Freedom's Child is an album by the American musician Billy Joe Shaver, released in 2002.[2][3] Shaver supported the album with a North American tour.[4] It was a hit on Americana radio stations.[5]

Kinky Friedman mentions "Freedom's Child" in his novel Ten Little New Yorkers.[6] Robert Duvall appeared in the video for the song.[7]

Production

Recorded over three days in Nashville, Freedom's Child was produced by R.S. Field.[8][9] Shaver chose from around 24 songs he had written.[10] Jamie Hartford and Will Kimbrough played guitar on the album.[11] The sound mixed country with blues and rock.[12]

Some versions include an unlisted track, "Necessary Evil", by Shaver's late son, Eddy; it was Shaver's first album without his son since 1987.[13][14] "Corsicana Daily Sun" and "Day by Day" are autobiographical songs.[15][16] "That's Why the Man in Black Sings the Blues" is a tribute to Johnny Cash.[17] "Déja Blues" is a duet with Todd Snider.[18] "Magnolia Mother's Love" contains just Shaver's voice and a mandolin.[19] A version of "Good Ol' U.S.A." appeared on Shaver's album Tramp on Your Street.[20]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[13]
Robert Christgau	[21]
Detroit Free Press	[12]
Orlando Sentinel	[17]
Ottawa Citizen	[22]
Philadelphia Daily News	B[23]
Regina Leader-Post	[24]
Uncut	[25]
USA Today	[26]

Uncut wrote that Shaver "mixes up gritty, almost Stones-like house-rockers with honky-tonk drinking songs, raw rockabilly romps and loss-tinged acoustic ballads."[25] Robert Christgau praised "That's What She Said Last Night".[21] USA Today concluded that Shaver "writes of patriotism, his heroes and a mother's love without resorting once to a cliche or a rhyme that sounds as if it were used simply to finish a line."[26]

No Depression noted that Shaver "most often delivers his songs in the high and spiritual southeastern tones of Roy Acuff and the Acuff-influenced part of Hank Williams, if in a less dramatic, more laconic way."[27] The Orlando Sentinel stated that the songs "reject glossy studio production to embrace a rambunctious, roadhouse feel."[17] The Washington Post deemed the album "a reflection on a lifetime of hardship and reward, struggle and sweet victory, it is country music clean to the bone at its gritty, thoughtful best."[16]

AllMusic called the album "a fine and moving album from one of country's least-appreciated major talents."[13] The Reno Gazette-Journal listed it as the third best album of 2002.[28]

Track listing

References