Sarah Goslee Reed: Press

Have you ever been walking down a street and noticed a penny on the sidewalk? Whether or not you bent down to pick it up, it may have given you a twinge of “ feeling lucky ” to have seen it. And if it had been a dime or a quarter, perhaps you would have picked it up and put it in a pocket or purse, and your feeling of good fortune would have been that much more. And if it had been a dollar, or more, well……..


We can relate to these good feelings, for from time to time we have “found” a fortune in great talent that we had not been aware of before that moment of discovery.

This year we have had a number of those experiences – Drew Nelson, Zach, and Sarah Goslee Reed. Those who came to their performances know exactly what we are talking about.

We are inspired after Friday night’s wonderful performance by Sarah, to write and tell you of our feelings. Her voice was exquisite – clear, pure and most appealing. Her original songs were of real life events, happy memories of childhood, of family and friends, living life to its fullest.

I adored Sarah Goslee Reed. I loved her the first time I heard her all those years ago. I mourned the loss of "Magic Pockets", but now I know how to get her CDs!. While talking to her Friday evening, she made me feel as if we were long-lost friends. Her song about "when the children come home, all is well in a mother's nest" made me cry (as it did another lady sitting in front of me). I'm already feeling that "empty nest" bittersweetness coming on as my little babies are now teens. They grew so fast, and it makes a mother's heart ache to think of them being on their own very soon (even though it's a good thing!). I miss nuzzling a soft little neck, kissing chubby cheeks, and a little boy and girl cuddled in my lap as I read them their favorite stories. Such sweet serendipity. That's why Sarah Goslee Reed is a treasure to me--she sings from every mother's heart. So glad you had her come to Highlands.

i know i've told you this, but i am going to tell you again - after coming to one of your solo concert when we first met, you connected the songs with stories and talked to your audience and i came away saying - why can't i do that with my classical singing and i did - you are my inspiration!!!!

The songs are woven through with bittersweet meditations about life and the remorseless passing of the years. But it also marks Reed’s long overdue return to putting out albums of original songs. Her previous solo albums were “Like the Light of the Moon” (1992) and “Cowboy on the Highway” (1994). Here, she matches the friendly twang of her earlier work, while deepening her range of colors and moods.

Buoyed by delicious harmonies from Lisa Biales, Reed achieves a remarkable balance between sounding openly vulnerable and sounding vital and quietly unstoppable.

Reed’s mastery of the vocabulary of American folk music is so complete, that she makes it seem easy to throw a tune, a few words and a couple chords together in a manner that captures something of the feel of the Ohio countryside.

Sarah Goslee Reed’s voice has only slightly darkened over the years. Her youthful voice was very silvery in color ... With the passage of years, Reed’s voice is mellowing without losing its bloom, and her guitar-playing complements it with a mixture of comfortable strumming and melodic finger-picking.

In sum, I encourage others to explore Reed’s output of down-to-earth, uplifting Americana in this album, as well as her earlier efforts. She covers a wide enough range that different people will find their own favorites among her works, favorites which will last over the years. And this album proves, once again, that insightful artists aren’t always distant figures living in far-off cities. Sometimes they live next door and draw their inspiration out of the very same soil we walk upon every day.

At the center of the album is a song written and sung by daughter Meredith Reed.

The song is a dark one, but its angst and vulnerability is moving because of Meredith’s lead vocal. She sounds a little uneasy to find herself thrust center-stage, but that only increases the song’s sense of vulnerability. If Meredith’s voice is not as polished as her mother’s, it hardly matters, because it has expressive power. That is a very special kind of beauty that many “pretty” voices never have.

The CD is fabulous! You deserve every bit of praise you have received - thanks for sharing the articles - I listened to your incredible voice and Meredith’s also - all the way to and from work today and it is the only thing that put a smile on my face and a “happy” in my heart...what an honor and a blessing to have you as a friend for so many years. Keep singing and recording, you not only honor your Dad’s life and love, but you touch our lives with wisdom, grace and joy..you may be a lab tech by trade but you are a musician and poet by calling.

I have to tell you your song about the children made me sob. I do not think my hormones are out of whack, ha, it just touched me that much. Outstanding! I listened to a few more and have ordered some copies. Great stocking stuffers for the family. I am real proud of you and so happy you made a CD for those at "our stage of life", give or take 20 years.

I just listened to a few tracks at cdbaby, and they reminded me of how much I like Americana. Sarah has such a lovely voice, and I really enjoyed the arrangements. The CD is such a sweet celebration of a life.

The folksy It's About Time summons an innocent state of wonder as Reed's rich voice sings about flashing fireflies, laughing children, and a glowing moon...Reed's acoustic guitar plays front-and-center and her dad's bassoon helps the breezy tunes float by.