Perhaps it would be appropriate to say that Stephanie Davis is a throwback to Patsy Montana — a real Western cowgirl from Big Sky country; she even did a little yodeling on one song. An artist comfortable performing either jazz standards or tales of the cowboy life, singer/songwriter Stephanie Davis was born and raised in Montana to a family involved in cattle ranching. Davis eventually developed a taste for songwriting and moved to Nashville, hoping to get her foot in the door of the music industry. In time, Stephanie began to establish herself as a performing, releasing an album for Asulum Records in 1993, but she found greater success as a composer, with Shelby Lynne, Waylon Jennings and Martina McBride recording her compositions. Davis also found a valuable champion in megastar Garth Brooks. He not only recorded three of her tunes (“Wolves,” “The Gift,” and “We Shall Be Free”), but also hired her as his opening act, and even brought her on board as part of his road band.

However, Davis became dissatisfied with the factory-like nature of the Nashville recording scene and in the mid-1990s she returned to her native Montana, buying a small ranch and setting up a writing studio in a one-room cabin (which was overrun by cows when she first saw it). taking control of her career, Davis began writing more personal material and cut two albums at home for her own label, Recluse Records — an album of jazzy standards and like-minded originals — “I’m Pullin’ Through,” and a set of Western-flavored songs Brooks made famous). Davis also became a fixture at cowboy poetry festivals, and performs frequent live shows in Montana and throughout the West. She has appeared often on Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion radio show, broadcast nationally on public radio stations.

This CD, entitled simply, “Stephanie Davis,” is a good representation of her work. Our favorite is the track “Just A Cup Of Coffee,” in which she has a conversation with her alter ego in the mirror about an impending rendezvous with an old boyfriend, whom she attempts to assure herself means nothing to her emotionally when we suspect it does. “Lone Star Swing” is in the best tradition of Bob Wills. (Steph always is surrounded by some talented musician friends who support her vocals with great musicality and skill). “Why Can’t He Be You,” of course, is the gut-wrenching song that Patsy Cline made famous by wishing the man she was in love with was as attentive and considerate as a suitor in whom she is not really interested.

“Looks Like Lonesome” is a cry-in-your-beer weeper if there ever was one, as Stephanie’s plaintive voice sings, “Long black night autumn wind is sighing / One streetlight flickering and dying / And from some bar a steel guitar weeps out his name to me / Looks like lonesome just found some company. Hand in hand a couple passes by me / Here I stand and empty space beside me / Well I guess that’s just how it is and how it’s gonna be / Looks like lonesome just found some company...”

For some reason, Stephanie Davis reminds us a bit of Emmylou Harris so if you're a fan of Ms. Harris you’ll no doubt like Stephanie a lot. "It's a mysterious blend,” the unassuming Ms. Davis says of her trade, “part magic, part craft, and part keeping your butt in the chair. Songwriting is hands-down the most aggravating, exhilarating, enlightening, challenging and exasperating thing I have ever done...and that’s probably why I am so crazy about it. The song, especially a great one, is king, and singers are its subjects.” The singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist is simply a delight performing live. This CD is  fine introduction to her work, and at a bargain price!

To sample some of the tracks, click the speaker icon below to hear them. Then scroll down the page to order today!