croons in a supple, weather-beaten voice about healing light, guardian angels perched on various body parts and the love of a far more nurturing and forgiving Jesus.

The only lineage that Dudley reveals is that her great-grandmother hailed from Oklahoma. Whether she was born and raised there and channels family history or simply has a galloping case of Dustbowl envy is not apparent.

But Dudley's compositions are a refreshing change from the usual bunch of mewling pro-war hayseed pap currently on the charts and, uncannily, have the immediate feel of a lived-in standard.

Besides, I tip my hat to anyone who can sing of a convoy of trucker angels and insists it's a true story.

If Dudley's ditties of hard luck and sweet inspiration occasionally flirt with over-earnestness, the crack team of musicians she has assembled on fiddle, mouth harp, dobro, and upright bass gallantly rescue her from bathos.

www.lisadudley.com.
- Jay Blotcher
- the Chronogram

Lisa is a country and bluegrass singer who hails from Tennessee and now lives in upstate New York. She’s got a great voice, as you can hear for yourself if you visit her site. Check out the tunes “Harley Girl” and “Angel on My Shoulder.”

She’s playing soon at Taste Budds in Red Hook, where Big Joe and I will also be playing.

Shouting Thomas
February 22, 2009

- Harleys, Cars, Girls, & Guitars

When one prays for peace, it by no means belittles the high price paid for our safety. It honors the sacrifice, but it mourns the sacrifice, too.

At a recent peace rally, one song became a chorus by the crowd. It was a musical prayer by folk artist, Lisa Dudley, called "Bring 'Em Home, Lord".

There were many songs sung at this rally, but only this one became a group sing by the choir of peaceful protesters.

Lisa Dudley was so touched by the story of the crowd singing her prayer of peace, she has made it available for free download from her MySpace page, www.myspace.com/lisadudley .

It is her hope by making this song available and encouraging the free sharing of it, that it will circle the globe through email chains and blogs creating a prayer of peace in the universe.

- PRWeb

Lisa is a country and bluegrass singer who hails from Tennessee and now lives in upstate New York. She’s got a great voice, as you can hear for yourself if you visit her site. Check out the tunes “Harley Girl” and “Angel on My Shoulder.”

She’s playing soon at Taste Budds in Red Hook, where Big Joe and I will also be playing.

Shouting Thomas
February 22, 2009

- Harleys, Cars, Girls, & Guitars

Reviewed by Carson James

Lisa Dudley/I Believe in America (EP)

To say that Lisa Dudley’s music sounds as if it was released decades ago is an understatement.

One track in particular, “Bring ‘Em Home, Lord,” captures the mournful twang of vintage country so well that it gives me flashbacks to an era I never lived through.

In other words, like those classic black-and-white films they air on cable TV, “Bring ‘Em Home, Lord” has a haunting time-machine pull.

Dudley’s rhythm guitar, Bo Brown’s mandolin and dobro, and Jonathan David Brown’s bass sound as if they’ve just returned from a Patsy Cline recording session.

Then there is Dudley’s voice - fragile, sobbing, and filled with Gospel yearning. The shocker is that the performance, the lyrics, and the music are all new.

Take it into the context of the Iraq War, and “Bring ‘Em Home, Lord” suddenly hits the world of today.

While the other two cuts on this emotionally stirring EP, the title track and “Twenty-One Guns,” don’t have the retro rush of “Bring ‘Em Home, Lord,” there’s no denying Dudley’s country-gold singing style.

Free from the bogus pop seasonings of many of today’s country artists, Dudley returns the genre to its roots with her singing alone.

The patriotic bent of this CD might be too sweet and sentimental to youthful cynics, but it is heartwarming and always a joy to listen to.

http://www.lisadudley.com

- Twang Town

Reviewed by Alison Murphy

Lisa Dudley/I Believe in America (EP)

Lisa Dudley’s love for her country - and empathy for the soldiers who fight for its freedom - is at the heart of this moving three-cut EP. Country music has gotten a bad reputation for songs about cheating and drinking, but the genre, going back to its earliest days, has always been rooted in conservatism.

Unfortunately, any sort of national pride is labeled a conservative move these days as it is not considered hip or progressive to salute the flag that represents the fulfillment of our dreams.

Yes, you can interpret the America’s war against Iraq in any of these tunes, but Dudley isn’t taking political sides; Republican or Democrat, you should be able to relate to the songs here as an American.

“Bring ‘Em Home, Lord” is bluegrass with spiritual depth, as you can probably take from its title. However, God isn’t just present in the words, but in Dudley’s vocal delivery.

She isn’t singing to President Bush or the U.S. congress; she is praying to the Lord that the soldiers return alive, to be with their loved ones again. There is sadness behind her voice, but the song proceeds at a quick pace, generating enough noise to be heard beyond the gates of Heaven. “Twenty-One Guns” is a beautiful tribute to a fallen veteran.

http://www.lisadudley.com

March 9, 2008

- WordPress.com

Reviewed by Carson James

Lisa Dudley/I Believe in America (EP)

To say that Lisa Dudley’s music sounds as if it was released decades ago is an understatement.

One track in particular, “Bring ‘Em Home, Lord,” captures the mournful twang of vintage country so well that it gives me flashbacks to an era I never lived through.

In other words, like those classic black-and-white films they air on cable TV, “Bring ‘Em Home, Lord” has a haunting time-machine pull.

Dudley’s rhythm guitar, Bo Brown’s mandolin and dobro, and Jonathan David Brown’s bass sound as if they’ve just returned from a Patsy Cline recording session.

Then there is Dudley’s voice - fragile, sobbing, and filled with Gospel yearning. The shocker is that the performance, the lyrics, and the music are all new.

Take it into the context of the Iraq War, and “Bring ‘Em Home, Lord” suddenly hits the world of today.

While the other two cuts on this emotionally stirring EP, the title track and “Twenty-One Guns,” don’t have the retro rush of “Bring ‘Em Home, Lord,” there’s no denying Dudley’s country-gold singing style.

Free from the bogus pop seasonings of many of today’s country artists, Dudley returns the genre to its roots with her singing alone.

The patriotic bent of this CD might be too sweet and sentimental to youthful cynics, but it is heartwarming and always a joy to listen to.

http://www.lisadudley.com

- Twang Town

Hauntingly beautiful, incredible voice, country/folk sound. Can hit and hold notes that make your toes vibrate. Makes you cry in a good way.

- GreatIndie.com

Reviewed by Kit Burns

"Dudley’s hauntingly angelic voice sounds like a phantom from ’40s country radio; you can almost imagine the crackling of vinyl and the static of the AM dial. "
- Overground Underground

Hauntingly beautiful, incredible voice, country/folk sound. Can hit and hold notes that make your toes vibrate. Makes you cry in a good way.

- GreatIndie.com

Lisa Dudley honed her musical gifts believing that music really can change the world one heart at a time. Believing that people who listen always take something with them when they go, she has never taken that responsibility lightly as a song-crafter or artist. Angels, hope, and acceptance are recurring themes within her breakout CD, "Angel on My Shoulder" on DoRight Records.

This soft, at times sparse production leaves room for the angels to answer in refrains bringing a calm, peaceful comfort as one listens. Perhaps it's the familiarity of vocal delivery Lisa Dudley uses that sends the listener dreaming of a time long gone. A remembrance of the burgeoning love fest of the sixties, heartfelt protest, and poetry of soul beliefs weave in and out of Dudley's musical presentation.

The truth and authenticity of "Angel On My Shoulder" is born from the actual living of the songs before they were written. Leaving the Louise Hay conference in Las Vegas, Lisa Dudley almost channeled the entire song, "City Of Light" after a personal conversation with Louise. The same is true of "Body By God", written with Louise Hay's book open on her lap. The CD opens with these two songs, which sets a tone of healing from the get-go.

Her co-writer of many years, the late Harry Moore (to whom the CD is dedicated) shared the memory of his wife, Frannie who lost a battle with illness. "Angel on My Shoulder", the title cut of the CD was written for Frannie, and all the guardian angels on our shoulders as we march on through life.

"Angel On My Shoulder" is full of songs from daughters to mothers, songs to truck driving highway angels, and songs to nourish our souls. Lisa Dudley tours the old fashioned way, as a folk balladeer at festivals, coffee-houses, churches, women's music gatherings, and healing groups nationwide. One of the most interesting 'gigs' of late, was when Lisa Dudley was called upon to serenade a dying eagle at the Raptor Rescue program in upstate New York.

"To some, this might be considered an unusual performance, singing alone as this lone eagle began her passage to the Great Spirit. But for me, it was such an honor to be asked. I am Native American, Cherokee and Blackfoot tribes. "Trail of Tears" was written for my mother's great-great grandmother. I will share that my family clan is bear, but I reserve my personal totems in my heart. My mother and her group of close friends were having prayerful ceremonies for this dying eagle. This particular eagle was a metaphor for our country in our hearts. In the sweat lodge, the eagle is represented in the fourth round. In this round we pray for the eagle. We pray for our leaders…all leaders, of all faiths. We as Americans, pray for the eagle as a prayer for our own country. The unusual thing about this particular eagle was that she was from Alaska. We still have no idea how she made her way to New York state, but here she was. Perhaps she was lost. Perhaps she sought me out to sing her home. I have sung both people and animals home, by request, many times. Singing souls home is part of my gift, one I take very seriously. I am honored to share my songs and my voice for this purpose.

The eagle soared into heaven where she had heretofore only been allowed to fly near with her earthly body. For the Native American, the eagle is sacred. Only card carrying full-bloods can own an eagle feather, representative of the strength in the heart of an eagle. The eagle symbolizes the Great Spirit, a connection to the divine. I was there, as this eagle flew back to the arms of Creator. Did it matter that I was there? To me, it certainly did."

Lisa Dudley can be found at her website, www.LisaDudley.com , on myspace.com at www.myspace.com/lisadudley , and on her new tribute to Trucker Angels, www.MyTruckerAngel.com .

Devon O'Day
Feb 1, 2007 - HCT Media

Excerpt of interview with Lisa Dudley
by Carson James

James: How long have you been writing lyrics? Do all of your songs reflect real-life experiences or about people that you know? Is it easier to write that way?

Dudley: I started seriously writing lyrics after a bad car accident with a double head injury. Believe it or not, angels came to me and started speaking to me, and I was told to purchase an old autoharp and to write songs.

Yes, all my songs are true stories. I wouldn’t know what to write about otherwise.

For example, I am working on a demo of a new song called “Buford’s Heart.” It’s basically a true story in that my uncle stayed alive long enough to get to the hospital and have his parts harvested for transplant.

We got a letter thanking us and telling us 16 people had benefitted - two retinas, two corneas, two lungs, two kidneys, his heart… but not his liver!

So the new song is about Buford, a man who parties hearty and then dies in a car crash. His heart is transplanted to a librarian-type who starts dancing on tables.

It’s going to make a great video. In the song, she sends “Buford’s babies” a letter “thanking them for…Buford’s heart!”

www.lisadudley.com

- Twang Town Reviews

Lisa Dudley honed her musical gifts believing that music really can change the world one heart at a time. Believing that people who listen always take something with them when they go, she has never taken that responsibility lightly as a song-crafter or artist. Angels, hope, and acceptance are recurring themes within her breakout CD, "Angel on My Shoulder" on DoRight Records.

This soft, at times sparse production leaves room for the angels to answer in refrains bringing a calm, peaceful comfort as one listens. Perhaps it's the familiarity of vocal delivery Lisa Dudley uses that sends the listener dreaming of a time long gone. A remembrance of the burgeoning love fest of the sixties, heartfelt protest, and poetry of soul beliefs weave in and out of Dudley's musical presentation.

The truth and authenticity of "Angel On My Shoulder" is born from the actual living of the songs before they were written. Leaving the Louise Hay conference in Las Vegas, Lisa Dudley almost channeled the entire song, "City Of Light" after a personal conversation with Louise. The same is true of "Body By God", written with Louise Hay's book open on her lap. The CD opens with these two songs, which sets a tone of healing from the get-go.

Her co-writer of many years, the late Harry Moore (to whom the CD is dedicated) shared the memory of his wife, Frannie who lost a battle with illness. "Angel on My Shoulder", the title cut of the CD was written for Frannie, and all the guardian angels on our shoulders as we march on through life.

"Angel On My Shoulder" is full of songs from daughters to mothers, songs to truck driving highway angels, and songs to nourish our souls. Lisa Dudley tours the old fashioned way, as a folk balladeer at festivals, coffee-houses, churches, women's music gatherings, and healing groups nationwide. One of the most interesting 'gigs' of late, was when Lisa Dudley was called upon to serenade a dying eagle at the Raptor Rescue program in upstate New York.

"To some, this might be considered an unusual performance, singing alone as this lone eagle began her passage to the Great Spirit. But for me, it was such an honor to be asked. I am Native American, Cherokee and Blackfoot tribes. "Trail of Tears" was written for my mother's great-great grandmother. I will share that my family clan is bear, but I reserve my personal totems in my heart. My mother and her group of close friends were having prayerful ceremonies for this dying eagle. This particular eagle was a metaphor for our country in our hearts. In the sweat lodge, the eagle is represented in the fourth round. In this round we pray for the eagle. We pray for our leaders…all leaders, of all faiths. We as Americans, pray for the eagle as a prayer for our own country. The unusual thing about this particular eagle was that she was from Alaska. We still have no idea how she made her way to New York state, but here she was. Perhaps she was lost. Perhaps she sought me out to sing her home. I have sung both people and animals home, by request, many times. Singing souls home is part of my gift, one I take very seriously. I am honored to share my songs and my voice for this purpose.

The eagle soared into heaven where she had heretofore only been allowed to fly near with her earthly body. For the Native American, the eagle is sacred. Only card carrying full-bloods can own an eagle feather, representative of the strength in the heart of an eagle. The eagle symbolizes the Great Spirit, a connection to the divine. I was there, as this eagle flew back to the arms of Creator. Did it matter that I was there? To me, it certainly did."

Lisa Dudley can be found at her website, www.LisaDudley.com , on myspace.com at www.myspace.com/lisadudley , and on her new tribute to Trucker Angels, www.MyTruckerAngel.com .

Devon O'Day
Feb 1, 2007 - HCT Media