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- Pete Smith's Reviews - The Advertiser (UK) - Pete Smith 10/1/2009, 12:45 pm
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Posted by Pete Smith
on 10/1/2009, 12:45 pm
81.132.23.10
“The Advertiser” 18 September 2009
Hull based Glenn Williams is probably Britain’s foremost preserver of traditional country sounds. I have previously reviewed a couple of his albums, the last, a live set, almost exactly a year ago. The new release, “All The Roads I Walk” (Lazyswede) has Glenn accompanied by Paul Hewson on a bunch of traditional and original songs that will warm the heart of both old-time and mainstream country fans. The duo play all the instruments, guitar, banjo, bass, drums and piano, between them with Glenn taking lead vocals. Of the nine tracks I was particularly drawn to number one, “The Great Speckled Bird”, Williams’ vocal is just right for this one, and a re-working of the Blue Sky Boys’ signature “Are You From Dixie” which becomes “Are You From Hull Now” (thanks for mentioning Sheffield Glenn!). Williams’ own compositions, “Farside Of The Street”, “Little Home Upon The Hill” and “Working On The River” (featuring the fiddle of John Smith) fit beautifully with the traditional theme. Completing the programme are excellent versions of “Jesse James”, “Katie Dear”, “Frankie And Albert” and “Little White Washed Chimney”. My undying gratitude to Glenn and Paul for reminding us of how country should sound. www.lazyswede.co.uk
Forty-one years ago tomorrow (19 September) Red Foley died in Fort Wayne, Indiana at the age of 58. Red was a big favourite on the “Grand Ole Opry” and was the founder of both the “Renfro Valley Barndance” and the “Ozark Jubilee”. For twenty years following World War 11 Foley was one of the biggest selling country artists selling more than 25 million records. His 1951 recording of “Peace In The Valley” was Gospel music’s first million seller. Red’s number one hits included “Smoke On The Water” (1944), “Shame On You” (1945), “New Jolie Blon” (1946), “Tennessee Saturday Night” (1948), “Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy” (1949), “Goodnight Irene” (duet with Ernest Tubb) and “One By One” (duet with Kitty Wells). On September 19 1968 Red appeared on stage in Fort Wayne with his friends Billy Walker and Hank Williams Jr. The last song he sang was “Peace In The Valley” and he remarked to Walker “Billy, I’ve never sung that song and feel the way I do tonight”. Red suffered respiratory failure and died that night.
Also on 19 September, but in 1973, Gram Parsons died of a heart attack. Gram, now a legendary figure, is generally credited with popularising country rock through his work with the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers and was the boyfriend of Emmylou Harris with whom he cut duets notably a stunning version of “Love Hurts”. After his death his manager stole Gram’s body and cremated it in the desert. Remember there are stars in the southern sky.
25 September 2009
Fifty-five years ago today (25 September) Elvis Presley made his one and only appearance on the “Grand Ole Opry”. Elvis sang just two songs, “That’s All right” and “Blue Moon Of Kentucky”, which received a luke-warm reception. After the show, Jim Denny, Talent Co-ordinator for the “Opry”, advised Presley to return to his former job as a truck driver. Denny certainly could spot talent. Today is also the seventy-sixth birthday of Canadian Ian Tyson. Ian, a real cowboy, made his name in the early sixties as half of the successful folk duo Ian and Sylvia. The duo also hosted a top Canadian television show that gave early exposure to Willie Nelson, Johnny Rodriguez and others. After a decade of performing, Tyson retired to become a rancher. After four years of that Ian quietly returned to music writing and singing songs of the American cowboy, songs so authentic and so beautifully performed that they are now accepted as best of the genre. Tyson’s most popular compositions remain “Four Strong winds”, “Someday Soon” and “Summer Wages”. Happy birthday Ian and, in the words of Abba, “Thank you for the music”. Still with today’s anniversaries, Thirty-four years ago Charlie Monroe died. Charlie, the brother of Bill, led his band The Kentucky Pardners for many years and but, though he was extremely talented and popular, he was always eclipsed by his brother and his Blue Grass Boys. Eighty-four years ago tomorrow country legend Marty Robbins was born in Glendale, Arizona. Marty’s first introduction to music came as a child at the knees of his harmonica playing father and his grandfather, a former travelling medicine man. Both taught Marty cowboy songs and told him tales of the west. By the time Robbins was starting his career in music he had amassed a great deal of western material and it was this that impressed country star Little Jimmy Dickens so much that he insisted his record label, Columbia, sign the young Marty. In 1953 Columbia released Marty’s first chart record, “I’ll Go On Alone” and heralded a long and successful career in country music. Marty’s fifties hits included; “A White Sports Coat”, “Singing The Blues” and, of course, “El Paso”. The following decade “Devil Woman”, “Ribbon Of Darkness” and “Tonight Carmen” were on Marty’s hit list. Into the seventies the charts saw “My, Woman, My Woman, My Wife”, “Walkin’ Piece Of Heaven” and “El Paso City”. An avid fan of motor racing (he drove himself), Robbins was inducted into the “Nashville Songwriters International Hall of Fame” in 1975 (he wrote more than 500 songs including many of his hits) and into the “Country Music Hall of Fame” in 1982. Marty Robbins died on 8 December 1982 after suffering a third heart attack. Remember there are stars in the southern sky.
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