Hats off to John Lilly for a nigh-on perfect record; for a man with one of the most unassuming stage presences in planet showbiz he is the most astonishingly assured performer. In thrall to Jimmy Rodgers and Hank Williams, and a past winner of the Ghost Writers in The Sky in the style of Hank Williams song writing competition, this album is in fact packed with John Lilly originals that are just wonderful.
Unashamedly but un-stuffily old-timey, John's songs liberate Hank from the museum that has grown around him and make him the progenitor of a style that lives anew. I remember some sleeve notes of Mike Nesmith's back in the 70's that said his highest ambition was to approach the simplicity and purity of Jimmy Rodger's and Hank Williams' writing. Well, John Lilly is there, and it's just sheer joy for a country fan to soak it all in.
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His voice will remind you of Jimmy or Hank, but also of Jimmy Dale Gilmore, whilst his guitar playing combines precision and feeling exquisitely. Supporting roles are taken (mostly) by Buddy Griffin on fiddle and Ginny Hawker on backing vocals, but also include contributions from Chris Stewart, Janet Beazley (Back Country) Bill Kirchens (Commander Cody) Chuck Campbell (The Campbell Brother) all bringing considerable musical sensitivity to their performances.
An object lesson on why less is often more, there's a lifetime's musical experience brought to bear on this record, and it's one for us lucky music fans to treasure.
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