Highway Prayer A Tribute To Adam Carroll

Highway Prayer: A Tribute to Adam Carroll
Label: Eight Thirty Records
Reviewed by: Kim Walter

This CD has become somewhat of my nemesis. I first reviewed it in Nov and thought I had finished it and turned it in. The CD resurfaced in Jan. To my horror, the review on it was lost. So I reviewed it again. And promptly lost my notes before I typed it up. I mention this, because it’s interesting to me that when I first heard it, I thought it was just OK. And now, listening yet again, it’s REALLY good. I guess I just wasn’t appreciating it… This is a wonderful retrospective of some of Adam Carroll’s work, covered by some of the industry’s best voices. The most notable thing here is that Adam is only in his 40’s, and that’s extremely young to be so revered as a musical icon. But he is worthy, as this album and the many musicians on it prove. I especially liked the Band of Heathens tune, # 4, Oklahoma Gypsy Shuffler, but, honestly, every single song has merit on its own.

1. slow/med – meandering gentle tune sung by James McMurtry, really a love song
2. slow/med - a beautifully veiled acoustic love song, covered by Hayes Carli
3. med - mellow county/folk rock tune sung about somewhere south of town by Slaid Cleaves
4. med - excellent version of Adam’s song by the Band of Heathens, country rock
5. slow/med – folk rock in Jamie Lin Wilson’s distinctively country tinged voice
6. slow/med – almost a gentle story or poem set to music, Verlon Thompson performs
7. slow – Scott Nolan gives us an extraordinary version of this immediately recognizable song
8. med - happy tune with guitar finger picking about old town rock n roll by Matt the Electrician
9. med – country rock duet by Tim Easton and Aaron Lee Tasjan
10. med - Bluegrass infused tune about a taxi in the Smoky Mountains by Danny Barnes
11. slow – gentle tune in storytelling tradition about farming life sung by Jason Eady
12. med – Country story with varying tempos from gentle strumming to rocking out
13. med – very country style song with nice electric guitar mandolin
14. med - Catchy Country rock story sung by Mando Saenz
15. slow – Walt Wilkins sings gentle ballad about the road
16. slow – Adam Carroll sings about his only good shirt. Quintessential AC style