Jesse Winchester Learn To Love It – 1974 Folk, World (vinyl)

Jesse Winchester Learn To Love It – 1974 Folk, World (vinyl)

stock photo

Early life

Winchester was born atBarksdale Army Air Field, nearBossier City, Louisiana, and raised in northernMississippi. Winchester was one of three children born to James Ridout Winchester Sr. (1917-1962) and Frances Ellyn Manire Winchester (1920-2010). Through his father’s side, he is part of theLee familyof Virginia (Henry Lee IIandRichard Henry Leewere two of his 4th-great-grandfathers). In 1952, after a heart attack left his father unable to farm, his family moved toMemphis, Tennessee, where he graduated from Christian Brothers High School in 1962 as a merit finalist, a National Honor Society member and the salutatorian of his class. He graduated fromWilliams College, inWilliamstown, Massachusetts, in 1966. Upon receiving hisdraft noticethe following year, Winchester moved toMontreal, Quebec, Canada, to avoid military service.”I was so offended by someone’s coming up to me and presuming to tell me who I should kill and what my life was worth,” he told Rolling Stone magazine in 1977.

Winchester began playing guitar in bands while still in high school. He played in Germany during college study abroad and after graduation. Upon arriving in Quebec in 1967, he joined a local band, Les Astronautes. He also began writing songs, which he performed as a solo artist at the Montreal Folk Workshop and at coffeehouses throughout eastern Canada, adding impetus to a revival in folk music that was taking place across Canada. Under the auspices of theBand’sRobbie Robertson, another Canadian, Winchester began his recording career in 1970 with a self-titled album released on theAmpexlabel.

Career

Winchester released several albums during the 1970s. Because of his status as a draft resister, he was unable to tour in the United States, and he became recognized primarily as a songwriter. His best-known songs include “Yankee Lady”, “The Brand New Tennessee Waltz”, “Mississippi, You’re on My Mind”, “A Showman’s Life”, and “Biloxi”.These and others have been recorded by numerous artists.

Winchester at the 2011 Blue Highways festival in Utrecht, the Netherlands

In 1974, Winchester often performed at the Hotel Le Chatelet inMorin Heights, Quebec, run by several expatriate Tennesseans who had come to Canada in 1972. David “Butch” McDade and Jeff “Stick” Davis moved to Quebec to become part of Jesse Winchester and the Rhythm Aces. Winchester was the first to record the songs “Third Rate Romance” and “The End Is Not in Sight”, both written byRussell Smith. Smith traveled to Montreal to assist in the recording of the album Learn to Love It at Studio Six. Smith, Davis and McDade later were original members of theAmazing Rhythm Aces.

Upon his election in 1976, PresidentJimmy Carterdeclared he would grantamnestyto draft evaders, except those who had deserted or had become citizens of another country. Winchester had by then become a Canadian citizen, but Barry Bozeman, his manager at the time, convinced Carter on Winchester’s behalf to broaden the amnesty.

Winchester’s first appearance in the U.S. was a sold-out performance inBurlington, Vermont, on April 21, 1977.Rolling Stonecovered the event, describing Winchester as “the greatest voice of the decade”.

“I’m Gonna Miss You, Girl”, written by Winchester, was recorded by American country music artist Michael Martin Murphey and released in October 1987 as the lead single from the album River of Time. The song peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and at number 4 on the Canadian RPM Country Tracks chart. The version recorded by Murphy omits the somewhat sadder second part of the song. Winchester’s version is on his album Love Filling Station.

Later career

Winchester was nominated for theBest Country Male Vocalistaward at theJuno Awardsof 1990. In 2002, he moved back to the United States, settling inVirginia. That year, his song “Step by Step”, from the album Let the Rough Side Drag, was used as background music for the montage that ended the first season of the television programThe Wire.[9]He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from theAmerican Society of Composers, Authors and Publishersin 2007.Winchester continued to record and perform throughout the United States and Canada, releasing his tenth studio album, Love Filling Station, in 2009.

In 2011, Winchester was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus and underwent treatment for the next couple of months. He was later given a clean bill of health from his doctor and resumed touring.Quiet About It, a tribute record to Winchester, was released in 2012, featuringJames Taylor,Lyle Lovett,Lucinda Williams,Rosanne CashandJimmy Buffett, who spearheaded the project, among others

In April 2014, it was revealed that Winchester was “gravely ill” and receiving hospice care at his home, inCharlottesville, Virginia.He died there on the morning of April 11, 2014, aged 69, frombladder cancer.

Winchesters final CD, A Reasonable Amount of Trouble, was released in September 2014, with liner notes by his friendJimmy Buffett. Rolling Stone called it “a gentle collection of playful songs about love, memory and gratitude that amounts to one of the most moving, triumphant albums of Winchester’s 45 year career.”

Label:Bearsville BR 6953Format:Vinyl, LPCountry:CanadaReleased:1974Genre:Folk, World, & Country
Sleeve Condition (Out of 10) ~ 8 very light wear
Label Condition (Out of 10) ~ 10
Vinyl Condition ~ (Out of 10)
Side 1 -10
side 2 – 10
BIN *R7

Tracklist