Music Review: Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams sing about the power of love on 'All This Time'
Drawing from personal experience, husband and wife duo Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams sing about first-rate romance on their latest collaborative album, “All This Time.”
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Drawing from personal experience, husband-and-wife duo Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams sing about first-rate romance on their latest collaborative album, "All This Time.”
Their marriage of 35 years — he from New York City and she from Peckerwood Point, Tennessee — had a partnership that was “love at first note,’’ as Williams describes it, and has blossomed musically with the release of four duet albums. “All This Time” is the best yet, a rousing and romantic testament to the power of love both forever and fleeting.
Campbell wrote seven of the 10 songs and produced the set, which will be released Friday. It’s rooted in his relationship with Williams and also the traditions of classic country, honored lustily on a cover of George Jones ’ “That’s All It Took.”
Nostalgia and sentimentality are leavened with humor, swagger, keening harmonies and Campbell’s guitar. An understated elegance distinguishes his playing even when he makes like Eric Clapton or serves up Southern rock riffs, and the mood is such that laughter accompanies his solo on the funky “The Way You Make Me Feel.”
The backing band includes Little Feat pianist Bill Payne and Levon Helm, who recorded the drum part for “That’s All It Took” shortly before he died in 2012. Stately arrangements frame songs about flirting, fidelity and the fragile nature of it all.
Campbell’s life-threatening bout with COVID-19 in 2020 looms on the ballad “A Little Better,” an ode to simple joy. A stomping duet on the Julie Miller-penned “I Love You” serves as the emotional centerpiece, if only because of the title.
Other highlights include the inviting ballad “Ride with Me,” the New Orleans-style shuffle “I Think About You,” and the honky-tonkin’ working-class anthem “We Done Earned It,” which rhymes “steak supreme” with “château du vin.”
Campbell and Williams swap lead vocals and sound terrific singing together, which should be no surprise. After all, harmony is what a good marriage is about.
___
AP music reviews: https://apnews.com/hub/music-reviews