Third Man Records is re-issuing Connie Converse’s only known collection of songs on vinyl, cassette and CD so that a new generation can learn her story and sounds. How Sad, How Lovely is an atmospheric collection of folk songs that contain a lingering sense of what could have been.
Her backstory is fascinating as she began recording these intimate songs in 1949 on reel-to-reel, pre-dating the NYC folk scene with inward-looking tunes that struggle against society, gender restrictions, loneliness, and heartache. After moving to Michigan in 1961 (the same year Bob Dylan arrived in town), supporting civil rights activism for over a decade (while struggling with alcoholism), she disappeared in 1971 at the age of 50, her whereabouts ultimately unknown.
Her music would have been lost as well if not for Gene Deitch, a friend who started recording Converse in 1954 at his hosted social gatherings. In the early 2000’s, he played one of her songs from his personal collection on WNYC’s Spinning on Air, which led to fans tracking down more of her enchanting tunes. While her story is deeply interesting, it wouldn’t be as touching if her songs weren’t so instantly affecting.
Singing with a fluttering voice that at times can strain to reach notes, guitar playing that sometimes stumbles, and songs that can feel like works in progress, Converse’s honesty and feelings flow through with illuminating emotion.
Her almost jazz-influenced melodies are the real stars here as the euphonious “Talkin’ Like You (Two Tall Mountains)” opens things with light twinkling strumming behind slightly detached vocals that weave through the tune. There are touches of Woody Guthrie in her songs, but Converse is less for the people and more personally searching, with heartbreaking, lonely tales like “One By One,” which perfectly describes missed lovers.
Vocally Converse is reminiscent of Joni Mitchell, especially on tracks like the folksy “Down This Road” and the lamenting title song. The rambunctiously boozed up “The Clover Saloon” feels like it could have inspired Warren Zevon, while her love song to her house, “We Lived Alone,” is right up David Byrne’s alley. There are flashes of Irish/Scottish folk inspiration, especially in the excellently twisted wrong lover tale “Johnny’s Brother” and the fisherman’s wife longing on “Father Neptune”. Her lyrics on these songs are all elevated and astute with “Man in the Sky” searching constellations for answers as she takes her influences in and then makes the songs her own.
Her most affecting efforts are those where she bristles at the gender restrictions of her time. “Roving Woman” is a stunner as she pushes against these limiting expectations, yearning for poker, strong drink, and good times, while “Trouble” tosses bonnets over roofs never to return. There is humor here as well. “Unknown (A Little Louder, Love)” is playful, and “Empty Pocket Waltz” is fun and lighthearted yet still touching in its honesty and loving spirit.
That what-if feeling, had she been present for the folk explosion in the 60’s in Greenwich Village, will always be there with Connie Converse. On a different timeline, these songs would be more fleshed out, covered by thousands, and become classics. As they stand on How Sad, How Lovely, they are sweet, haunting, emotional outings from a unique American voice.
