Farmer not so John
Farmer not so John
Compass 7 4239 2
visit not so on Compass records
also available on Amazon
This self-titled debut album bodes a most promising future for this group. This group fits into that genre that, at least as far as I know, has no definite tag name yet. It is country flavored and based, with rock roots and rhythms. There is a strong feeling of southern rock, which has been influenced by northern city sensibilities, in our shrinking world. Even if there is no name this is still a disc that will have a wide appeal for its lyric content, melodies, and solid sound. They have a gem, with great feel for the songs they pen, in Richard McLaurin. He handles the Mandolin, Lap Steel, and Dobro chores, along with a few other instruments. The songs have good lyric content that reminds me a bit of Bruce Cockburn. A real keeper is the opening cut FIRE IN THE VALLEY, penned by Mack Linebaugh, who wrote, or shared writing of 9 of the 11 tunes with Brian Ray and the rest of the band. This is a most solid effort that goes beyond the boundaries of a debut album. It has that quality that holds promises of a long and distinctive constantly improving group.
Song and composers
1. FIRE IN THE VALLEY - Linebaugh
2. RUSTY WEATHERVANE - Ray
3. EVERY STREET IN NASHVILLE - Linebaugh
4. OF ANGELS - Linebaugh, Ray
5. FOOL'S LULLABY - Linebaugh
6. PAPERWEIGHT OF THE WORLD - Ray
7. THE HOLE WE'RE IN - Linebaugh
8. CRADLED - Linebaugh, Ray
9. SACRED COW -Linebaugh, Ray, McLaurin, Keith
10. THIS IS OUR HOUSE - Linebaugh
11. TRAVELIN' FOOL - Linebaugh
Musicians
Mack Linebaugh - Lead Vocals, Electric and Acoustic Guitars
Brian Ray - Bass and Vocals
Sean R. Keith - Drums
Richard McLaurin - Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Lap Steel, Dobro, Mandolin, Octave Mandolin, Organ, Percussion, Vocals
additional musicians
Sean Ray - Pedal Steel
Steve Conn - Organ (RUSTY WEATHERVANE, THE HOLE WE'RE IN) appears courtesy of D'ville Records
Kris Kerr - organ (FOOL'S LULLABY)
Jerry Dale McFadden - Accordion
Emmylou Truitt - Barking