Lyle Lovett’s 12th of June —The Album Review

People tell me, “You know, Lyle Lovett is my favorite.” It’s something I can certainly understand. He’s been a source of fascination for me since seeing him on the television as a kid. As Esquire magazine put it Lyle Lovett is a man whose enduring veneration comes down to “the three C’s: class, charisma, and consistency.” Anyone who has seen him and his world-class band of musicians live in concert can attest to these truths. 

 Last year I was able to fulfill a longtime wish to interview him on my show. He came on to promote a livestream concert he was doing with Willis Alan Ramsey. It was quite a week for me, welcoming Willis Alan Ramsey and Lyle Lovett back-to-back.

“12th of June” is the first Lyle Lovett record in 10 years

It had been quite a few years since the last time the world had seen a Lyle Lovett album, so there was naturally an obligatory question that I asked most indirectly:

“I know recording artists are always shy about this kind of thing, and there’s a lot of reasons why. If I was a gambling man, and I was placing a wager, would you say it would be wise or unwise of me to put my money on a possible Lyle Lovett record sometime soon? In the next year or two?” 

From The Paul Leslie Hour, Episode #548

Keep in mind, that Lyle Lovett earned a degree in journalism from Texas A&M and was a newspaper reporter for a spell. His answer was direct, and a scoop! 

He said:

“Well that is a fine set up to let me talk about my new record. We recorded tracks in November of 2019, with Chuck Ainlay who produced with me. Chuck Ainlay engineered my third record called “And His Large Band” that Tony Brown produced. That came out in 1989. 

We recorded that album in 1988 in Nashville. This was the first time I’ve worked with Chuck: a world-famous, amazing, recording engineer, since 1988. 

It was just like picking up where we left off. So we recorded tracks with the live band in November 2019. The record will be for Verve Records, a Universal label.”

From The Paul Leslie Hour, Episode #548

“12th of June” is full of songs that resonate

On May 13, 2022 (a little more than a year after the interview) Lyle Lovett would release his first album in 10 years, entitled “12th of June.” 

So, for timeliness reasons, I want to express what I’m thinkin’ and feelin’ about this album of Lyle Lovett’s “12th of June,” which if you don’t count the live album makes an even dozen for Lyle. Every song on the album resonated with me.

Lyle Lovett’s reverence for jazz is evident on “12th of June”

A first track is a critical thing, it can set the stage for the album. In this case, we know right away this is going to be an album with a strong respect for the jazz tradition. Lyle Lovett is one of the hardest to pin down characters in music, but this is a part of that fascination mentioned.

“Cookin’ at the Continental”

“12th of June” starts with “Cookin’ at the Continental,” and for those of you who are jazz lovers, yes, that one. Composed by the late Horace Silver, its first appearance was on the 1959 record “Finger Poppin’ with the Horace Silver Quintet.” Not too many have attempted it, but this version on the new Lyle Lovett album can stand with guitarist Frank Vignola’s interpretation as a great reimagining of “Cookin’ at the Continental.”  

I like to think of this instrumental opening track as a nod to his third album that he mentioned in the interview: “Lyle Lovett And His Large Band,” which is a favorite of mine. He started that third album with “The Blues Walk.” Some of you may have memories of witnessing Lyle Lovett and His Large Band opening the show with that number. It’s a cool homage.

Lyle Lovett is a singer, songwriter and humorist

When I did that interview, I introduced Lyle Lovett with many of the titles that most think of: singer, songwriter, and recording artist, but I included humorist, which seemed to please him. There’s a bit of Mark Twain’s sensibility in many of his songs: he’s full of witticisms. 

Point is, that the album follows that jazz classic with his new song “Pants Is Overrated.” There’s a gospel flair to this song and it commemorates a sentiment so many had in 2020 and 2021. How many of you said or thought: “Well, it’s almost dinnertime. Maybe it’s time to put on pants”? Perhaps you emphasize the word “maybe.” 

Lyle Lovett interprets the American Songbook on “12th of June”

I’ve always liked the way Lovett interprets standards from the canon of American popular song. It’s something he does very well, like this duet with the spectacular Francine Reed, one of our great blues singers. They take on “Straighten Up and Fly Right” written by Nat King Cole and Irving Mills, first recorded by the King Cole Trio. At this point, the “12th of June” album is in full flight. 

“Straighten Up and Fly Right” is followed by another classic: “Gee, Baby, Ain’t I Good to You,” also made famous by the King Cole Trio. This is also performed as a duet, with Francine Reed singing first—and they sing together marvelously. Lovett is obviously fond of the King Cole Trio, having recorded both of these songs for movie soundtracks years ago.

Lyle Lovett covered Dave Frishberg’s “Peel Me a Grape”

It wasn’t even a year ago that we lost the supremely clever and sardonic Dave Frishberg. There’s certainly something of Dave Frishberg or Randy Newman in many of Lovett’s songs, so it was natural that Lovett would record one of Frishberg’s songs. 

“Peel Me a Grape” has caught the attention of a few singers through the years, going back to Anita O’Day. Many of you are familiar with the Diana Krall version. It’s a lot of fun in Lyle’s hand, aided yet again by the lively Francine Reed.

Lyle Lovett’s approach to outside material

Although he is humble about it, Lovett is great at interpreting other songwriters’ material. He discussed this in the interview we did:

“I enjoy singing other people’s songs, but my main objective is to survive any song that I’m singing. I try to bring out, in some quality, some human quality: the emotion in a song. Because music is not an intellectual medium as much as it is an emotional medium, I think.”

From The Paul Leslie Hour, Episode #548

The second half of “12th of June” feels more personal

As humorous as Lyle can be, he can also pull at the heartstrings. So begins the second half of the album, where the material feels much more personal. From this point on, the tracks are all originals. “Her Loving Man,” is a song that is full of tenderness and purity. I’ve yet to watch the music video without getting teary. 

“12th of June”

The title track “12th of June” is a meaningful date for its writer. You see, Lyle Lovett’s twin children were born on that day. I’ve heard some beautiful songs written by a father for his children. I think this is the one that touched me the most. It’s a poetic, public profession of the love a father has. 

“Pig Meat Man”: a paean to pork

After such an emotional song, it’s only natural to expect some lighter fare. In this case, it’s pork. The price of bacon may be soaring, but this is all the more reason to sing about it. “Pig Meat Man” was inspired by the love that Lyle Lovett’s son has for the king of breakfast foods. Some things can only be expressed with song… 

“12th of June” album full of masterful songwriting

Lyle Lovett is one of these artists that really can’t be categorized by genre. The most country song on the album is “The Mocking Ones,” and I can’t help, but wonder what inspired it. This is the one that had me thinking: “What a songwriter.” Refusing to be pinned down, he follows this with “Are We Dancing,” a song that feels like a nod to those old classics he so loves.

“On A Winter’s Morning”

The album closes with yet another original, “On A Winter’s Morning,” which is a great way to end this journey. Some writers can connect the most personal moment to something iconic like the Mona Lisa. Leave it to Lyle. The song feels down-home, but very Lyle Lovett. Which is a good thing. There’s even an element of the traditional New Orleans jazz feel to it.

“12th of June” elegant, but accessible   

There’s a certain dedication to excellence Lyle Lovett has and this is evident when listening to this elegant, but accessible album. You get a sense that he is planning everything, and the “12th of June” record is no exception. There’s an exactitude in the selected musicians, the lyrics he writes, and everything he communicates. It seems Lyle Lovett doesn’t take communication for granted.

“12th of June” is an album teeming with life

“12th of June” is an album teeming with life: so full of heart: humorous, sentimental, and sincere. The totality of human emotions is covered. There’s profundity in the seemingly mundane. Great singers and songwriters like Lyle Lovett know this.

My sincere wish is that you tell me what struck you?