Happy Prisoner -- The Bluegrass Sessions
Reviews
Joseph
Reviewed 2015-02-01
Reviewed 2015-02-01
Robert Earl Keen
“Happy Prisoner – The Bluegrass Sessions”
Label: Dualtone Records
Joseph
Reviewed 2/1/15
Fine new release by Robert Earl Keen featuring his takes on 15 mostly well-known
bluegrass classics. Most tracks have a funky, spare jug band sound. Lots to like.
1 – (3:27) Hot Corn, Cold Corn* Funky jug-band version, cool frailed banjo.
2 – (3:58) 52 Vincent Black Lightning* Excellent mid cover of Richard Thompson classic.
3 – (3:14) Footprints In The Snow* Great up-tempo version, really fine.
4 – (2:54) 99 Years For One Dark Day* Fine bouncy rendition, w/Peter Rowan on vocals.
5 – (3:36) East Virginia Blues Good mid-tempo version, pretty.
6 – (3:47) Poor Ellen Smith* Slow & spare, haunting, excellent.
7 – (3:51) Long Black Veil Good workmanlike version of this classic song.
8 – (3:17) This World Is Not My Home Decent mid ragtime version, pretty good.
9 – (4:26) T For Texas* W/Lyle Lovett here, who is fantastic!
10 – (1:38) Peter Rowan Intro* Interesting spoken word intro to the next track.
11 – (4:39) Walls Of Time* Fine vocals & playing here, really nicely done.
12 – (3:13) White Dove Decent rendition of the Carter Stanley song.
13 – (2:58) Old Home Place Mid-tempo, just OK.
14 – (2:46) Twisted Laurel* Pretty & slow nostalgic ballad.
15 – (4:13) Wayfaring Stranger* Slow version w/Natalie Maines contributing vocals.
“Happy Prisoner – The Bluegrass Sessions”
Label: Dualtone Records
Joseph
Reviewed 2/1/15
Fine new release by Robert Earl Keen featuring his takes on 15 mostly well-known
bluegrass classics. Most tracks have a funky, spare jug band sound. Lots to like.
1 – (3:27) Hot Corn, Cold Corn* Funky jug-band version, cool frailed banjo.
2 – (3:58) 52 Vincent Black Lightning* Excellent mid cover of Richard Thompson classic.
3 – (3:14) Footprints In The Snow* Great up-tempo version, really fine.
4 – (2:54) 99 Years For One Dark Day* Fine bouncy rendition, w/Peter Rowan on vocals.
5 – (3:36) East Virginia Blues Good mid-tempo version, pretty.
6 – (3:47) Poor Ellen Smith* Slow & spare, haunting, excellent.
7 – (3:51) Long Black Veil Good workmanlike version of this classic song.
8 – (3:17) This World Is Not My Home Decent mid ragtime version, pretty good.
9 – (4:26) T For Texas* W/Lyle Lovett here, who is fantastic!
10 – (1:38) Peter Rowan Intro* Interesting spoken word intro to the next track.
11 – (4:39) Walls Of Time* Fine vocals & playing here, really nicely done.
12 – (3:13) White Dove Decent rendition of the Carter Stanley song.
13 – (2:58) Old Home Place Mid-tempo, just OK.
14 – (2:46) Twisted Laurel* Pretty & slow nostalgic ballad.
15 – (4:13) Wayfaring Stranger* Slow version w/Natalie Maines contributing vocals.
Recent airplay
Footprints In The Snow
Traditions — Dec 19, 2023
Wayfaring Stranger
The Iron Skillet — Dec 09, 2023
Wayfaring Stranger
The Iron Skillet -- Holiday Edition — Jan 07, 2023
Long Black Veil
Traditions — Aug 19, 2022
Walls Of Time
The Iron Skillet — Apr 30, 2022
T For Texas
The Iron Skillet — Aug 10, 2019
Charting
2015-02-06 — 2015-04-10
Country/Bluegrass
| Week Ending | Airplays |
|---|---|
| Apr 12 | 1 |
| Mar 29 | 1 |
| Mar 22 | 1 |
| Mar 15 | 3 |
| Mar 8 | 1 |
| Mar 1 | 1 |
| Feb 22 | 2 |
| Feb 15 | 1 |
Track listing
| 1. | Hot Corn, Cold Corn | ||
| 2. | 52 Vincent Black Lightning | ||
| 3. | Footprints In The Snow | ||
| 4. | 99 Years For One Dark Day | ||
| 5. | East Virginia Blues | ||
| 6. | Poor Ellen Smith | ||
| 7. | Long Black Veil | ||
| 8. | This World Is Not My Home | ||
| 9. | T For Texas | ||
| 10. | Peter Rowan Intro | ||
| 11. | Walls Of Time | ||
| 12. | White Dove | ||
| 13. | Old Home Place | ||
| 14. | Twisted Laurel | ||
| 15. | Wayfaring Stranger |