Listening to Kimberly Morgan York’s new song “Real Thing” is like swan diving into a time machine. The warmth of the bass and gentle weep of the steel guitar drive buttress York’s classic country crooning. The song marks the first single off of York’s upcoming album, Found Yourself a Lady.
Found Yourself a Lady was recorded under the aegis of The Everlovin’ Band. Engineered by David Barbe — best known for his role in the bands Sugar and one of my all-time favorite punk bands Mercyland — the album was indefinitely delayed due to Kimberly’s pregnancy, but is now scheduled to appear in January 2022.
July will see the release of a new album recorded this past year, Keep on Going, featuring Kimberly (vocals, guitar), Scott Baxendale (guitar), David Barbe (bass, engineering) Carlton Owens of Cracker (bass), Jay Gonzales from the Drive-by Truckers (piano), Matt Stoessel of Cracker (pedal steel), and Adam Poulin (violin).
Kimberly claims a wealth of influences. While Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, and Loretta Lynn figure prominently in the list of artists she most admires, so do Eartha Kitt, John Prine, Dr. Hook, Ricky Skaggs, and the Drive-by Truckers, the latter being no surprise given that she was married to the band’s drummer, Brad Morgan.
In our interview, York hints at her potential family connection to Dolly Parton and her real-life connection to John Conlee.
Who are some of your musical influences?
Well, I could throw in about 50 different artists and styles that have influenced my work, but it really does just boil down to growing up on ’70s and ’80s Solid Gold Country — George and Tammy, Conway and Loretta and, OF COURSE, Dolly Parton. There is a rumor that we are related, ya know? It is also rumored that one side of the family has a strong Cherokee heritage; however, my 23 and Me only showed 0.2 percent native American – FROM THE OTHER SIDE, so …Maybe both are just family lore.
Explain the title of your album.
Found Yourself a Lady is the title track on this album we recorded in 2006. There was a time, that the words “Being a Lady” meant something different than I feel it does today. Perhaps the title should have been “Found Yourself Your Lady.” That would make more sense, but I wrote the song in my mid- 20s when I was just figuring out who I was and that I was the type that really wants a partner in life….It was gonna be too much to carry alone. This was my cry for a partner. Truth is that I’m not as much of a “lady” as my momma probably would have liked, but I’m presentable.
What’s the first concert you ever attended? What do you remember about it?
I was 4 or 5 years old – the year the Somerset Mall opened in our tiny town in KY. It was a “huge” event and John Conlee was the main act. He played in the center of the mall with audience on all four sides. I sat on my father’s shoulders. John Conlee was from Corbin, KY which was near our town and I suppose he had people in Somerset. (I cannot see why he would have come otherwise…not then.) Today Somerset holds the Master Musicians Festival every year, but then, it was a blip on the map for sure. I never think to mention John Conlee as an influence, but I sure know all the words to his greatest hits. I still think they are pretty great.
Do you start off with the music or lyrics first? Why?
It usually starts with a line or two that came to me in a brief moment of inspiration. I keep a notebook and write them down a few at a time and eventually, I realize that a lot of the thoughts or quips go together — have a theme of sorts. I then mull them over and think of which story I really want to tell. That’s when I start in with music. I think of the mood/intent of the story and try to match it with appropriate music. Usually, one of the quips is a good hook that fits right in the groove. The song pretty much writes itself after that.
Is there a professional “bucket list” item you would love to check off?
I’m not sure I need anything else to feel fulfilled in music. The Bucket List has changed and gotten very small. It was always important to me to have time to make music and to make it with other great musicians. I’ve made music with a lot of super talented people that I have a lot of professional respect for. I feel so very satisfied that my music has been appreciated and played by some of my own heroes. I don’t anymore feel like I need to sell a million records or win any awards or become a super star. I feel content in my achievements purely for the fact that I have enjoyed the soulful journey of music with other people as enraptured as I am.
It would be nice to play at the Ryman though. Wink. Wink.