PATTI WITTEN: Land of Souvenirs

Patti Witten

Land of Souvenirs

© 1999 Patti Witten (634479234422)

Poetic folk-pop in the tradition of Joni Mitchell. 10 songs from this CD won awards including grand prize in the Great American Song Contest.

tracks

1 Whispers
2 Land of Souvenirs
3 Winners And Losers
4 Blue Blanket
5 Walk A Mile
6 Change of Heart Church Choir
7 Ask Me About Your Dad
8 Is That True
9 Last Looks
10 Second Longest Day of the Year
11 Touch and Go
12 Opening Day

notes

THIS CD IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT,
AVAILABLE ONLY IN DIGITAL here on CD Baby, also iTunes, Rhapsody, eMuisc, and many others.

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Patti Witten's powerful and emotional folk-rock debut Land Of Souvenirs made an impact with its vivid stories of love, loss and redemption.

Ten tracks from this CD earned honors in international and regional contests including grand prize in the Great American Song Contest ("Change of Heart Church Choir"), and awards from Billboard Song Contest, Mid-Atlantic Song Contest and Just Plain Folks Music Awards.

"In a voice that brings to mind Joni Mitchell, Witten inflects her tunes with a disarming mixture of soft-spoken fragility and raw, throaty seductiveness . . . Witten has a poet's ability to clearly and beautifully articulate her particular view of the world." (Rambles)

Patti also fronts Prairie Doll, a 4-piece roots-rock band. Their 6-song mini CD is here on CD Baby, as well ass Patti's other CDs, Sycamore Tryst and Tell The Wind.

LAND OF SOUVENIRS credits:
Produced by Rich DePaolo
Patti Witten (vocal, acoustic guitar)
Rich DePaolo (bass, electric and acoustic guitars, tiple, harmonium and alto mandolin)
Bill King (drums)
Jennie Stearns and The Burns Sisters (vocal harmony)

reviews

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  • A stand-out in the world of smart folk-pop
    author: Tom Sieling

    I've always been a sucker for the old Joni Mitchell school of acute observation, unflinching honesty, and careful writing in songs, and Patti Witten, in Land of Souvenirs, has put out an album full, beginning-to-end, of all three. Her singing is nicely understated and unaffected, her guitar work nothing short of masterful, and her melodies are unfailingly memorable, interesting, and catchy, even when they're gracing a less-than-cheery lyric. She has an unmistakable musical sensibility that takes pleasing roads less travelled enough to make her a stand-out in the world of smart folk-pop. All this, and she can rock, too! Producer and multi stringed-instrumentalist Rich DePaulo's contribution is in the "it just doesn't come any better" class, and a nice collection of other fine Ithaca-area musicians rounds out the effort to make it one of the best from Upstate New York in recent memory.

  • The title track is folk-rock at its best.
    author: Rambles.net

    Patti Witten's CD Land of Souvenirs opens with the unexpected -- a whispered poem -- and continues to offer poetic musings that carry the same power throughout the entire recording. In a voice that brings to mind Joni Mitchell, Witten inflects her tunes with a disarming mixture of soft-spoken fragility and raw, throaty seductiveness. (by Audrey M. Clark) Read the rest at the weblink above

  • It was a pleasure to review this album because it's such a work of art.
    author: Liz Smith, Thenightguide.com

    Patti's songs are like vignettes of life in America; families, love, loss, lonliness and moving on. Patti's voice is soothing, feminine and crystal clear. Her melodies are are lovely and complex. The musicianship on the album is a perfect accompaniment to the songs. Patti plays acoustic guitar and Rich DePaulo plays bass, electric guitar, harmonica and mandolin on this recording. Percussion is handled expertly by Bill King. Back up vocals are sung by the Burns sisters and Jennie Stearns. Patti Witten is an artist to watch out for. Her style of music has recently made its way back on to the airwaves in recent years, so there is no reason why these gems won't be heard on the radio in the near future. One listen to this CD and you'll agree. Trust me.

  • Patti Witten, Grand Prize Winner, Great American Song Contest-
    author: Steve Cahill, Srn President

    Witten's highly original songs are spell-binding and her musical talent is nothing less than astonishing.

  • Just Plain Folks Music Awards
    author: Brian Austin Whitney

    [The title track], Land of Souvenirs is one of the coolest and most haunting songs I have heard since Gordon Lightfoot’s Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald ... I love songs that mesmerize and draw you in. Patti also achieves a bluesy coup with the song Blue Blanket. ... I think Patti is on to something, I know she got and held my attention.

  • author: Karen E. Reynolds, Wdvx-fm

    Patti Witten shoots from the hip—a softly sent bullet, but a bullet nonetheless. Strong, emotional lyrics disguised in a voice smooth and rich and accompanied by musical arrangements that constantly surprise you.

  • author: Freetime Magazine

    Land of Souvenirs [is] an excellent folk-rock endeavor… catchy melodies… an album worth finding.

  • author: Archanon Spaceboy

    Patti is just perfect all the way around Great voice and great music. This album reminded me strongly of Loreena Mckennit. Beautiful arrangements and beautiful lyrics.

  • author: Julia Altstatt

    I really like Patti's CD "Land of Souvenirs". Her voice sounds great, her ideas are hard-hitting and not to be trifled with or taken lightly. But I don't feel overwhelmed or depressed by her subjects, either. And the production is just great. I want Rick DePaolo to produce my stuff!

  • author: pattiw

    "Patti, thanks again for submitting "Land Of Souvenirs". It's incredible. I will be featuring it this Monday (august 16, '99). -Jeff Hepfer, Burn Yer Radio [This message has been edited by pattiw (edited August 25, 1999).]

  • author: Valerie DeLaCruz

    Patti Witten's witty CD, Land of Souvenirs, is a refreshing blend of pop-folk with jazz influences. Her intelligent lyrics and wry looks at some of life's ordinary experiences are laid so deceptively over beautiful melodies, that you are drifting along and then, ZAP, what was said hits you and strikes a chord. Speaking of chords, she uses some inventive progressions that make her music stand out from the sea of independent CDs currently flooding us. This one rises above, and with persistence and the right doors opening, we should be hearing Patti on more than college radio by this time next year. --Valerie DeLaCruz, Calling All Angels radio show, WRPI Troy 91.5fm

  • author: Patti Witten

    Quotes: "Someone Should Sign This Gal UP!!!" - Fred Jerdan, WICB-FM "The Roots Cellar" "Keep up the great work!" - Lew Hall, Song Contest Chairman, Woody Guthrie Song Contest Committee Member "Your songs immediately captivate me and transport me into your world and the worlds of your characters." - Kenn Marash, WVBR-FM "Nonesuch"

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