A compendium of remarkable continuity that belies its stylistic span, Highway Butterfly is quite a haul. And that’s apart from the backstory of its title revolving around a mythic eighteen-wheeler. The Songs of Neal Casal consists of forty-one tracks co-produced by Widespread Panic’s Dave Schools and Jim Scott (who also engineered, as he’s done for Tom Petty and Wilco). This album sports a broad range of artists not only paint a composite portrait of the artist who authored all the material, but reveal more than a little about their own personal psyches.
Take Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi’s stark, bittersweet interpretation of “Day In The Sun.” Its acoustic intimacy speaks to their own forward-thinking bond as much as the couple’s connection to their band, not to mention the extended relationship with their fans. On “Bird With No Name,” Jimmy Herring supplants the founder/organizer of Circles Around the Sun, finding inspiration in playing with the surviving members of the group who duly return the creative favor(s): the ensemble sings even without vocals. In the same role as his guitarist extraordinaire counterpart during “All The Luck in the World,” Billy Strings avoids stereotypes by reinforcing the diverse appeal of the originals as well as the varied attraction(s) of the roster of artists who participated in The Songs of Neal Casal.
For instance, the woefully unsung Leslie Mendelson offers a contribution in keeping with her understated but nonetheless profound gifts(s) for introspection, with a take on “Feel No Pain” almost startling in its candor. “Superhighway” is the apt choice for a impromptu combo including Oteil Burbridge, Steve Kimock, Nick Johnson, John Morgan Kimock, and Duane Trucks because the spontaneity of the musicianship furthers its force, rather than undermining it. In addition, this cut reinforces how Neal Casal wrote his own songs, not just to express emotion, but to provide material ripe for instrumental exploration, in all manner of styles, with a range of personnel.
Along those very lines, Marcus King and Eric Krasno appropriately team up on “No One Above You.” It is due homage from two guitarists acknowledging their instrumental fraternity with one of their own. Meanwhile, kindred spirit fret-boardist Warren Haynes echoes his personal loss of the late ABB/Mule bassist Allen Woody via the resigned adieu to another creative soul in “Free To Go.” Leaden as “Raining Straight Down” sounds at some points, The Allman Betts Band nevertheless hearken to the collaborative nature of this initiative’s inspiration.
Given the elevation of Neal Casal’s reputation when he formed CATS to produce music for 2015’s Fare Thee Well Shows, it’s only natural members of the Grateful Dead appear on Highway Butterfly. Teetering on the edge of vacuity, Phil Lesh and The Terrapin Family Band’s harmony-laden, melancholy rendition of “Freeway to the Canyon” nevertheless echoes the seminal studio work of Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty. “Time And Trouble,” from Bob Weir, long-time collaborator drummer Jay Lane & Schools on bass, this reading sounds like an excerpt from an autobiography in music; further testament to alliances old and new, Ace and company bespeak an attitude as emblematic of Casals’ open-minded approach to his avocation of photography (on prominent display in this package) as his music.
The crunch of J. Mascis’ version of “Death of A Dream” immediately following sounds like a wake-up call. Hopefully, the effect of that cut will be analogous to this collection as reminder of Neal Casal’s voluminous body of solo work: he did fourteen(!) albums under his own name, besides being a member of Ryan Adams’ Cardinals and the Chris Robinson Brotherhood. And while Hiss Golden Messenger and Aaron Lee Tasjan sound self-consciously morose during “Time Down The Wind” and “Traveling After Dark,” respectively, both tracks might also serve a purpose as reasonable points of departure. Hopefully such adventures will prompt further research into Casal’s body of work as well.
In the form of its three CD (or five vinyl LP) box accompanied by a booklet including essays, photos, lyrics and credits, Highway Butterfly: The Songs of Neal Casal leaves the very distinct impression of that project that is a true labor of love. Having unfortunately left this mortal coil so abruptly, the subject of all this devotion continues to attract great talent. Even today and thus remains that beacon of inspiration Neal Casal was to all those he encountered him in his all too short time living in the material world.
