The Delta Sweete

The Delta Sweete (1968) is a concept record in which Bobbie Gentry paints short narrative vignettes about life in the Mississippi Delta. Musically it blends country, country pop, folk and blues with pop orchestration, pairing sparse Southern instrumentation and slide touches with strings, horns and studio production to create a cinematic, often melancholic atmosphere. Gentry's intimate, conversational vocals and storytelling link the songs into a cohesive suite, and the album is often noted for its Southern Gothic mood and for expanding the scope of what a country-pop record could sound like.