Betsy Spivak - Belly Sweet

 Name: Betsy Spivak
Album: Belly Sweet
Year: 2000
Style: Folk, Singer / Songwriter, Acoustic
Similar Bands: Jefferson Airplane, Fleetwood Mac, Melissa Ethridge
"One-Word" Review: Floatsy Folksy
Based Out Of: Philadelphia, PA / Los Angeles CA
Label: Covergirl Records

Cover, Fold Out Notes, CD Tray Artwork

Back, CD, Liner Notes/Lyrics

Belly Sweet (2000)

1. Twiggy Blue Sky 3:06
2. 222 Ray Street 3:59
3. The Same 3:57
4. Altar Boy & the Female Form 3:56
5. Hundred Dollar Bet 4:15
6. Sally 4:22
7. Me for a Day 6:46

Album Rating (1-10): 5.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Betsy Spivak - Writer, Vox, Piano, Guitar, Producer, Arrangements, Mixing, Art Direction, Artwork
• Anthony King - Guitars, Producer, Arrangements, Recording, Art Direction
• Bruce Witkin - Producer, Recording, Mixing
• Raymond Pitts - Clarinet, Arrangements
• Ethan Phillips - Bass
• George Kaurtis - Drums
• Jack Lees - Percussion
  Diana Bridges - Backing Vox
• Dave Schultz - Mastering
• Marguerite Gaffney - Belly, Insert Photos
• Doug Nahary - Art Direction (dZm Design)anthony king
• Peter Creelman - Photos
• Bill Parker - Photos

Unknown-ness: I believe i had heard of Betsy Spivak before I bought this in a used bin, just curious if the word of mouth recognition was worth the music. I can't remember what it was like...my mind is set that this will be flowery, folksy Lilith Fair / Indigo Girls singer-songwriter style of music.

Album Review: Betsy has a very light, folky singer/songwriter storyteller vibe, with mostly acoustic performances, and a little country slide guitar. Nothing stood out to me, apart from the sexual exploring charged lyrics of Alter Boy/Female Form, but 222 Ray St is an enjoyable, straight forward song.

Betsy's father is the cofounder of the old Electric factory in Philly, and she studied classical music at Temple, also in Philly. Her early years were spent half in her native Philly, and half in LA. Even when moving back to Philly, he stuff did not follow her for a bit, as she felt part of both worlds. But the LA life opened her up creatively, writing in traffic, and finding her voice

Stand Out Track: 222 Ray St

Links:

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2006 City Paper