What I Deserve had the great fortune of arriving simply as Americana was establishing itself as a marketable option to characterize Kelly Willis’ fourth album and its near-flawless fusion of nation, Texas twang, folks and pop. It additionally had the slight misfortune of being launched on Rykodisc—the primary indie label devoted solely to the CD format—in 1999. That very same 12 months, following a takeover by Island Data founder Mark Blackwell, Ryko’s Massachusetts workplace was shuttered and plenty of of its key gamers had been laid off. However that didn’t stop What I Deserve from changing into one of many label’s best-selling releases of 1999.
1 / 4 century later, Omnivore Recordings has reissued What I Deserve for the primary time on vinyl. The brand new model consists of 5 bonus tracks recorded reside on Mountain Stage in 1999, plus liner notes from No Despair’s Peter Blackstock. Except for a pair of Willis originals, the LP options three excellent co-writes with the Jayhawks’ Gary Louris and one other with Grammy-winning producer John Leventhal. There’s additionally a number of well-curated covers, together with two gems by Bruce Robison (Willis’ former husband and longtime musical collaborator) and a sadly stunning tackle Paul Westerberg’s “They’re Blind.”
Touching base from her residence in Austin, Willis took an sincere look again at her early years with MCA Data, mentioned the pivotal occasions that led to What I Deserve and defined her present standing as considered one of three Marvel Ladies Of Nation.
What I Deserve had a reasonably inauspicious starting. Inform us about that.
I began the document in San Francisco with a few producers (Norman Kerner and Daniel Presley) I didn’t know, and I used to be making an attempt to determine why I even went on the market. I’d simply began working with a brand new supervisor, and he had this connection to those guys, and he was making an attempt to get the ball rolling for me. After the primary few days, issues simply weren’t clicking. And I used to be like, “This is perhaps my final likelihood to make a document, and I’m making the document I wish to make.” So I simply determined to take my tapes and go residence.
What occurred while you bought again to Austin?
The primary individual I considered was (producer) David McNair. I known as him up, and he simply grabbed it and ran with it. He bought the band collectively and made it occur. He actually delivered for me—he saved me. I saved a few of the primary tracks we did in San Francisco, and I recut another songs from scratch. I additionally introduced Chuck Prophet again with me from California. He was a gun for rent on that session, however he was so fabulous that I flew him to Austin. I’d been a fan of his since he was in Inexperienced On Pink. I’d met him as soon as earlier than briefly on a prepare in Norway when my bass participant, Byron Home, was soothing a crying child together with his acoustic bass, and Chuck and (Inexperienced On Pink co-founder) Dan Stuart came visiting.
In hindsight, why do you suppose it went so badly in San Francisco?
I don’t suppose they actually knew a lot about nation music, and I didn’t understand that till I bought there. We weren’t actually talking the identical language, and I simply wasn’t going to waste a chance by making one thing I didn’t intend to make.
Was it about not reliving previous errors?
I used to be so inexperienced once I bought my (MCA) deal. I used to be studying as I used to be going, and I didn’t have a powerful voice but—not singing smart, however creatively. I discovered a lot in Nashville, after which that chance went away. I didn’t even know if anyone was ever going to permit me to make a document. I briefly went to A&M, however then that they had a reorganization and let my A&R individual, Teresa Ensenat, go. I didn’t suppose I could possibly be no matter it was they wished me to be with out someone who actually believed in me. So I left. I used to be considering that, if nothing else, I’d make the document I wanted to make, after which I may transfer on with my life and see what else there was for me.
After which a brand new radio format got here alongside …
Once I was with A&M, Americana didn’t exist but. There have been all these totally different radio individuals who’d been looking for a spot for individuals like me and Lucinda Williams. Radio would possibly’ve performed considered one of Lucinda’s songs lined by a rustic artist, however they weren’t going to play Lucinda. So the timing was form of miraculous for me. Austin’s KGSR was a frontrunner, they usually influenced what different stations did. They performed a lot of me that my document was primary for seven weeks on that chart. That was a game-changer—to have a spot the place individuals wished to play you and wished to listen to you.
Was it troublesome to get the music again from Rykodisc for the reissue?
No, it was so great. I simply known as up Jeff Rougvie, who’d signed me, and requested if there was a way I may get some bodily copies to promote at my exhibits. Jeff was like, “I can try this, however what you really want to do is reissue it—and right here’s who I feel you must speak to.” He continued to do A&R for me and make the reissue occur.
Shifting on to extra present initiatives, how did the Marvel Ladies Of Nation come about?
We simply occurred to be on the identical invoice collectively, proper across the time COVID was ending and a few little issues had been beginning to occur once more. Bruce and I had been on the identical invoice with Brennan (Leigh), and Brennan had Melissa (Carper) enjoying bass for her. We had our huge, loud rock band, which I really like. However I’m watching them play and be so intimate, acoustic and simply sensible. I used to be jealous—I actually wished to do this. I had some songs I by no means play with Bruce that I believed would sound good in that setting. Bruce and I had break up, and we hadn’t informed anybody but. I used to be actually making an attempt to increase on the issues I usually do and get again out into the world. I believed it will be good for me to spend time with these two sensible individuals. We commerce songs, however we carry out them like a band, not like a tune swap. It’s been wonderful.
—Hobart Rowland
