by Art Menius
October 1998
John Jennings - I Belong To You (Vanguard) Rating: 8 (out of 10)
Guitarist, producer, and songwriter John Jennings has achieved his position in the music world largely through his long-term association with Mary Chapin Carpenter. Those who appreciate the comfortable blend of folk, country, and rock heard on her records will delight in hearing similar sounds and much more on Jennings' excellent second solo project, I Belong To You.
If anything, Jennings stretches his reach even farther on this outing. "It's Perfect Here" ventures into beach music territory, and the single "I Belong To You," an infectious duet with Carpenter, could fit on both country and Top-40 radio. The acoustic "Who Am I Tonight" proves simply a strong singer-songwriter offering straight from the folk world, while "My First Career," a circus tale, proves a most convincing electric blues. The anthem-like "The Simplest Thing" and "I Think of You" and the rocking "All the Help I Can Get" feature all the characteristics of Carpenter hits save for her voice -- remarkably accessible melodies and guitar riffs, rhythms that roll effortlessly to your toes, and memorable lyrics to which any listener can relate.
Though I Belong to You comes less than two years after Jennings' self-produced debut Buddy, he has commanded the respect of the music industry since Carpenter's enchanting 1986 debut Hometown Girl. As producer and guitarist for Carpenter, Jennings has five Grammies and four number one hits to his credit. His other production credits range from the Rankin Family to Tony Rice to Beausoleil, while George Jones, the Indigo Girls, and Iris Dement have employed his six-string. He even produced the music for the CBS TV special "Women of Country."
That pedigree certainly reflects the diversity of I Belong To You. And that quality, combined with the strength of the performances with session players like DC veteran Robbie Magruder and Fairport Convention's Dave Mattacks, make the record one which stands up to repeated listening. Each time through I Belong To You reveals new charms, though its varied approach may limit its acceptance to the still-emerging Americana field. Nonetheless, this is a wonderful record.
