BUDDY GREENE

BUDDY GREENE
LOOKING BACK

Rufus Music
RMCD195320

Consider this: Buddy Greene, 40-plus years in music, 20 albums, and a list of contributors that includes Ron Block, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Aubrey Haynie, Bryan Sutton, Del McCoury, a couple of Isaacs, and a host of other musical standouts too numerous to list. Oh, and keep in mind, Doc Watson and Jerry Reed were big influences. Where do you think Greene’s new CD, Looking Back, is headed?

Although Greene has new material, this project is certainly a lyrical memoir of his time in the music business. He traces lows and highs in his life, and very much of his work has a spiritual bent. There are old songs, new takes on old songs, a little country, a little bluegrass, a little blues, and a little funk. Not to be overlooked is the outstanding work on the liner notes, a sadly overlooked item in today’s download-heavy music world. Greene gives a select set of backstories that makes the music even more enjoyable.

There are 18 cuts and only a small amount of space to cover them. Longtime fans will surely contend over which pieces are best, but from this viewpoint, “Brand New Day,” “Southern Skies,” “Jesus Gonna Make It Alright,” “Real Love,” “Look Up, Look Down That Lonesome Road,” “Green Tree,” and “I Belong To The Band” are among the best. The great thing is that with so much to pick from, favorites can change daily. High expectations are met on this fine album. (Buddy Greene, P.O. Box 3687, Brentwood, TN 37024, www.buddygreene.com.)MKB