Thursday, July 26, 2012

Kentucky Headhumters-Pickin On Nashville

Pickin' on Nashville
This group was different - for innovation, they deserved to be major stars, but innovation rarely gets what it deserves in the music industry. Though rooted in traditional country, their music encompasses elements of rockabilly, western swing, and a lot of boogie-woogie. They look more like a metal band than a country group. The group were made up of Greg Martin (lead guitar), Doug Phelps (bass and vocals), Ricky Lee Phelps (lead vocals), Fred Young (drums and percussion) and Richard Young (rhythm guitar). Richard Ripani guests on Oh lonesome me (playing Hammond B3) and Rock'n'roll angel (playing cheesey organ).

They wrote most of their own songs, the best of the seven on this, their debut album, being Dumas Walker and My daddy was a milkman. They also recorded some fascinating covers, three of which are on this album - Walk softly on this heart of mine (Bill Monroe), Skip a rope (Henson Cargill) and Oh lonesome me (Don Gibson). I'm not sure what the original artists would make of these rocking (but still country) covers, but I love them.

If you are looking for something different, you might enjoy this album, but it's not quite like anything else I've heard. Still, at the price quoted you won't lose much if it's not to your liking. And if you do enjoy it, you'll think it's a bargain.

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