Shawn Colvin on The Acoustic Cafe '88

[@Trenchant468]

I saw her live soon after her first album came out, containing these songs, in a venue of about 800. She was very excited that Bonnie Raitt had just contacted her to congratulate her on the album. I learned she wasn’t happy with the production. I can imagine it felt like someone else’s very specific style was overlayed onto her music. Personally I loved her music and the arrangements on the album. I lived and breathed it for several years, as it intersected with my trajectory in important ways.

[@michaelrchan]

Shawn Colvin is a brilliant gift to any and everyone who loves music.

[@michaelrchan]

That's selfish in that it was all about my perspective. It's been many years since i was fortunate enough to hear the incredible talent that Shawn Colvin can provide. I have met other people like her, and I didn't do my best to help. I'm ashamed of that. The only thing I can take away is that take away be aware of a moment.

[@deckiedeckie]

That music.....

[@Bobtowngarden]

Just a few people in a dirty lounge listening to what will become a national treasure. Thank you Shawn for hanging in there.

[@sandramorris407]

I just saw Shawn in Las Vegas and she performed some of these wonderful songs. She transcends time and takes you back. What a great career in music. Very real.

[@laurenskyfiregirl9982]

She is full of incredible talent, honest kindness, raw exposed heart, beautiful sounds

[@speedrasa]

The first time I heard "I Don't Know Why," my heart just melted. That line, "If there were no music, then I would not get through." So true.

[@trieck]

Same! All of us who heard that knew that feeling!

[@tigerbyte0]

This is such a gem - from origins - such talent - the listener can thoroughly enjoy the rare and extraordinarily talented singer songwriter. So well done!

[@markkeogh18]

She's a great guitarist too!

[@johnthorne4093]

Totally agree!!! Shawn is a truly great rhythm guitarist! Beside Lera Lynn, I don't know if she has any equal.

[@raindeerprojekt4119]

Brilliant Work!!! Thank you for posting this... What a fine Sunday morning Gift!!! Its a Rainy Day in Olympia and this Fits like a missing Piece in Time

[@wmsimpson1960]

OMG... 32 years ago, 33 years old. A lifetime ago, before all the awards and everything fell into place for her. Amazing. Thank you for posting. Now is someone could just post the Austin City Limits appearances.

[@tinabirdshafer]

One of the few artists I come back to again and again. Such beautiful singing and playing. I loved this first album so much~

[@chriscallas7125]

Thanks so much for sharing these early recordings! First saw her in 1988 at the Philadelphia Folk Festival. She was playing some day events but completely blew everyone away - they then added her to the Main Stage for one of the evening shows. I recall how she shared that after she sold out of all her cassettes, she had to drive back to NY to pick up more! Her acoustic performances are just incredible.

[@jafsietrade3780]

WOW! Thanks for sharing this! I guess because these songs were so fresh and new to her at the time, there seems to be nuances in her performance that i've never heard or seen before. Even her playing of the songs seems a bit different. These songs sound better to me somehow in this video than many of the live performances i had seen her perform decades later. Brunette Shawnie rules!

[@whizzboom41]

Thanks so much for this rare footage!

[@markcollins1497]

lovely voice songs and guitar locked. already a gem in '88

[@markcollins1497]

wish guitar was louder. chordal shadings and voicings are key to her whole mix

[@crwdfwtx]

Beautiful. She mentioned Terre Roche. And Suzanne Vega. We all know Shawn is their peer. Love!

[@KaldoniaKaldonia]

Takes me back to my time at WERS Emerson College - along with John Gorka - just a gem and this really warmed my heart to see this video.

[@MusicnMediaCareer]

OK, you piqued my interest. I was at WERS '86-88- Coffeehouse host when some of these show were taped- When were you there?

[@MiraDevi-mc3fd]

a true artist thanks for sharing

[@heymissmarcia9164]

Wonderful. And while this is contemplative music, her presence brought back happy memories of her rowdier days performing until 4 am at honky tonks of Southern Illinois in the 70s, with the Dixie Diesels.

[@stutzbearcat5624]

Christ - forgot how amazing she was/is!!

[@caralynhunt9895]

Beautiful

[@mark52111]

wow! such a mesmerizing rendition of shotgun! amazing performance. and they didn’t have pitch correction in those days. thanks for uploading.

[@TheAllthegoodstuff]

This is brilliant! Thanks. X

[@marksusskind1260]

Props to Fast Folk, who I didn't find until 1996. They still had only about five years to go, since the entry level to making albums has come down to earth

[@richardkazmier9414]

Sounds like 6 people in the room. This is before everything changed. Amazing.

[@wutz4tea]

Brilliant

[@davida.2516]

Is Ms. Colvin 23 or 75? I always forget. A Timeless Beauty, both to the eyes and the ears! "...In our uniform black and black"!

[@loridavis-sandoval2878]

And now you have a grown-up sweet baby, Callie.

[@whizzboom41]

I wonder, is there any way to fix the way the audio goes out of sync?

[@joe-vz6hx]

lol @ that 80s hairdo - but I don't care as long as that talent is there - I get the impression that few if any schmucks in that audience had a clue how lucky they were to see this

[@ziegunerweiser]

12:20

[@lmll7232]

He looks like Jimmy Fallon. Lol