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Singer-songwriter David Ogden returns to his roots on new CD

Posted by Steve Ide
Filed Under Folk, Reviews 
http://blogs.townonline.com/folkbluegrass/?p=1751


“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams; live the life you’ve imagined.”
– Henry David Thoreau

Singer-songwriter David Ogden says he tries to live by that Thoreau quote. He’s traveled around the country and back again, and the path has returned him to his roots. Born and raised in Scituate, Mass., Ogden had been a regular on the South Shore music scene before heading to Florida in the mid 80’s to explore other dreams. But, now he’s home again.

Ogden’s music, a mix of meticulously picked acoustic guitar and warm, soothing vocals, wraps around classic images of New England and Boston’s South Shore. His fifth CD, “No Better Place” (Coastal Fog Records), is rife with imagery of his home, which he calls the “Irish Riviera,” a reference to the seaside region so named because of the influx of Irish-Americans who vacationed there in the ’20s and ’30s. It’s no wonder “1-4-3 (Lighthouse Song)” is backed by the sound of pennywhistles.

“Off the coast of Cohasset,
She’s got a Boston point of view,
a lighthouse that flashes 1-4-3,
I-love-you.”

The CD, produced by Ben Wisch (Marc Cohn, Patty Larkin, David Wilcox) pays homage to New England in “No Better Place,” a quick-paced, percussive lyrical canvas of life in the Northeast, with mentions of fly rods, Maine cabins, the Vineyard and more.

Ogden, who owned and operated a music production company in Florida, says he and his wife, Dawn Marie, returned to the South Shore about 6 years ago. “Being a Yankee and New Englander in Florida, I got homesick,” he said. He found himself writing songs about his original hometown. “I missed performing. I missed writing. I missed following that dream … I took that leap of faith [back into performing]” he said, by returning to New England. “It’s been an uphill battle. Independent music is a tough thing.”

His songs delve into familiar folk music territory, with introspective melodies about life, love and spirituality. He sings about his first guitar, handed down from his grandfather to his father, then to him, in “Grandfather’s Guitar.” “Even though it was a bit weathered, strings a mile off the frets, and always out of tune, it was great. I took it everywhere, a couple of buds making up songs and plucking out old Beatles tunes. Little did I know it would send me on a lifelong journey.” One tune, “Woodsmoke and Rain,” relies on his guitar today, in a peaceful, emotive, picked instrumental.

Ogden performs solo, with a band or with Norwell singer-songwriter Les Sampou, who adds bluesy harmonies on “God Only Knows.” Also joining Ogden on this CD are Jennifer Kimball, Duke Levine, Ben Whitman and a half-dozen other musicians. “It’s been fantastic to get in touch with old friends again and be back playing again, writing, recording and getting back on the right track.”



South Shore Living Magazine:

Living Arts * Books * Artisans * Music

NO BETTER PLACE
The journey took him years, but when Scituate's resident singer-songwriter David Ogden finally found his way back to the South Shore after years away, his life seemed to fall into place.  Ogden's recently released CD titled No Better Place is a feel-good album of contemporary acoustic folk songs that represent his musical homecoming. 
Singing in a soothing voice, Ogden pays homage to the natural beauty of the South Shore.  The lyrics of his lighthouse song reveal a clear, coastal connection.  "Off the coast of Cohasset, she's got a Boston point of view, a lighthouse that flashes 1-4-3, I-love-you.  The gentle sound of penny whistles in the background ties the song in with Scituate's status as the Irish Riviera.  The album's title track, No Better Place, is peppered with symbols of teh New England landscape and lifestyle, with mentions of cobblestone streets and picket fences, L.L. Bean clothing and Norman Rockwell paintings.  Ogden calls the album "my homesick audio photo album of New England."  Ben Wisch, who has worked with musicians like Cheryl Wheeler, Kathy Mattea, and Patty Larkin, among others, produced the album.  Copies of the CD can be purchased at the Barnes & Noble, Borders, or via his website.



Boston Herald: David Ogden’s new CD, “No Better Place” is the pick of the week, month! year! With an expressive honey-soaked voice and lush captivating guitar, every salty song in all their illuminating imagery is sure to lift the spirits like a night sky full of Fourth of July fireworks.“

 

Boston Globe "An immensely appealing landscape, long on emotion, short of pretense, acres of common ground." 


 



"Love your music, David.
It gets me home
It's some cool Sh..."


                      Steven Tyler