Condition: Brand New Ships from: Melbourne

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• Bobbie Gentry seized the opportunities afforded her by a smash debut single by designing her second album as a quasi-autobiographical portrait of the American South. Gentry nodded at her ambition by naming the LP The Delta Sweete, a title that suggests a set of interconnected songs, if not quite a concept album. The Delta Sweete doesn’t deliver a unified narrative, it’s a collection of short stories offering variations on a particular theme — namely, the peculiarities of the South.

  In a sense, The Delta Sweete functions as an explicit sequel to “Ode to Billie Joe,” trading upon keenly observed vignettes and languidly funky rhythms, elements that underpin the LP’s 12 songs, whether they’re written by Gentry or not. A quarter of the album is dedicated to covers, and they’re not left-field choices, either. “Big Boss Man” is a Jimmy Reed tune that had just been recorded by both Charlie Rich and Elvis Presley, the blues standard “Parchman Farm” became a ’60s standard after being adapted by Mose Allison, John D Loudermilk’s “Tobacco Road” was turned into a garage rock standard by the British group the Nashville Teens, and Doug Kershaw’s “Louisiana Man” was well on its way to becoming a country classic in 1968.

  Belonging neither to the mainstream nor the counterculture, The Delta Sweete is a beguiling oddity that’s simultaneously ornate and spooky. Over the years, it deservedly found its cult.

  – AllMusic.com

  Review

  AllMusic rating: AllMusic users: (113 votes) Read the AllMusic.com review

• Artist: Bobbie Gentry Label: Capitol Records, UMC Format: LP Units: 1 Country: Europe Genre: Pop & Rock Style: Country Rock, Folk Rock

• The Delta Sweete: Remixed
  A1 Okolona River Bottom Band
  A2 Big Boss Man
  A3 Reunion
  A4 Parchman Farm
  A5 Mornin’ Glory
  A6 Sermon
  B1 Tobacco Road
  B2 Penduli Pendulum
  B3 Jessye’ Lisabeth
  B4 Refractions
  B5 Louisiana Man
  B6 Courtyard
  The Delta Sweete: Bonus Tracks
  C1 Okolona River Bottom Band (Special Instrumental)
  C2 Mississippi Delta (Alternate Version)
  C3 Seventh Son (Band Version)
  C4 The Way I Do (Demo)
  C5 Feelin’ Good (Demo)
  D1 Mornin’ Glory (Demo)
  D2 Sermon (Demo)
  D3 Jessye’ Lisabeth (Demo)
  D4 Refractions (Demo)
  D5 Louisiana Man (Demo)