Success in the music business can be a gamble despite a songwriter’s talent and perseverance. Some musicians seemingly catch on instantly, while others, like Bill Fay, labor for exposure, only to gain a following much later in life. Bill Fay made two ambitious and vastly underappreciated albums in the late Sixties/early Seventies and then just faded into obscurity with only a small cult following of music enthusiasts. Fast forward 40+ years: Fay resurfaces with the masterpiece Life Is People – an album of a dozen gorgeous, melancholy songs that capture the songwriter’s emotionally wrought and hushed contemplations on life. From the captivating opener “There Is a Valley” to the hushed gospel highlight “Be at Peace with Yourself” which is a simple yet beautiful prayer for self-acceptance, Fay eloquently expresses in vocals, organ and piano that life, in all is difficulty, vulnerability, despair and splendor, is a gift. Other standouts include “Big Painter”, “Jesus, Etc.” (written by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy), “Thank You Lord”, and “Cosmic Concerto (Life Is People).” Life is People shows great heart, from the reverence and emotion with which Fay sings to the personal generosity in donating the record’s proceeds to Doctors Without Borders; it is a great work of art and truly the album of a lifetime. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Bill Fay Group, Leonard Cohen, Donovan, Nick Drake, Lee Hazlewood, Wilco