IndexBluegrassReleases09

1. Head Hung Down
2. You Oughta Be Here With Me
3. Your Love Is Like A Flower
4. When I've Traveled My Last Mile
5. Years Ago
6. There Is You
7. Girl In The Valley
8. Please Don't Let Our Sweet Love Die
9. Oh Ye Must Be Born Again
10. Winter's Come And Gone
11. When I Reach That Home Up There
12. On The Other Side

1. Daddy Played The Banjo
2. Pitkin County Turnaround
3. Hoedown At Alice's
4. Late For School
5. Tin Roof
6. Words Unspoken
7. Pretty Flowers
8. Wally On The Run
9. Freddie's Lilt
10. Saga Of The Old West
11. Clawhammer Medley
12. Calico Train
13. Banana Banjo
14. Blue River Waltz
15. The Crow

1. Sinking Of The Titantic
2. Remember The Poor Tramp Has To Live
3. Scotty's Bow
4. The Birds Are Returning
5. Ruby
6. House Of The Lord
7. Tell My Mother I Will Meet Her
8. I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know
9. This Little Light Of Mine
10. Shackles And Chains
11. Barney McCoy
12. I Feel Like Traveling On
13. Prayers And Pinto Beans

At the 2008 IBMA Awards, Jamie and
Darrin won everything in sight hard on
the success of their debut CD. This
sophomore album is a lot different.
Firstly, there is a lot of Statler Brothers
including three songs from them and
Harold Reid's appearance as Lester
"Roadhog" Moran. Secondly, the album
is very Country in feel which gives it the
opportunity to cross to the mainstream
charts. There are a bunch of high
profile guest musicians including Andy
Leftwich, Bryan Sutton, Ron Block,
Stuart Duncan and Tim Crouch. My
favorite cut is without doubt "On The
Other Side" written by Jimmy Fortune,
Kevin Denney and Tom Botkin. I notice
that there are two Jamie songs but no
Darrin ones. I wonder why. Definitely a
contender at this year's IBMAs.

Yes, this is the same Wild and Crazy
Guy that we all know and love. Steve
proves that he is a great banjo picker
and as the writer or co-writer of all the
material, he emerges as no slouch.
Steve has great support from Mary
Black, Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, Earl
Scruggs, Tony Trischka, Pete Wernick
and of course, John McEuen. This is
one of the few CDs that I have actually
spent cash money on and it is worth
every cent. I have made this CD my
Album of the Month.

I guess if you thought that Country
music is Carrie Underwood, Julianne
Hough or Miranda Lambert, then the
three remaining members of The
Stonemans are not going to get you
listening to real Country. Pop
Stoneman was inducted into the
Country Music Hall of Fame a couple of
years back. This was well overdue as
he was there at the start down in Bristol
alongside Jimmie Rodgers and The
Tenneva Ramblers. What strikes me
about this CD is the fact of how good
Patsy, Donna and Roni play their
instruments at a time when one could
be excused for thinking the fingers
would be less nimble. I want to thank
Patuxent for consistently releasing such
quality product. This is a delight and I
hope it is a contender at IBMA this year.

FRANK WAKEFIELD

"OWNSELF BLUES"

PATUXENT CD-182

NO PRODUCER LISTED

THE DAUGHTERS OF BLUEGRASS

"BLUEGRASS BOUQUET"

BLUE CIRCLE BCR-017

PRODUCED BY DIXIE HALL, PAULA WOLAK,
FRANCES MOONEY

THE DOERFELS

"WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR"

PATUXENT CD-187

NO PRODUCER LISTED

1. Ownself Blues
2. Saratoga Ride
3. Flying Strings
4. This Is For Bill
5. Beethoven: Theme And Variation In D
6. The Runaway Train
7. The Old Cat Sneezed
8. New Camptown Races
9. Bach: Bouree From Lute Suite In E Minor
10. Double Stoppin' The Blues
11. Sabbatical
12. Rockville Special
13. Mandolin Solo #2

1. Proud To Be A Daughter Of Bluegrass
2. I Don't Think I'm Going Back To Harlan
3. Keep On Walking
4. (There Ought To Be) More To Love Than This
5. Carolina State Of Mind
6. Desmoranda
7. I'm Gonna Love You Now
8. Nobody Home
9. Leaving Here For Nashville
10. Everybody Got A Light
11. The Old Family Bible
12. Will You Ever Be Satisfied
13. Go Up On The Mountain And Wait
14. I Made A Friend Of A Flower Today
15. Your Memory Followed Me Home
16. Scenes From An Old Country Graveyard
17. Take Me With You

1. Hyssop Branches
2. Blues You Never Lose
3. We'll Meet Again Sweetheart
4. Bipolar
5. The Chocolate Song
6. The Last Time
7. Dead Time
8. What I'm Looking For
9. Walking After Midnight
10. C.R.V.P.
11. Worrisome Heart
12. The Guitar Song
13. Salty Dog
(Featuring Tommy, Jr.)

Back in the early 90's, Frank wrote the
"expert" view on the mandolin for my
book "Definitive Country." When I say
wrote, that is perhaps a mistatement.
He sent me a video tape in which he
used his famed backwards talk to talk
about the mandolin. In fact, I remember
the first words out of his mouth to me.
"Goodbye, it was nice for me to call
you!!" However, his humor never failed
to disguise the fact that he is one of the
finest mandolin players period. He is
wonderfully positioned between the
traditional style of Bill Monroe and the
more complex contemporary wizardry of
the likes of David Grisman. He is also
not afraid to put not only his toe but his
whole foot into the classics. He was
bluegrassing Bach and Beethover long
before Bela Fleck launched his bano at
them. Frank some fine pickers with him
including Michael Cleveland, Mike
Munford, Jordan Tice, Audie Blaylock,
Nate Leath, Taylor Baker, Darrell Muller
and Jessie Baker. A work of pure
genius. Frank, it was great for you to
hear me!!!

Last time out the Daughters garnered
an IBMA Award and I do not doubt that
they will repeat this at the next IBMA
convention. The songs are mainly
written by Dixie Hall alone and with her
illustrious husband, Tom T. Hall.
Musically, it is impossible to find fault
with the likes of Becky Buller, Kristin
Scott Benson, Sierra Hull and the
superb Rebecca Frazier among many
others. The lead vocals are a little
uneven in volume; no doubt due to the
fact that someone didn't tweak the
volume control but that is a small point.
All of the songs stand up well with the
exception of "Desmoranda" which
doesn't sit well with the others but with
17 cuts there is more than enough
material to satisfy even the most ardent
critic. This is definitely a keeper.

Oh dear. Patuxent can normally be
relied upon to release quality product.
This one falls short of their standards. I
will try not to appear like the wicked
step father because of the ages of The
Doerfels but I cannot help comparing
them to Cherryholmes at similar ages
(well at least the junior Cherryholmes.)
Musically the Doerfels are competent,
as writers they are so so but vocally
they fall far short. It can only be hoped
that as they get older, they will improve
at the least take vocal lessons. As
regards the inclusion of "Salty Dog,"
cute on a serious commercial release
just doesn't cut it.

MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY

"BUCKAROO BLUE GRASS"

RURAL RHYTHM RHY-1044

PRODUCED BY RYAN MURPHEY
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: MICHAEL MARTIN
MURPHEY FOR WILDFIRE PRODUCTIONS, INC.

LONESOME RIVER BAND

"NO TURNING BACK"

RURAL RHYTHM RHY-1040

PRODUCED BY LONESOME RIVER BAND

TOMMY WEBB

"HEARTLAND"

RURAL RHYTHM RHY-1043

PRODUCED BY RON STEWART

1. Lone Cowboy
2. What Am I Doing Hanging Around
3. Lost River
4. Carolina In The Pines
5. Cherokee Fiddle
6. Dancing In The Meadow
7. Healing Spring
8. Fiddlin' Man
9. Boy From The Country
10. Wild Bird
11. Close To The Land (America's Heartland)

1. Them Blues
2. Like A Train Needs A Track
3. Dime Store Rings
4. One Little Teardrop
5. Wires And Wood
6. Somebody's Missin' You
7. I'm Not There Yet
8. Long Way From Here
9. We Couldn't Tell
10. Molly
11. Darkness Wept
12. I'd Worship You
13. Struttin' To Ferrum
14. Flowers

1. Teardrop Inn
2. Everything You Do
3. What You Weren't Thinking Of
4. Heartland
5. No Room Inside Your Heart
6. River Of Jordan
7. Something In My Heart
8. If It Weren't For Bluegrass Music (I'd Go Crazy)
9. She Told Me So
10. Little Sadie
11. A Hard Road To Hoe
12. Fall Upon Him
13. Good Day To Run
14. Clinch Mountain Backstep

I had the pleasure of hearing and
photographing MMM at IBMA last year.
In fact five of my photographs grace the
booklet. The transition from bona fide
Country star to Bluegrass performer
has not always gone well. I cite for
example Merle Haggard's effort last
year. However, this is a well thought out
project and Ryan Murphey, MMM's son,
has done a good job on production with
one little caveat...a little sweetening on
the voice might have made it even
better. MMM is accompanied by a
bunch of stellar sidemen including Sam
Bush, Charlie Cushman, Pat Flynn,
Rob Ickes, Andy Leftwich, Ronnie
McCoury, Craig Nelson, Mike Stidolph,
Clay Riness, Matt Wilkes, David
Davidson and Rhonda Vincent. Triple
M has transitioned well and just as Tom
T. Hall has renewed his career, so I am
sure Michael Martin Murphey will do the
same.

Lonesome River Band always give
satisfaction. This is a very competent
CD and of course vocally and musically
it never lets you down. Sammy Shelor
has long been one of my favorite banjo
players and Mike Hartgrove ought to be
in the running when it comes to choose
fiddle player of the year. However, one
of the strengths of this CD is the very
able writing of Brandon Rickman plus
the band's willingness to cast their net
wide in the search of external material.
This is a CD to brighten your day and is
sure to put LRB back in the recking at
awards time.

I didn't know there were Bluegrass
singers like this anymore. I just love this
CD. Ron Stewart has produced a great
album. Tommy writers first rate songs
and has a voice powerful enough to do
without a microphone and plays a nifty
guitar and clawhammer banjo. I
particularly like the title truck, Ricky
Skaggs/Jim Rushing's " A Hard Row To
Hoe" and his take on Darryl Worley's
"Good Day To Run." I look forward to a
lot more from Tommy. This is excellent.

ANGELICA GRIM

"LOOK FOR ME"

PATUXENT CD-180

PRODUCED AND ARRANGED BY FRANK SOLIVAN

SARA WATKINS

"SARA WATKINS"

NONSUCH 516987-2

PRODUCED BY JOHN PAUL JONES

AMONG THE OAK & ASH

"AMOGTHE OAK & ASH"

VERVE FORECASTVERF01653-2

PRODUCED BY BRIAN HARRISON AND AMONG THE
OAK & ASH

1. Look For Me
2. Runaway Ramp
3. If I Needed You
4. I Still Miss Someone
5. He Took Your Place
6. Old Calloused Hands
7. Hand In Hand With Jesus
8. West Virginia My Home
9. Rubber Dolly
10. She's More To Be Pitied
11. Roseville Fair
12. The Letter

1. All This Time
2. Long Hot Summer Days
3. My Friend
4. Freiderick
5. Same Mistakes
6. Any Old Time
7. Pony
8. Lord Won't You Help Me
9. Jefferson
10. Give Me Jesus
11. Bygones
12. Too Much
13. Will We Go
14. Where Will You Be

1. Hiram Hubbard
2. Peggy-O
3. Angel Gabriel
4. Shady Grove
5. The Water Is Wide
6. The Housewife's Lament
7. Pretty Saro
8. All The Pretty Little Horses
9. Come All You Young & Tender Ladies
10. Joseph Hillstrom 1879-1915
11. That Loneg & Lonesome Road
12. High, Low & Wide

There is nothing Grim about this 19
year old except her name. Wonderfully
produced by Frank Solivan who also
plays excellent mandolin, this CD
covers material from Angelica as well
as Ginger Boatwright, Townes Van
Zandt, Johnny Cash, Flatt & Scruggs,
Hazel Dickens, Carter Stanley among
others. Angelica breathes fresh life into
a pair of excellent songs by Hazel
Dickens and gives a stellar
performance on Wayne Carson's "The
Letter." Among the musicians are
Michael Cleveland, Bill Emerson,
Wayne Taylor and Mike Auldridge. This
a first rate CD and I am sure that
Angelica Grim is going to be a name
that will soon be among the royalty of
Bluegrass.

Most of you will remember Sara as one
third of Nickel Creek and this solo
album is well overdue. Both brother
Sean and Chris Thile lend their chops
to this excellent album. It is produced
by John Paul Jones who is of course
the bass player with Led Zeppelin and
a great job he does. The music ranges
from old timey through alternative
grass. Several of the songs are written
by Sara and she shows a deft touch
with both the melody and the lyrics.
Her voice is reminiscent of Melanie with
that upper register clarity but it is her
fiddle playing that is showcased here
in a way that it never was with Nickel
Creek. Guest musos include Claire
Lynch, Luke Bulla, Byron House, Tim
O'Brien, Chris Eldridge, Gillian Welch
and David Rawlings. This is music for
summer day.

Let me start out saying that Among The
Oak & Ash is not Bluegrass. It is a folk
duo made up of Josh Joplin and
Garrison Star. Listening to their music is
like going back to the folk boom of the
60's in England. Some of the music is
Celtic influences while a lot forms
musically a Dylan sandwich with one
slice being pre Dylan and the other post
Dylan. Most of the material is traditional
with Among The Oak & Ash adding
lyrics and music. However, one of most
interesting songs is "Joseph Hillstrom
1879-1915, which is a Josh Joplin
original. I really enjoyed this CD and I
hope they visit Nashville for some live
dates.

THE LOVELL SISTERS

"TIME TO GROW"

2DEFPIG NO CAT #

PRODUCED BY THE LOVELL SISTERS AND BRENT
TRUITT

DEDE WYLAND

"KEEP THE LIGHT ON"

PATUXENT CD 189

PRODUCED BY JIM ROBESON AND DEDE WYLAND

MARTY RAYBON AND FULL CIRCLE

"THIS THAT AND THE OTHER"

SYNCHORO SRR128591

PRODUCED BY MARTY RAYBON

1. Time To Grow
2. In My Time Of Dyin'
3. Take One Moment
4. Ichetucknee Chutney
5. Subway Song
6. Paulita Maxwell
7. The Door In The Wall
8. Distance
9. We're All The Way
10. Blowin' Away
11. You Remain

1. Lord Keep The Light On
2. Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold)
3. Long White Cadillac
4. Fearless Love
5. Something 'Bout Traveling
6. The Memory Of Your Smile
7. Devoted To You
8. He Makes You Strong
9. Going Away
10. Chime Bells
11. John's Waltz To The Miller

1. Leavin' On The Next Thing Smokin'
2. Everybody's Reaching (Out For Someone)
3. I Cast My Bread Upon The Water
4. You Get Me
5. Luzianna Man
6. Going Through Hell (To Get There)
7. Nothing Ever Hurt Me (Half As Bad As Losing You)
8. The Immigrant Song
9. Timber (Stand Back And Watch It Fall)
10. The Devil's Ol' Workshop
11. Ain't Love A Lot Like That
12. Blackjack County Chain
13. Didn't It Rain Children
Bonus Track:
14. Any Ol' Stretch Of Black Top

If you like your Bluegrass fast and
furious, then move on. This is gentle
and probably should be described as
acoustic rather than Bluegrass. Most of
the songs were written by Rebecca,
Megan and Jessica Lovell and these
gals can play and most certainly their
harmonies are impeccable. At times the
vocals are reminiscent of Karen
Carpenter. I remember seeing the
Lovell Sisters two or three years ago at
IBMA and they have gone a long way
since then. This is most enjoyable.

If you like Emmylou Harris then you are
going to love Dede Wyland. Dede is not
a new kid on the block and that
experience shows. Her voice is pure
and with the support from pickers like
Ronnie and Rickie Simpkins, Wyatt
Rice and Darol Anger, you have a
quality product here. Dede has trawled
widely for material and it ranges Bob
McDill to Carter Stanley and from Felice
and Boudleaux Bryant to Utah Phillips.
She also reveals herself to be a quite
remarkable yodeler on the Elton Britt
classic "Chime Bells." I wonder does
she hold the record for the longevity of
her yodel! A brilliant CD.

I have always found Marty Raybon
good value. His move from Country to
Bluegrass has been seamless and this
new CD blends both influences with
Religious songs effortlessly. He has
surrounded himself with excellent
musicians who may not have the
"name" but do have the chops. The
songwriters range from Bobby
Braddock, Joe Diffice, Billy Lawson,
Larry Cordell, Larry Shell to Red Lane.
A very good CD and worth having in
your collection.

RUSSELL MOORE & IIIRD TYME OUT

"RUSSELL MOORE & IIIRD TYME OUT"

RURAL RHYTHM RHY-1045

PRODUCED BY RUSSELL MOORE & IIIRD TYME
OUT

TATIANA HARGREAVES

"STARTED OUT TO RAMBLE"

PATUXENT CD 186

PRODUCED BY BRUCE MOLSKY

BRANDON RICKMAN

"YOUNG MAN, OLD SOUL"

RURAL RHYTHM RHY-1046

PRODUCED BY JIMMY METTS & BRANDON
RICKMAN

1. Hard Rock Mountain Prison ('Till I Die)
2. Me And Dad
3. Carolina's Arms
4. My Angeline
5. Little John, I Am
6. Prayer For Peace
7. Knee Deep In The Blues
8. Boiling Springs
9. The Last Greyhound
10. Big City Blues
11. I'm Leaving Town
12. The Eastern Gate

1. Raleigh And Spencer/Dusty Miller
2. Grub Springs
3. Say Darling Say
4. Pretty Saro
5. Walk Along John To Kansas
6. She Left Me Standing On The Mountain
7. The Daemons Lament/Sugar Babe
8. Shaking Down The Acorns
9. Lord Ellie
10. Waverly
11. Ginseng Sullivan
12. Margaret Randolph Waltz
13. Married Man's Blues
14. Foreign Lander
15. Rocky Pallet

1. Always Have, Always Will
2. Rain & Snow
3. Here Comes That Feeling Again
4. I Bought Her A Dog
5. What I Know Now
6. Wide Spot In The Road
7. Let Me Walk Lord
8. So Long 20's
9. Rest For His Works
10. I Take The Backroads
11. Dime Store Rings
12. Wearin' Her Knees Out Over Me

Russell and IIIrd Tyme Out never fail to
entertain whether it is on record or in
person. With a blend of the secular and
religious, this CD is a delight. The
harmonies are impeccable and there is
not one filler song. I particularly liked
their treatment of the Melvin Endsley
classic "Knee Deep In Te Blues" and
Becky Buller's "My Angeline." A most
excellent CD that should be in the
running for the IBMA Album Award.

It is difficult to credit that Tatiana is only
14 year of age because she sings and
plays like someone who has been
around forever. Her vocals are aged
and remind me a little of Hazel Dickens.
She plays a 5-string fiddle and that
gives her playing extra depth. She is
surrounded by very adept pickers that
include producer, Bruce Molsky and
Mark Schatz. If you like old timey music
then this is a must for you. I get the
same buzz from Tatiana's playing as I
got from Chris Thile at age 13.

I have already commented favorably on
Brandon's work with Lonesome River
Band. On the whole this is not a bad
solo effort. My one criticism is on the
lack of eQ used on his voice. I would
really love to hear more presence on
his vocal track. I would have also liked
to have heard more of Brandon's songs
on this CD. Positive mention should be
made of fiddle player Janee' Fleenor
who is quite excellent. However, it is the
production that ruins what could have
been a good album.