JIM LAUDERDALE

JIM LAUDERDALE
WHEN CAROLINA COMES HOME

Yep Roc Records
YEP-2695X

Lauderdale has recorded over thirty albums and now has another on the North Carolina based Yep Roc label, saluting his home state and employing a gaggle of Carolina artists to boot. Right off, this is a very enjoyable effort with 13 songs, all written by Jim or co-written with the likes of John Oates (Hall & Oates), Robert Hunter (Grateful Dead), Charles R. Humphrey III (Songs From The Road Band), Graham Sharp (Steep Canyon Rangers), Si Khan, Sara Douga, and Logan Ledger.

Helping back Lauderdale with vocals and instrumentation are Balsam Range, Steep Canyon Rangers, Town Mountain, Cane Mill Road, Patti Hopkins Kinlaw, Nick Dauphinais, Aaron Ramsey, and several others. The title-track opens the project and sets the stage for songs with imagery of home, empty nests, lost loves, mountain people, and storytelling. Lauderdale and Si Khan co-wrote “Cackalacky,” another tip of the hat to his home state. The name is not only the brand name of a line of sauces, snacks, and coffee beans, it is also a one word description of style, charm, and fondness for chicken, biscuits, and sweet tea. Jim uses the term to describe a fine life in The Carolinas with an invitation to visit and see what’s going on. It’s a fun toe-tapper, for sure. “Better Than You Found It” asks if you’re leaving this world better than you found it. Listeners are also treated to two live tracks recorded at the North Carolina Governor’s Mansion in September of 2019, with backing provided by North Carolina’s Fireside Collective. One of those is “Trashcan Tomcat” and the album closes with the second live track, “Headed For The Hills,” which runs almost seven minutes with Fireside Collective taking some fine instrumental breaks and the audience singing along.

This product offers a wide range of musical styles within the bluegrass and Americana genres. You won’t get bored with this one. (www.jimlauderdalemusic.com)BW