Restless Nights

After Bryndle, whose members also included Andrew Gold, and the attention brought by her songs for Linda Ronstadt, Karla debuted as a solo artist. This second album was produced by Kenny Edwards, her ally in Bryndle. The alternation of refined songs supported by dynamic playing from the West Coast's finest Ronin-school musicians and damp-toned songs brimming with Karla's own sorrow and emotion is a subtle one. The depth and weight of every song more than compensate. Her songwriting's deep sense of longing is its great attraction; one can immerse oneself in the shadow-filled singing throughout.

The jewel-like glow of ‘Only a Fool,’ with an unusually orthodox acoustic-guitar part by David Lindley, and ‘The Letter,’ wrapped in Don Grolnick's melting piano sound, may represent one culmination of acoustic music. The closing traditional song ‘The Water Is Wide’ is coloured by a chorus from James Taylor and a superb guitar part of his, with Garth Hudson's accordion, among the most affecting performances of his career. I am accustomed to the beauty of Karla's sorrowful singing, yet it always leaves me speechless.