Nikki O'Neill - Stories I Only Tell My Friend (2025) Hi-Res

A good dollop of soul, some blues and a dose of twang stirred up in Chicago. Nikki O’Neill describes herself as an americana singer-songwriter who also plays guitar and likes R&B music and the great black singers of the ‘60s and ‘70s. She was born in Los Angeles but grew up in Sweden, and currently lives in Chicago. She is backed on “Stories I Only Tell My Friends” by her Chicago band which includes Rich Lackowski on drums and vocals, Chris Corsale on guitar and vocals, Teddy Meyers on organ, piano, Wurlitzer and Rhodes, and John Abbey and Chris Stanford on bass. The sound of the ‘60s and ‘70s has clearly influenced their sound, and her work on electric rhythm guitar and Teddy Meyer’s work on the Wurlitzer and Rhodes electric pianos means that the music on “Stories I Only Tell My Friends” can’t help echo that golden period. The album is Nikki O’Neill’s third and the first on which she writes all the music and lyrics.

A big influence on “Stories I Only Tell My Friends” was the move Nikki O’Neill she made from Los Angeles to Chicago three years ago. Opening track ‘Drive’ recognises that leaving friends and moving to a new place can be scary, and this joyful track is meant to remind people that change can also be good as well. The track is also a very good example of the legacy inspirations behind the music that also reflects what can be achieved in a modern recording studio. Chris Corsale gets to play a guitar solo on ‘Rainbow In The Cloud’ while Nikki O’Neill sings about how being positive can override any feelings of sadness. Nikki O’Neill’s vocals bring out the sensitive aspects of ‘Live Like You’ve Just Begun’ which looks at the impact of moving home on people’s lives.

Optimism runs through every aspect of ‘I Just knew’ which features a solo from Nikki O’Neill and a lot of organ from Teddy Meyers. ‘I Wish The Sun Would Shine on Me’ goes back to the 1920s and 1930s, with Chris Cosale’s rhythm and Nikki O’Neill’s lead guitar. Nikki O’Neill looks back to her time in Los Angeles on ‘LA In The Morning (Every Time)’ which ups the country rock feel. The effect of moving on relationships is the subject of ‘If I Ever Got The Upper Hand’ and ‘A Place To Dream’ moves seamlessly from country rock to light soul music. There is a swing to ‘Candy Apple Morning’ as Nikki O’Neill finds pleasure in the smaller things in life. Nikki O’Neill and Teddy Meyers are featured again on ‘Square One’. The album closes appropriately with ‘Newcomers Blues’ and features a Nikki O’Neill solo.

There is not much evidence of purism on “Stories I Only Tell My Friends”, but then again, artists in the ‘70s like Little Feat and Bonnie Raitt didn’t show much either which was part of their attraction. Nikki O’Neill is an excellent artist who cites Pops Staples, Teenie Hodges and Prince as influences, she also has a great voice and her songs have strong melodies. This means she can take the guitar back more to its role as an instrument that supports the song. In all this endeavour her band should not be overlooked. The rhythm section keeps the beat, Chris Corsale is a very useful guitar foil, and keyboardist Teddy Meyer provides great colour and a sense of the ‘60s and ‘70s. If you hanker for the mixed roots sounds of fifty years ago but with a modern touch that was recorded in one room then give “Stories I Only Tell My Friend” a listen.