Lucinda Williams – Stories From A Rock N Roll Heart

I am a long-time fan of Lucinda Williams. My first taste was her 1988 album on Rough Trade – the self-titled Lucinda Williams. I saw her at 7th Street Entry (Minneapolis) on the tour in support of that album. I have kept up with her recordings over the years and have seen her live several times.

This is Lucinda’s first album since her stroke in 2020. Although the stroke affected her guitar playing, her voice is as strong as ever. She wanted to make a rock & roll album. Lucinda told Rolling Stone magazine:

“I wanted to write more rock & roll songs, à la Tom Petty,” says Williams, who opened for Petty at his final show before his death in 2017. “That’s been a desire of mine, but they’re harder to write. When I sit down with my guitar, I go into ballad mode. That’s from my folk days, I guess.”

Sometimes, as Williams herself says, you just need to rock: “We got through the pandemic. Let’s get back together, have some drinks and stay up all night.”

Rolling Stone

It definitely has a rock & roll vibe, but it still maintains Lucinda’s folk rock/Americana roots.

“Let’s Get The Band Back Together” has a nice loose bar band vibe. Sloppy like the Stones, that is, sloppy in a good way (this sets the tone for the whole album). The guitars and the B3 are so tasty. And my gal Margo Price is on background vocals and tambourine!

On “New York Comeback” in addition to Lucinda’s drawl, you get tight harmonies and call and response from Bruce Springsteen. I love mic drop rhythms like this:

“Before they cut the house lights
Before you walk into the night
Before you head out to last call 
For that last stiff highball”

“Last Call For Truth” takes a drinking song and makes it poetic:

“GIVE ME ONE MORE SONG TO SING ALONG TO
GIVE ME ONE MORE DANCE TO HOLD YOU THROUGH 
GIVE ME ONE MORE TASTE OF MY LOST YOUTH
AND IT'S LAST CALL FOR THE TRUTH 
IT'S LAST CALL FOR THE TRUTH”

“Jukebox” is a tribute to the original streaming device. There used to be really cool curated jukeboxes – they could define an establishment.

“Stolen Moments” is a nice song about a lost lover remembered in those rare quiet moments in a busy life.

Side two opens with “Rock N Roll Heart” with Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa on backup vocals. The song is a tribute to the simple fact that rock n roll can be spiritual and aid in survival. Lucinda sings: “As long as you’ve got a rock n roll heart / It can’t be broken or torn apart.”

On “This Is Not My Town” Lucinda is channeling Patti Smith channeling The Doors. Another great Margo Price background vocal here.

“Hum’s Liquor” is about The Replacements’ Bob Stinson. Stinson is a tragic figure in rock n roll. Hum’s is a liquor store I grew up near in Minneapolis and has its own tragic history. Bob’s little brother and fellow Replacement Tommy sings background.

“Where The Song Will Find Me” is a gorgeous ballad that suggests songs find you vs. you finding the songs. I believe this.

Closing an album is an art form. “Never Gonna Fade Away” is a great way to end an album. It is a triumphant and defiant proclamation, that despite life’s difficulties, the song’s protagonist will survive.

In Stories From A Rock N Roll Heart Lucinda’s lyrics are simple and the music is only rock n roll (but I like it). This might be the strongest vocal performance of her career – she is not fading away.

The album is currently not available on streaming services (however four singles are on streaming services). Unclear what her strategy is with this approach when most fans listen via streaming.