It's laudable that Caryl Mack Parker chose to sign a deal in 1996 with Magnatone Records based, in part, on the amount of artistic freedom given the artists. How unfortunate that such vision and idealism went unrewarded. Magnatone Records closed its doors within nine months of the release of Parker's album. Fortunately for all of us, her self-titled CD is again available, newly released on J Factor Records.

Parker is a singer-songwriter from Abilene, Tex. who played the clubs while pursuing an education degree at Abilene Christian University. It was at the university that she met future husband and co-writer, Scott Parker. After graduation the couple remained in Abilene for awhile, but soon hit the road, eventually landing in Portland, Ore. After numerous visits to Nashville the couple decided to move there in 1994.

Caryl Mack Parker's CD is striking for several reasons. The quality is impressive. Vocals, instrumentation, production, design and packaging are all top-notch, which begs the question, why haven't we heard more from this talented singer? The first cut on the CD is immediately affecting. One knows that the singer had to have had a hand in writing it. Such is the case. In fact, Parker, and husband Scott, wrote or co-wrote all the album cuts. The opening song, "Better Love Next Time," is an instantly likeable number about a woman who swears she's learning as she goes and won't make the same mistake twice. It's fast-paced and well-suited to current country radio. The second cut is even better. The mid-tempo, "Bourbon Confession," is a wonderful song in which traditional country themes of drinking, cheating, regret and forgiveness soulfully play out.

While the third cut, "When I Come to My Senses," is a playful, fast-paced song about getting blind-sided by love, the follow-up, "Sunset in Abilene" evokes quite a different picture. This waltz number is a story of love that has passed that initial head-spinning phase and matured and deepened into a long-lasting commitment. Swinging back to a breezy, light-hearted uptempo style,"What's One More Day?" talks about the search for a love not yet found.

The strength of "Shoes Beside My Shoes" lies in the use of common, everyday imagery to present the comfort of a long-lasting relationship as well as the passing of time."One Night Stand" as in the preceding number, employs the imagery of common everyday possessions but contrasts their "ordinariness" with the extraordinariness of finding out that the one you love has betrayed you. "In the Place of Love" acknowledges the serenity, joy and comfort of everyday love, while "It's Good to Be Me" is a wildly exultant lucky-in-love number.

The CD closes with two slower-paced numbers with contrasting themes."Deeper Than That," not surprisingly, speaks of the strength and depth of undying love. "In the Same Breath" speaks to the agony of love lost.

Caryl Mack Parker is a wonderful singer. Her vocals are clear and strong, sometimes reminiscent of Patty Loveless, often eerily similar to Shelly West, another artist who never got her due. Best of all, Parker has that natural "catch" or "break" in her voice. It's something that can't be "learned" and it evinces a true passion for, and belief in, the music. Besides her vocal talents, Parker is an accomplished pianist, guitarist and mandolin player. Additionally, her songwriting is precise and evocative, full of metaphors and well-placed analogies, and always intriguing.

There are many Nashville songwriters who turn to singing and performing out of the misguided notion that they sing their songs better than anyone else. Caryl Mack Parker does NOT fall into this category. She positively shines in both areas and deserves success as a singer as well as a songwriter. This re-release of her CD will, hopefully, provide her the chance to present her music to a much larger segment of the country music audience.

Mountain West Music 2002