Sing The Songs Of Vern & Ray

Laurie Lewis & Kathy Kallick
“Sing The Songs of Vern & Ray”
Label: Spruce and Maple Music
Joseph
Reviewed 8/24/14

Fine bluegrass tribute album to Vern Williams & Ray Park, fellow Arkansas
natives who were highly influential in the developing careers of Lewis, Kallick
and many other artists in the Bay Area and beyond. Really great stuff here.

1 – (1:47) Oh! Susanna* Upbeat, alternating lead vocals, old-timey.
2 – (2:55) Cabin On A Mountain* Fine mid rendition of V&R’s best-known tune.
3 – (4:01) Cowboy Jack* Same as above, lovely rendition of this waltz.
4 – (3:39) Little Birdie* Mid-up, fine playing & vocals.
5 – (2:53) If I Had My Life To Live Over Again* Soulful vocals, sweet.
6 – (2:35) Happy I’ll Be* Beautiful mid bluegrass gospel, lovely.
7 – (2:05) Black-Eyed Susie* Upbeat, fun, classic.
8 – (3:27) To Hell With The Land* Prescient Park original, slow & moving.
9 – (2:36) Flying Cloud* Up-tempo fiddle instrumental, nice.
10 – (3:20) Montana Cowboy* Another Park original & classic, excellent.
11 – (3:42) Down Among The Bundled Roses* Slow, sweet song of loss, fine.
12 – (3:11) Thinkin’ Of Home* Nice mid-tempo, sweet twin fiddles.
13 – (3:11) Field of Flowers* Slow, simple instrumentation, perfect.
14 – (2:30) How Many Times Another Park classic, decent.
15 – (4:35) My Clinch Mountain Home Mid, OK.
16 – (3:04) My Old Kentucky Home* Mid-up, nice dobro, lovely vocals.
17 – (1:52) Bluegrass Style Just so-so.
18 – (2:40) Touch Of God’s Hand Trio with Keith Little, ugh.