THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION, SPECTRUM - UNIVERSAL RECORDS
(1)TANYA TUCKER
18
songs, 56 minutes, 3 No.1 hits, 12 top 20 hits and 1 duet with Glen
Campbell, all recorded between 1975 and 1981, just a small part
of Tanya's repertoire with MCA records back then. Some of today's
female 'Country' singers could learn a lot listening to this collection.
The Essential Collection doesn't include all her number one hits,
but a good cross-section of some of Tanya's better recordings. Tap
your feet to the @San Antonio Stroll', 'Don't Believe My Heart Can
Stand Another You', 'Cowboy Loving Night', Dancing The Night Away'
and 'The King Of Country Music'. Sing along with 'Texas When I Die',
'The Pecos Promenade' and 'Dream Lover'. Tanya sings a mean ballad
too on 'I'm Not Lisa', 'Lizzie & The Rainman' and 'I'm The Singer
You're The Song'. An enjoyable return down memory rain with Tanya
Tucker on this one.Other Songs: 'Rodeo Girls', 'Travelling Salesman',
'You've Got Me To Hold On To', 'Here's Some Love', 'Makin' Love
Don't Always Make Love Grow', Ridin' Rainbows', 'Can I See You Tonight'.
(2) HANK WILLIAMS JR.
18
songs, 50 minutes, in chronological order show Hank Jr. on his journey
from "Son of Hank" to Country Superstar. Track 1 is from
1950 'Long Gone Lonesome Blues', and 'Your Cheating Heart' is from
'53. 'Endless Sleep' is from '64, while the next 11 songs cover
the 1960's. There're 3 narrations included, 'The Old Ryman', 'Standing
In The Shadows' and 'I Was With Red Foley'(the night he passed away).
'Cajun Baby'(featuring twin fiddles), 'Be Careful Of The Stones
That You Throw'(with full orchestra) and Haggard's bluesy 'I'd Rather
Be Gone' from 1969 marked the start of the big change for Hank Jr.
The CD is rounded off with 'Stoned At The Jukebox' and 'Living Proof'
and Hank Jr was on his way to the greatness he deserved and achieved.
Other Songs: 'Nobody's Child', 'I Wouldn't Change A Thing About
You','It's All Over But The Crying', 'Custody', 'A Baby Again',
'Rainy Night In Georgia', 'I'll Think Of Something'.
(3) PATSY CLINE
18
songs, 43 minutes featuring many of Patsy's hits and other successes
make up this release. Apart from the 1957 recording of 'Walking
After Midnight', all the tracks are are from 1961/62 and 63. 'Crazy'
opens the CD which includes 4 Hank Cochran songs, 'She's Got You',
'Why Can't He Be You', 'You're Stronger Than Me' and 'When You Need
A Laugh'. There're 2 Hank Williams songs included, 'Your Cheating
Heart' and 'I Can't Help It' as well as the popular classics 'San
Antonio Rose', 'Heartaches', 'Lonely Street', 'Leavingg On Your
Mind', 'Love Letters In The Sand', 'Back In Baby's Arms', 'Blue
Moon Of Kentucky'. The songs 'Anytime', 'I Love You So Much It Hurts
and Harlan Howard's 'He Called Me Baby' rounds out the CD. Nice
collection but you've probably got all these songs by Patsy already.
THE BEST OF DON WILLIAMS, SPECTRUM - UNIVERSAL
This
is a straightforward re-issue of the 1994 CD on MCA Records with
even the same packaging. It still looks great and sounds as good
as ever. Don has that everlasting quality in his voice; it never
seems to date. Maybe the songs or the styles may change over the
years, but Don's recordings will remain popular for many years.
The tracks here cover the years 1976 - 1984 and include 12 of his
17 Country No 1 hits. The other 8 tracks are 'I Recall A Gypsy Woman',
'Amanda', 'The Shelter Of Your Eyes', 'She's In Love With A Rodeo
Man', 'It's Gotta Be Magic', Listen To The Radio' and 'All I'm Missing
Is You'. If you haven't already got the songs in your collection,
this one is a 'must buy'. (20 tracks, 63 minutes).
Other Songs: The 12 No. 1 hits are @Till The Rivers All Run Dry',
'Say It Again', 'Some Broken Hearts Never Mend', 'I'm Just A Country
Boy', 'Tulsa Time', 'It Must Be Love', 'I Believe In [email protected], 'Love
Is On A Roll', 'Stay Young', That's The Thing About Love', 'Love
Me Over Again' and of Course 'You're My Best Friend'.
GEORGE HAMILTON IV - BEYOND THE RIVER - SUNDOWN-TKO MAGNUM RECORDS
This
is a fine collection of Gospel songs from George running for 54
minutes, with 16 listed tracks. However some of the tracks have
2 or more songs, so ther're 25 titles included. There are narrations
from George on 'Safe To The Rock', 'The Ira Sankey Story', 'The
Good Shepherd', 'The Ninety & Nine', 'The Lord Brings Back His
Own', 'Peace Attendeth My Way' and 'The Slave Trader'. The music
behind George's narration varies from 'Hiding In Thee' to 'Amazing
Grace', with tuneful steel guitar from Bud Tutmarc on some tracks.
George sings alternate songs between the narrations (some with a
gospel chorus) and he's joined by A.G. and Kate Band on one track.
Wes Davis, who has toured with George across GB on Gospel tours,
produces the CD |
ORIGINAL LOUISIANNA HAYRIDE ARCHIVES - CLASSIC COUNTRY RADIO VOLUME
1
SUNDOWN/TKO MAGNUM RECORDS
 Here's
a unique collection of radio cuts from the famous Louisianna Hayride
broadcast from Shreveport between 1946 and 1969. Ther're 20 tracks
on the CD with 2 songs each from George Jones, Jim Reeves, Johnny
Cash and Faron Young. Also included are songs from Hank Snow, Webb
Pierce, Hank Williams, Slim Whitman, Ernest Tubb, Marty Robbins,
Red Sovine, T. Texas Tyler, Johnny Horton and Charlie Walker. There're
only 2 female singers on this CD, Kitty Wells and Lorretta Lynn
with one song each. There's many a collector's piece included, Hank
Williams "fluffing" the word of 'Jambalaya', Jim Reeves
singing 'Red Eyed and Rowdy' (from an auditorium in Texas on one
of those rare occasions that the Hayride didn't come from Shreveport),
Johnny Cash doing train whistles and George Jones cracking up on
'The Race Is On'. The compere, Horace Logan introduces many of the
tracks; he was also the main producer and MC for many years. This
CD closes with a 1958 recording of Charlie Walker singing Harlan
Howards forst No. 1 song 'Pick Me Up On Your Way Down'. Other songs
include 'Careless Hands', 'Honky Tonk Man', 'She Thinks I Still
Care', 'I Don't Care', 'Five Feet High' and 'Rising' and 'Making
Believe'.
ORIGINAL LOUISIANNA HAYRIDE ARCHIVES - CLASSIC COUNTRY RADIO
VOLUME 2
SUNDOWN/TKO MAGNUM RECORDS
 More
of the same on Volume 2, another 20 tracks, this time 2 songs each
from George Jones, Johnny Cash and Jim Reeves. Apart from the 2
female voices with Jim Ed Brown (his sisters Maxine and Bonnie)
there're no female Country singers on this one. Roy Acuff and his
Smokey Mountain Boys make a rare appearance at the Hayride as does
Carl Smith, Ray Price, Red Foley, The Wilburn Bros, Hank Snow and
Hawkshaw Hawkins. These were all Grand Ole Opry stars and were only
allowed to appear on the rival Hayride when they had a new record
to promote. Great collector's fare on both CDs Volume 1 and 2, and
I'll have a gospel CD from this series next time. The songs include
'Cattle Call', 'The Minute You're Gone', 'Slowly', 'Release Me',
@Pan American', 'Texas Hambone Blues', 'Foggy River' and 'Why Baby
Why'.
DANNI LEIGH - DIVIDE AND CONQUER - AUDIUM RECORDS (Koch Int)
Danni
Leigh's latest single 'Sometimes' (a Jim Lauderdale/Frank Dycus
song) is currently at No. 20 on the EMS European Country Charts
as I write, and is included on this, her 3rd Country album release
on her 3rd record label, through no fault of hers. This CD's got
that current sound associated with chart successes in the USA. It
is "Solid Country" at times, like on 'He Used To Say That
To Me' and 'House Of Pain' (2 soft shuffles). It's folksy too, like
on 'A Far Cry From Here' which opens with just acoustic guitar,
and builds nicely to a lovely Country sound. 'Yesterday' is Country
swing, with a great punch and tempo change. Danni co-writes 2 songs,
Jim Lauderdale, who co-wrote 3 songs also sings BGV on 2 of them.
Other songs are from Phil Lee, Malcolm Holcombe and Lucky Laurence,
who also sings BGV on 2 songs. Pete Anderson plays a wide variety
of instruments, arranges and produces with great taste. Overall
a good modern Country album from a lady with a great Country voice.
Danni is currently touring the USA with the Souveiers Band, which
features the aforesaid Lucky Laurence, and if more success came
her way chart wise in Europe, I'd say a visit here would be on the
cards (10 songs, 36 minutes).
ACROSS THE BORDER - ON THE ROAD AGAIN - (Gig CD From Band)
Here's
a 4-piece band putting their sound down on a 15 track CD recorded
in Gateshead. The sleeve notes contain basic info only, the song titles
and band members names only. There're 2 inside pages blank, surely
the songwriters deserve a mention. The band members are vocalist Margaret
Leitch; rhythm guitar Pete Brayshaw also shares the vocals ans sings
harmony; Trevor Cassidy plays bass, keyboards and sings lead and harmony
vocals and the newest member Stuart McNeil plays lead guitar and harmony
vocals. I'll list the songs below, as this is an album of covers as
far as I can tell. It lacks a little bit in production at times, but
I appreciate that the band paid for this one themselves and probably
worked to a tight budget. With this in mind it's a cracking album,
a good mix of songs probably all taken from their stage shows. On
this outing they can only achieve their ambition to "become a
full time Country band playing all over the country and eventually
overseas". The CD is available from the band on 01642 863290
- Mob 07761118966.
Songs: 'Mixed Up Mess Of A Heart', 'Shotgun', 'Adelida', 'Easy Chair',
'Tougher Than The Rest', 'Beatin' My Head Against The Wall', Now I
Know', 'Gone Country', 'Walk To The Light', 'Neon Moon', 'The Bug',
'Winding Road', 'Your Good Girls Gonna Go Bad', 'Blue Moon Of Kentucky',
'On The Road Again'.
JOYCE-MERE - PACK UP MY DREAMS AND GO HOME - COUNTRY ON BROADWAY
Over
the last few years the name Joyce-Mere has been appearing on the
Country HotDisc with great regularity. Far as I can figure out she's
had 6 releases on single on the HotDisc with some successes across
Europe. 4 of those singles are on this CD which includes her latest
single 'Gonna Steal You Away'. Her husky voice is complimented by
the musicians and she writes all her own songs for this CD. 12 tracks
over 54 minutes is well worth a listen. It was recorded in San Diego,
California with a wide variety of instruments including the usual
rhythm section, various keyboards plus lead guitars, dobros and
even fiddle at times. Nice production and I'm sure it won't be long
before her 2nd CD is released here. Available from Country on Broadway
on 01494 776877
or [email protected]
DOMINIC KIRWAN - UNDER YOUR SPELL - ROSETTE RECORDS
Like
his stable mate Daniel. Dominic moves to Rosette Records and his
first album for them was released on 1st April to coincide with
his current round Britain tour. Once again he follows the pattern
set some years ago, Country, middle of the road and easy listening
light-pop songs. So why change a successful pattern, they don't.
THEY JUST KEEP IMPROVING ON IT. This CD was recorded in Nashville,
produced by Ronnie Light and features top session players and singers.
16 songs (mainly Country I hasten to add) with lots of fiddle and
steel guitar. There're some lovely arrangements too, like on 'Under
Your Spell', 'Kiss An Angel Good Morning' and 'Last Waltz'. He does
a great version of Isla grant's 'Listen To The Children', Harlan
Howard's 'Gone Gone Gone' and John Berry's 'Walking In The Sun'
(both taken from Glen Campbell's "Walking In The Sun"
CD from 1990?). He rounds of the CD with an outstanding version
of 'He Stopped Loving Her Today', which I'm sure will be a showstopper
in his "Live" show. It is an album of covers, but Dominic
does them all justice. (16 songs - 51 minutes) Other Songs; 'Darling
You're The Best Thing', 'Never My Love', 'Sweetheart Darling Of
Mine', 'Live Laugh Love', 'Just Out Of Reach', 'Concrete And Clay',
'I Don't Want This Night To Be Over', 'Not That Strong', 'Arms Of
Mary'.
HARVEY CUMMINS - OUT OF THE SHADOWS - UNIVERSAL SOUND RECORDS
Harvey
is a newcomer! Now there's a statement meant to deceive. Well technically
he is, as this is his first album for Universal Sounds in Nashville,
although he did record his first album back in the 80's. Now don't
be fooled when someone tells you they don't record Country in Nashville
anymore, just have a listen to this CD, Country through and through.
Recorded at Mark Moseley's studio in Nashville, this was engineered,
mixed and mastered by Mark who deserves full marks. There's a comparison
to Marty Robbins recommended by the record company and yes, there
is that quality to his voice on the ballads like 'Don't Worry 'bout
Me' and 'My Woman My Woman My Wife'. I also enjoyed the uptempo
songs, '3 Days Out Of Texas' and 'All The Good Ones Weren't Taken',
and the shuffles like 'Between A Rock And A Hard Place' and 'Heavy
Construction'. There's a pathos to his voice too well suited to
'Savin' Up My Pennies' and 'I'm Only Going Crazy'. With this album
Harvey can move 'Out Of The Shadows', (11 tracks in all 38 minutes.
PAUL ALAN COONS - EVERYTHING SHE TOUCHES TURNS TO LOVE - UNIVERSAL
SOUND RECORDS Just
listening to the opening track on this CD is enough to convinve you
that you're in for a Country treat. Paul opens the 11 song CD with
one of his own songs 'I'm Free' which showcases the musicians to a
tee. Twin fiddles open the old Walter Haynes song that gives the CD
its title track, a great ballad. Song 3 is a slightly heavier than
usual version of 'I Recall A Gypsy Woman' while song 4 is even heavier,
but then it's a cover version of 'The Eagle', originally recorded
by Waylon back in 1990. He also pays tribute to Hank Jr with 'Country
State Of Mind'. I liked the ballad 'Even The Bad We Had Was Good',
a lovely song written by Roger West and Aaron Boswell. 'I'm It' is
another cracking up-tempo dance tune. The album closes with another
2 good songs from Pauls pen, 'Goodbye Old Friend' and 'When'. Paul
is a good Country singer with quality in his voice and sure to find
success again. He charted on StarGem Records back in 1989.
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I
always look forward to and welcome your comments about the reviews
and releases and you can contact me by e-mail at:
[email protected]
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