Select delivery location
See All Buying Options

Introducing Karl Blau

Karl Blau Format: Audio CD
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 33 ratings
See all 2 formats and editions Hide other formats and editions
Listen Now with Amazon Music
Introducing Karl Blau Amazon Music Unlimited
Price
New from Used from
MP3 Music, May 13, 2016
$9.49
$9.49 —
Audio CD, May 13, 2016
—
— $12.59

From the brand

Previous page
  2. Wall of Eyes
    Kid A
    The Collective
    In Rainbows

    Best Sellers

  3. I Am (MARBLE BLACK & WHITE VINYL)
    Bad Bad Hats (PINK VINYL)
    Forgiveness Is Yours
    Closer

    New Releases

Next page

Track Listings

1 That's How I Got to Memphis
2 Six White Horses
3 Fallin Rain
4 Let the World Go By
5 If I Needed You
6 Woman
7 Dreaming My Dreams
8 To Love Somebody
9 Homecoming
10 No Regrets

Editorial Reviews

Blau is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and DIY icon who helped turn his hometown of Anacortes, Washington, into an indie-music mecca. He has released more than 40 records in 20-odd years, many self-released in handmade packaging and mailed to subscribers, and others on iconic indie Northwest labels K and knw-yr-own. Blau has also toured and recorded for years with Laura Veirs, The Microphones, Little Wings, D+, and Earth. Martine, known for his distinctive production work on music by My Morning Jacket, The Decemberists, and Laura Veirs, recalled first being introduced by Veirs to Blau's early music. "I was transfixed by Karl's voice and completely absorbed by the world of sound he had created. I felt like I had been shown one of the great hidden treasures of music." A few years later, Martine recorded an instrumental version of "That's How I Got to Memphis," the 1969 Tom T. Hall hit. Blau, whom Tucker had come to know in sessions with Laura Veirs among others, asked if he could try singing it. The collaboration, pairing Karl's deeply sonorous voice with Martine's warm, modern arrangements, recast the Nashville hit in a new light. The result was the single and, now, Introducing Karl Blau. The record, all covers, is a crate-digger's feast of forgotten hits and deeper cuts, most of them from the Nashville country-soul renaissance in the late 1960s and early 70s — Tom T. Hall, Bobby Bond, Allen Reynolds. Other songs are from the Bee Gees (To Love Somebody), Link Wray (Fallin' Rain), or Townes Van Zandt (If I Needed You).

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.88 x 5.59 x 0.2 inches; 1.13 ounces
  • Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Raven Marching Band
  • Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 2016
  • Date First Available ‏ : ‎ March 10, 2016
  • Label ‏ : ‎ Raven Marching Band
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01CTFZJJU
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 33 ratings

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
33 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Donald E. Gilliland
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Album of Country Covers
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2017
Verified Purchase
This album is one of my favorite recent discoveries. I never heard Karl Blau before, but then I started reading about him and this album in various magazines and online, and then heard his version of Tom T. Hall's "That's How I Got To Memphis" and was instantly smitten by his warm, melodic voice. One of those voices that commands your immediate attention. I promptly ordered this album from Amazon and am now even more enamored. This is fabulous music!

First thing to know; there is no original material on this album. It's comprised entirely of cover versions, most of them classic country or folk tunes like "That's How I Got to Memphis", "Homecoming" (another fine Tom T. Hall song), Townes Van Zandt's "If I Needed You", Tom Rush's "No Regrets", and two songs that Waylon Jenniings will know and love, "Six White Horses" and "Dreaming My Dreams." Throw in a cover of the Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody", Gary Paxton's "Woman (Sensuous Woman)", and a few more tunes and you a nearly perfect album.

Song after song, I keep thinking; this is wonderful! It's a seamless blend of truly timeless songs, all of them punctuated by Blau's emotionally powerful voice. The liner notes by Tucker Martine call Blau a "powerful interpreter of songs" and that's an understatement. Blau obviously took great care in picking just the right songs to cover, but it's also fair to say this his versions of some, if not most, of these song are the best ones ever recorded. Really, this guy is that good! Even if you are hesitant to buy something categorized as "country" give this album a chance. Simply one of the best albums I've heard in the past year.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Rebel Flower Girl
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome music!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2022
Verified Purchase
My son turned me on to Karl Blau, a local musician & I absolutely love this album. I play it in my car all the time. I love every song on it!! Great song choices and Karl has the best most soothing voice!
Helpful
 Report
william willis
5.0 out of 5 stars Great cover of some classics
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2017
Verified Purchase
Great cover of some classics. This guy has a great voice and more albums of country/Americana like this I would get. His covers of Tom T. Hall is well absolutely fantastic as well as Link Wray's Fallin' Rain. All in all this is one of my favorite albums and I listen to it often.
Helpful
 Report
TomTommyC
4.0 out of 5 stars Buy this one if you like "real" country music
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2016
Verified Purchase
Nice neo-country music. Like I mean, real county. I wanna say George Jones or Merle Haggard, but that would be an overstatement. But definitely more in that direction than the pop anthem drivel that gets passed off for country far too often.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Dr. Robert Carl author of Pebbles of the Holy Stream and The Anamnesis Affect
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing voice
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2019
Verified Purchase
I am surprised this guy has not found his place at the top of the charts. Very smooth, deep rich I could never tire listening to this album.
Helpful
 Report
kj
3.0 out of 5 stars Two very different sides if it were an album instead of a CD
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2016
Verified Purchase
This is like an old album with 2 sides to listen to.

The first side is wonderful all 4 songs are beautiful and fantastic. That's How I Got T Memphis, Six White Horses and the master work of of the entire cd an over 10 minute song called Falling Rain that made me want to listen to it over and over again. Let the World Go Back wraps up the good side.

The second side with 6 songs is virtually unlistenable - unless you really like country music (sorry folks - I know some of you will like it).

This would have been a 5 star review if all the songs had been the quality of the first 4.
Helpful
 Report
pepita
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing album, this dude is genius
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2017
Verified Purchase
Amazing album, this dude is genius! Can listen to it multiple times and never get tired of this album. Recommend getting the vinyl, because well, you know. 5 stars.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
aaron hodgman
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2017
Verified Purchase
Love this album. Karl's a local musician and I'm happy to be able to buy this on vinyl.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Claude E. Robitaille
5.0 out of 5 stars Great vocals & songs. Superbly mastered CD.
Reviewed in Canada on July 1, 2016
Verified Purchase
Introducing Karl Blau

This artist has a cool voice. Great musical arrangements. The audio mastering of this CD is exceptional... an audiophile's delight!
Beautiful vocals. Fantastic easy listening album. This release will finally put this veteran vocalist in the spotlight. Highly recommended.
Report
Gaetan Ayotte
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on July 18, 2016
Verified Purchase
très satisfait, comme neuf, expédition très rapide
Report