Posted by Pete Smith on June 13, 2005 at 07:59:21:
Pete Smith’s Reviews
“The Advertiser” (UK)– 10 June
Palo Duro “Cowpokes, Horses And Old Glory” (Comstock).
Texans Cody Anderson (lead vocals, bass), Teresa Zimmerman (fiddle), Jim R. Anderson (guitar, vocals) make up this superb trio who have dedicated their music to the preservation of the Old West. Cody has just the right voice to lead these ballads and, with Teresa and Jim, keep the backings nice and simple the way the bunkhouse intended. The generous fifteen tracks have all become favourites of mine; originals like “Out On The Llano Estacado”, “Finish The Job” (a real cracker!) and “Horse Time” and covers such as Willie Nelson’s “A Horse Called Music”, Cindy Walker’s “Texas Sand” and Marty Robbins’ “The Master’s Call”. A real must for all western fans and true country music lovers. www.comstockrecords.com
Sisters Wade “Walls Of Time” (Seraph).
Julie (vocals, acoustic guitar) and Debbie (vocals, mandolin) are real sisters from Massachusetts who have been performing together for a few years now. Their recording debut, in 1999, was on Charlie Daniels’ Blue Hat label after extensively touring locally from their high school years. The two female voices naturally gather comparisons to the Judds but I feel these girls offer more – much more! The beautiful lead vocals and stunning harmonies, backed acoustically by mandolin (Aubrey Haynie, Stuart Duncan, Dave Harvey), Dobro (Chas Williams) and fiddle (Haynie, Duncan) produce mountain music for the twenty-first century. Check out: the Bill Monroe / Peter Rowan classic “Walls Of Time”, Emmylou Harris’s “Heartbreak Hill” and Debbie’s own “One Suitcase” and “There Will Come A Day”. www.sisterswade.com
Raymond Parker “Forgive Me” (Comstock).
This is an album that offers some many different country styles in a dozen excellent performances. You will find numbers to line dance to, two-steppers, rockers, ballads and Gospels and, I believe, Raymond wrote them all. Check out; “Cowboys In Nashville”, “Good At Being Hurt”, “Cold Hearted Woman” and the powerful Gospel “Forgive Me”, Raymond’s current single to radio. “Becky’s Song” cannot go without mention. This very topical song was inspired by a courageous lady fighting breast cancer. www.RaymondParker.com
The Lewis 3 “Perfect World”.
The Lewis family is becoming quite a dynasty in the music world. In the beginning there was Jerry Lee. Then came along Linda Gail, leader of this trio, which also comprises of two more Lewis’s, Mary Jean and Ann Marie, all vocalists. Accompanying on this wonderful album are just four musicians, Linda Gail, Ray Thompson, Quality Thompson and John Lewis (what, another one?). The first four tracks rock along beautifully then the programme subtly changes to ballads with a strong mountain flavour (a sort of Carter Family for the twenty-first century). Original songs lie side by side with compositions by top writers Kostas, Kasey Chambers, Kelly Willis, Kate Campbell and Claire Lynch. Sample “Don’t Leave Her Lonely Too Long”, “Johnny Be Goode”, “Movin’ Out”, “Jealousy” and the Ira Stanphill classic “Mansion Over The Hilltop”. www.thelewis3.com Album of the Week.