White Mansions - A Tale From The American Civil War 1861-1865 was a concept album released in 1978. In this article I will look back at the making and release of the album.
I must point out that this article in no way condones slavery or the wrong-minded and horrific realities of the Civil War or the pre-war South. It is just an album I found interesting, well put together and an enjoyable listen, musically, and one that tackles the story head on with its stories of the various Southern archetypes of the time.
White Mansions, a musical portrait of the American Civil War, was the idea of Paul Kennerley, who was not from the southern states or anywhere in America but born in Cheshire, England in 1948 and the son of a company director based in Liverpool. Following school he became an apprentice at the design studios of a Liverpool advertising agency. He spent part of 1969 in New York at an agency before returning to London where he was employed as a layout artist.
A career change was soon on the horizon. He had a passion for music and in the early seventies managed a London 'Pub Rock' band. Leaving the world of advertising in 1974 to pursue a career as a songwriter he soon discovered country music and in particular Waylon Jennings and his recording, Let's All Help The Cowboys Sing The Blues, which appeared on Jennings 1975 album Dreaming My Dreams. In an interview he recalled, "It really excited me and led me to discover many other artists and an entire genre I had never listened to before."
He only wanted to write country songs but his lack of experience of rural American life and culture seemed inauthentic. This, and his interest in the Civil War, led to his decision to write songs that were set in an historical setting and would become White Mansions, his first major project.
His songs have been recorded by a wide range of artists including Johnny Cash, Brenda Lee, The Everley Brothers, Dave Edmunds, Kenny Rogers, Martina McBride, Marty Stuart and Emmylou Harris, who he married in 1985 and divorced in 1991. He co-wrote most of the songs on Harris' 1986 concept album Ballad Of Sally Rose which was loosely based on her relationship with Gram Parsons.
He has also had songs featured in movies... I Don't Want To Love You (But I Do) (Thelma and Louise), Crazy Old Soldier (The Lost Boys) and Born To Run (Wild Rose).
White Mansions was produced by Glyn Johns, the English record producer who has worked with many of the famous rock artists and groups including The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils and The Eagles.
In his autobiography he talked about the project, "I have always loved the chemistry part of my job, mixing up musicians who have not played together before, particularly Americans and British."
Kennerley had approached Johns who he felt would be the ideal producer to help with the project. He sent him the lyrics and demos with a covering letter. Johns took the idea to Jerry Moss at A&M Records who didn't delay in signing Kennerley to a record and publishing deal.
With the story of Southern Pride from the point of view of four white Southerners during the American Civil War meant selling the idea wouldn't be easy. However, it was offset with the story being told from an outsiders perspective.
Chosen to play the various roles in the story were Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, John Dillon and Steve Cash, the latter two were members of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, and Rodena Preston's 'Voices of Deliverance.'
Musicians appearing on the album included, John Dillon (acoustic guitars, piano, electric piano, dulcimer and fiddle), Bernie Leadon (acoustic & electric guitars, banjo, mandolin dobro and pedal steel guitar), Waylon Jennings (electric & acoustic guitars), Dave Markee (bass guitar and string double bass), Henry Spinetti (drums), Steve Cash (harmonica) and Tim Hinkley (piano & organ). Strings were arranged by Brian Rogers.
Eric Clapton also appears on several tracks on the album playing electric slide guitar and dobro.
Backing vocalists throughout the album were Bernie Leadon, John Dillon, Steve Cash and Paul Kennerley.
Although details about the recordings are not known, information about the songs featuring Waylon Jennings is available in the excellent Waylon Discography compiled by John L. Smith.
Sessions held at Olympic Studios in London during January 1978 resulted in the five songs featuring Waylon Jennings with one also featuring Jessi Colter. The songs recorded were, Dixie, Hold On, The Union Mare And The Confederate Grey (with Jessie Colter), The Southland's Bleeding, They Laid Waste To Our Land and Dixie, Now You're Done.
While no exact details are known it is more than likely that the remaining tracks on the album were recorded around the same time at both Olympic Studios and at Sunset Sound Studios in Hollywood.
The main characters in the story are...
Matthew J. Fuller (John Dillon) is the twenty-three year old son of a wealthy Georgian cotton plantation owner and typical of the young aristocracy of the South. Brought up on a plantation that was worked by four hundred slaves he attended college, military academy and was dedicated to preserving the lifestyle of 'Old Dixie'. When war breaks out he enlists in the Confederate Army as a Captain.
Polly Ann Stafford (Jessi Colter) plays the love interest in the story as Matthew's sweetheart. The daughter of a nearby landowner she lives an opulent life and after the outbreak of war she does her bit to help the war effort by working in a disease-ridden hospital attending to the dying and wounded soldiers.
Caleb Stone (Steve Cash) portrays and epitomises 'white trash', a class of poor Southerners who lack any professional skills, land or property. Finding work wherever and whenever he can, often overseeing and keeping order among the negro field hands.
He resents the power and status of those who own the plantations but, despite this, has a loyalty to the South. One of his reasons for joining the fight is to preserve his superiority over the blacks.
The Drifter (Waylon Jennings) acts as the narrator of the story. He is descended from good Southern stock and unable to fight following injuries received fighting for Texas during the Mexican War. Roaming from town to town he is not involved in any fighting during the Civil War. He views both sides clearly speaking with a gentle strength and wisdom.
The Slaves (Rodena Preston's 'Voices of Deliverance') represent the freed slaves of the South. The war was fought because of them and despite representing over a third of the population of the south their voices were seldom heard.
All the songs were written by Paul Kennerley with the exception of White Trash which was co-written with Bernie Leadon.
Part One opens with A Story To Tell, performed by Polly Ann Stafford, and sets the scene for the rest of the story and album. She has a premonition in which she sees the collapse and destuction of the 'Old South' reflected in the face of a white-haired plantation owner.
In Dixie, Hold On The Drifter warns of the pressures on the South by the 'civilised' North. Although at first advising caution and debate, due to the concerns that the United States will be split in two and destroy the strength of America, his good sense finally withers under the strain of his Southern spirit. The song ends with him offering up fighting talk.
Join Around The Flag finds Matthew, like many young men, caught up in the excitement that flowed through the South following the surrender of Fort Sumter, the last Union post in the newly formed Confederacy.
With his enthusiasm for the South and President Jefferson Davis he urges everybody to join the adventure and support the secession of the Southern states from the Union.
Caleb Stone makes his first appearance on the album with White Trash. Living a life little better than the slaves, he was tolerated and frowned upon by the upper and middle class. This was until they needed him to fight. He joins the 4th Texas Volunteers, under the command of Colonel J. Hood, and will find action during various battles including Gaine's Mill, Gettysburg and Chickamauga.
The Last Dance & The Kentucky Racehorse tells of the farewell ball at the luxurious home of Matthew's father where he says his goodbyes to Polly before riding off to join General Beauregard's army in Virginia.
With the war raging Caleb relates the early successes of the Confederacy during the opening year in Southern Boys and the overconfident feelings that success would soon be theirs.
Up till now the approach to war had been amateurish on both sides but was now giving way to bitter relentless fighting at places like Antietam and Fredericksburg. In The Union Mare & The Confederate Grey The Drifter begins to grasp the terrible horror of what was happening and regrets their initial desire to fight their arguments with weapons rather than with words. Polly joins him on a song that tries to put the point across that how much happier they would all be if they acted the way of the Union Mare and the Confederate Grey. The song closes Part One.
Opening Part Two is No One Would Believe A Summer Could Be So Cold, in which Matthew, disillusioned and fearing there will be no Confederate victory, writes to Polly about the woes of war. Robert E. Lee's loss at Gettysburg was catastrophic with Lee losing over 28,000 men while support from Britain and France was dashed. There was no doubt the tide was turning.
The Southland's Bleeding finds The Drifter realising that, despite some victories, the South is crumbling. The pride of the South, J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry, had been smashed, the Shenandoah Valley had been devastated by Sheridan and it wouldn't be long before Atlanta fell. It was time to quit and give up the fight but it would rage on for another year... as The Drifter sang, "It's Just Southern Pride, It's Just Southern Blindness."
By March 1865 it was all but over. Lee's army were badly armed, lacked provisions and shattered. The Confederates had abandoned Richmond and the Union Army had driven through Georgia and South Carolina, bringing Dixie to its knees. Before a surrender at Appamattox Court House on 9 April Matthew hopelessly orders up the twelve-pounders in a vain attempt to hold on. In Bring Up The Twelve Pounders we find him ordering for the guns but the only reply is from the ghosts of the Confederate dead. The war was over but the cost had yet to be counted.
They Laid Waste To Our Land finds Matthew, Caleb and The Drifter return home and find the devastation that was bought to the area by Sherman's 'March To The Sea.' A few days after the surrender Abraham Lincoln was assasinated by Southern fanatic John Wilkes Booth. Lincoln was a loss to the defeated Confederates as he had planned the reconstruction of the Union with 'malice towards none' and 'charity for all'. Instead the Federal government treated the surrendered 'rebels' harshly and with bitterness.
Praise The Lord is the only song performed by The Slaves. Although freed on 1 January 1863 by a proclamation made by Abraham Lincoln it was ignored by the Confederacy. It wasnt until the war ended that they were finally free, although many were disillusioned and several stayed loyal to their former masters while over three million headed North. However, many were no better off and in some cases their conditions were worse as they were no longer fed and cared for by their masters. But bondage is the worst state for a human being and although the road to freedom was rocky it was a worthwhile journey.
At the end of the war, and sickened by what he had seen and his own callous attitude to life, Caleb turns to the scriptures. The King Has Called Me Home finds Caleb with a new interest in the teachings of the Lord. He goes from town to town preaching 'fire and brimstone' sermons. His drinking habits though remained.
The penultimate track is Bad Man in which Matthew returns home, only to find his former plantation home has been raised to the ground, members of his family had fled to avoid persecution and, worst of all, his sweetheart Polly had died from an epidemic disease that had killed many thousands. Dixie was in turmoil, greed and corruption were rife and it was hard for Matthew who had lived a privileged life. The laws were often unfair and driven by hate Matthew lived outside of them.
The Drifter brings the album to a close with Dixie, Now You're Done. A simple message... the story is over.
White Mansions (A&M SP-6004) was released in a gatefold sleeve with the album housed in an inner sleeve featuring a needlepoint flag with all the participants, made by Gwen Morris, on one side and comprehensive credits on the other side. The album cover had an old image of a 13-year old Confederate drummer boy centred on the front, characters and songs listed on the reverse while the middle spread was another period image from the 1860s.
There was also an accompanying 24-page booklet, written by Paul Kennerley and visually conceived by Ethan Russell, which told the story of White Mansions with lyrics to all the songs. There was also an opening section which gave an historical background to the American Civil War.
There was a mix of black & white images, some original period photos from the Library of Congress while several others were re-enactments taken by Ethan Russell who, along with Michael Ross, was credited for the art direction.
Among the re-enactments were some featuring the Southern Skirmish Association (London) and were taken at Dodington House, Park and Carriage Museum, Chipping Sodbury, Bristol.
While going through the booklet it is sometimes difficult to tell which images are original and which are re-enactments, so good is the attention to detail by the Southern Skirmish Association.
Very few reviews can be found from the time although one, from the UK music paper Melody Maker was not that impressed. In their review they said, "A dilemma - on the one hand we have some exceptionally good music; on the other, a project of doubtful worth." Reading this it makes you think the reviewer missed the point of the album. However, the reviewer did concede that, "... the songs are outstanding," and that the album was in line with the 'outlaw' style rather than middle of the road country.
Meanwhile, The Guardian described White Mansions as the first and perhaps best outlaw country rock Civil War concept album ever recorded!
The album is a gem in country music but chartwise the album didn't create much interest only reaching #181 on the Billboard Album Chart. However, it fared much better on the Billboard Country Album Chart peaking at #38.
Some of the albums lack of chart success can be put down to the problems associated with promotion. A&M were limited in the amount of publicity they could create especially with all the artists being signed to different labels.
Despite limited radio play and the lack of success on the charts the album did gain a cult appreciation in the years following its release. It is definitely an underrated album and deserves to reach a much wider audience.
Waylon Jennings, in his autobiography, wrote, "White Mansions is a lovely record, and it touched me in a deeply personal way, as a man whose house is built on a Civil War battlefield and a Southerner. Though it probably went over the heads of its intended audience, making the album was one of my most enjoyable experiences."
A couple of years later Kennerley turned to another slice of American history with the concept album The Legend Of Jesse James. For this album he bought together another great line-up of country music artists including Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, Levon Helm, Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, Rodney Crowell and Albert Lee.
In 1999 both albums were issued on CD in a two-for-one package given the title Confederate Tales.
Earlier I mentioned that Kennerley had sent demos to Glyn Johns and it is a shame that nobody has seen it worthwhile to re-issue the album as an expanded/deluxe edition with the original album, demos, alternate/unreleased songs with the booklet reproduced and expanded on. With 2028 being the 50th anniversary of the albums release it would be a good time to re-visit this excellent album.
In a future blog article I hope to look back at The Legend Of Jesse James album.
