Patti Whipp

Walkin’ b/w It’s Gone

scum stats: why do I continue trying to even guess these things?

Not embarrassed to say that this home grown Michigan gem was completely under my radar until pushed up by the wonderful folks at Numero Group.

Cut me some slack, Michigan is a pretty broad state and I can’t be held responsible for knowing (let alone possessing) copies of EVERYTHING from there. And shit, this is from the UPPER PENINSULA.

You know how many good records have come out of the UP? Like, three. But feel free to add Patti to that list.

Whipp’s straightforward, plaintive vocals, paired with her dextrous acoustic guitar finger-picking, lands on an end result that’s not too far off of Carol King, Carly Simon or other ladies of the canyon, with bonafide Nick Drake/Ted Lucas underpinnings. Fair to say that “It’s Gone” strikes some of the same emotional marks and tonal families as Big Star’s “Thirteen.” Good stuff.

I’m not terribly happy I don’t have the picture sleeve for this single, so my “search” is still on for the most part.

As the note on the paper sleeve of my copy reads, “better than Nico” and I’d be hard-pressed to disagree with that sentiment. Enjoy.