That latter persona is captured on a pair of new releases from Bar None: From Memphis To New Orleans and Songs From Robin Hood Lane. In Robin Hood Lane, Chilton expands on the nostalgic side he hinted at with that cover of “Nature Boy” on Sister Lovers. In a different era, he might have been a Rat Pack performer, a nightclub singer wearing his heart on his well-cuffed sleeve, fervent emotions broadcast via the sweetest, sincerest vocals imaginable. His version of “My Baby Just Cares For Me,” with an acoustic guitar replacing the plinks of piano Nina Simone made famous, is a revelation, as is his fearless, melancholy take on Ray Charles’ version of “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying.” Chilton urging, “Let’s get lost in each other’s arms,” is just a grown-up, cocktailed translation of “Won’t you let me walk you home from school,” from Big Star’s “Thirteen.” Lest we draw too many comparisons, Chilton pointedly ends the record with “What Was,” a plaintive plea to leave his storied past behind him: “Just remember to remember what was is just what was.” The success of Songs From Robin Hood Lane almost makes that seem possible.

From Memphis To New Orleans is a bit less successful but still fun. Chilton merrily covers favorites like “Little GTO” and “B-A-B-Y” (sounding very Box Tops-y), while writing from the perspective of his later years on new songs like “Underclass” (“People think that I’m a rich musician / But no, that isn’t my condition”) and releasing some Big Star-sounding guitar riffs. The overall effect is less cohesive than Robin Hood, but we still get to hear Chilton play with some ska in “Paradise” and adopt the swagger of a suave playboy in “Make A Little Love.” While From Memphis’ curios will mostly be of interest to die-hard Chilton and Big Star fans, Robin Hood Lane could actually win the underground icon some new followers.

 
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