Despite the undeniably high quality of his songs, which have been covered by the likes of Linda Ronstadt , Bonnie Raitt , Ian Matthews, and Waylon Jennings , Paul Siebel is far from being a household name. Within folk circles and among songwriters, however, his two albums, 1969's Woodsmoke and Oranges and 1971's Jack-Knife Gypsy are legendary.
Gathering a handful of fine musicians, including guitarist David Bromberg, violinist Richard Greene, and steel guitarist Weldon Myrick Elektra's Jac Holzman recorded ten Siebel originals quickly. Despite, or because of, the small budget and lack of time, Siebel and company crafted an incredible record that still sounds vibrant 30 years after the fact. Woodsmoke and Oranges begins with three gems, the up-tempo "She Made Me Lose My Blues," the jazzy "Miss Cherry Lane," and the road song "Nashville Again." Everything works in harmony here — Siebel's songs, the vocals, and the sparkling, multi-layered arrangements. Jack-Knife Gypsy is every bit as good. Now remastered and featuring new liner notes, rarely seen photos and contemporary ephemera.