LAWSON & WILLIAMS

LAWSON & WILLIAMS
CHAPTER 3

Mountain Home
MH16722

Two old friends return here for a program of fine older songs. They reprise past glories from long careers of making music. The duets ring true and the music walks the line between bluegrass and older country. The use of brushes on a snare drum is reminiscent of the classic recordings these men made with the late Jimmy Martin. Missing is their partner J.D. Crowe. Joe Mullins plays banjo and does his usual fine job of placing the right notes in the right place at the right time. True to form, Mullins’ banjo sneaks some well-placed licks into the predominately moderate tempos.

Drawing from a wide array of material from Dolly Parton, the Louvin Brothers, Buddy Starcher, Alton Delmore, and the Bailes Brothers, we are treated to a rich program of strong material. There are four Paul Humphrey numbers here as well. As one would expect, the singing is all first-rate, and the themes are consistent with these fine artists’ prior catalogs. Josh Swift adds the baritone vocals, resonator guitar, and percussion. Stephen Burwell’s fiddle, David Johnson’s pedal steel, and Tim Surrey’s doghouse bass fill out the sound. They work together to provide a seamless sound.

This is some mighty fine music. Great heartfelt vocals and strong arrangements that walk the line between bluegrass and classic country make this recording a must have for the fans of the more traditional side of our music. This CD is highly recommended to all fans of Lawson and Williams. (Mountain Home, P.O. Box 829, Arden, NC 28704, www.mountainhomemusiccompany.com.)RCB