Mickey Newbury - Nights When I Am Sane (1994)

Here it is, the very rare yet very excellent definitive live album by Mickey Newbury. Forget about all the orchestrated

studio work, the cheesy love songs - this is where Newbury truly shines. All the songs performed here are (or very near

to) the definitive recorded versions. The three exceptions are "Just Dropped In", which is better on the Triad Studios Demo (1991) as well as "Heaven Help the Child" and "San

Francisco Mabel Joy" which sounded better in a young man's voice on Live at

Montezuma Hall (1973). There's three songs here that don't appear anywhere else - the title track: "Nights

When I Am Sane", "You're My Lady Now" and "Four Ladies". The title track doesn't quite count as

original since it's a medley of two earlier songs, but "Four Ladies" might be the most emotional performance

I've ever heard from him.

This album came out at exactly the right time. It was recorded just before Newbury's voice began to suffer the worst of

his lung disease, but late enough for him to have acquired the vocal personality of an older man. It's the performance

of a lifetime, and I hope you enjoy this it as much as I have.

All back-up guitar work is provided by the great Jack Williams.



Nights When I Am Sane (1994)

1. Just Dropped In


2. The Thirty-Third of August


3. East Kentucky


4. Nights When I Am Sane


5. Heaven Help the Child


6. Genevieve


7. Easy Street


8. Apples Dipped in Candy


9. You're My Lady Now


10. San Francisco Mabel Joy


11. Earthquake


12. Saint Cecilia


13. Four Ladies


14. What Will I Do?



List of where the songs originate and/or also appear.

"Just Dropped In"


Harlequin Melodies (1968)


Sings His Own (1968)


Triad Studios Demo (1991)

"The Thirty-Third of August"


Looks Like Rain (1969)

"East Kentucky"


Lulled By the Moonlight (1996)

"Nights When I Am Sane"


- medley of two songs -


"Leavin' Kentucky" - Rusty Tracks (1977)


"Let's Have a Party" - The Sailor (1979)

"Heaven Help the Child"


Heaven Help the Child (1973)


Live at Montezuma Hall (1973)

"Genevieve"


Triad Studios Demo (1991)


Lulled By the Moonlight (1996)

"Easy Street"


Live in England (1993)


written by Alan Rankin Jones

"Apples Dipped in Candy"


Lovers (1975)


It Might As Well Be the Moon (1988)

"You're My Lady Now"


Nights When I Am Sane (1994)

"San Francisco Mabel Joy"


Looks Like Rain (1969)


'Frisco Mabel Joy (1971)


Heaven Help the Child (1973)


Live at Montezuma Hall (1973)


In a New Age (1988)


It Might As Well Be the Moon (1988)


Live in England (1993)

"Earthquake"


Live at Montezuma Hall (1973)

"Saint Cecilia"


His Eye Is On the Sparrow (1978)

"Four Ladies"


Nights When I Am Sane (1994)

"What Will I Do?"


Lulled By the Moonlight (1996)