Songs of Love and Life

At 85, it is not impressive that Del McCoury is still making music.  What’s impressive is how darn good it is and how that voice is as strong and classic as ever. The beloved bluegrass musician has headlined his band for 35 years and has hit yet another home run with Songs of Love and Life.

It’s the group’s first album since the Grammy-nominated Almost Proud in 2021. This 15-song collection will make some noise as well.  There has been regular airplay of “If You Talk in Your Sleep,” McCoury’s cover of Elvis Presley’s 70s effort. It has some bounce and you can just see McCoury having fun and grinning when you listen.

There are other notable covers on the album, arguably the best being Roy Orbison’s “Only the Lonely,” where Josh Shilling complements the band with his just-right piano. Kenny Rogers’ “Sweet Music Man” and Charlie Daniels’ “Evangaline” are the others.

However, the new cuts don’t disappoint. Young superstar Molly Tuttle joins the McCourys on “She’s Heavenly” and the harmonizing is impressive. McCoury’s “Legend of the Confederate Gold” is a great story song about a Richmond robbery in late May 1865, just after the end of the Civil War.  And then there’s “Working for the WPA,” which is the legend’s nod toward his father and his contribution to America during the Great Depression. Like bluegrass, many of those projects have endured time.

While the entire album is a great listen, other standouts are “Red Cajun Girl,” “Jimmy Rodgers Rode A Train,” and “Treat Me Kind.”  The band is as tight as ever with McCoury’s sons, Ronnie on mandolin and Ronnie on banjo; Jason Carter on fiddle; and Alan Bartram on bass. Songs of Love and Life will appeal to both longtime fans and newbies as the nine-time IBMA “Entertainer of the Year” keeps on rolling with no signs of slowing down in the studio or on tour.