Red Dirt Rangers
OKLAHOMA
TERRITORY
Ranger Records 9701
visit the band's website
and on myspace
also available on amazon
What stands out on this album is the overall feel of songs here. The tight harmonies wrapping around the words of the stories that they are telling. There is an overall feeling of being allowed into a family with this disc. The songs are tightly told tales that deal with far more than love, trucks and whiskey. This is a band that fits not into any particular genre, but belongs in many. There is very much a country feel to the vocals and harmonies, and the instrumentation, notice the mandolin and pedal steel, yet they know how to rock the place, and get those that want more than that traditional grievous country sound out on the dance floor having a good time. Listen to the fun they are having rocking out on BE MY BABY and DOG ON A CHAIN, and then the homage in the love song that is told as a slow ballad in BLUE DIAMOND, with its slow honky tonk weepy country pedal steel guitar. They are greatly helped in this effort by the very fine production work and clean sound that is typical of Lloyd Maines. They are tight and sure seem to be having a sweet old time playing. Have a feeling they would be a fun band to see. One thing I don't understand is this 'bonus track' thing that some bands do. Why not list the song, what is the deal? Oh well, this is still a fun disc with good tight harmonies and some good stories.
Songs times and writers
1. DEEP ELLEM BLUES - 5:30 - trad./arr. Red Dirt Rangers
2. FOLLOW ME DOWN - 3:42 - B. Piccolo, J. Cooper
3. TRAIN RIDE'S ALLRIGHT - 3:38 - B. Wiles
4. DOG ON A CHAIN - 3:36 - B. Piccolo, J. Cooper, D. Clark
5. IDABEL BLUES - 3:42 - J. Cooper, D. Clark, C. Peaden
6. BLUES DIAMOND - 4:34 - B. Piccolo, B. Childers
7. DOLORES - 3:48 - B. Piccolo, J. Cooper, D. Clark, B. Childers
8. BE MY BABY - 3:37 - B. Piccolo, J. Cooper
9. BLACK GOLD - 3:05 - J. Cooper
10. FRESH CUT HAY - 4:34 - B. Wiles
11. NEW ORLEANS - 3:23 - B. Piccolo, R. Pease
12. LAST DOLLAR ROAD - 6:06 - B. Piccolo, J. Cooper
+ USED TO BE - B. Wiles, T. Skinner
The Band -
Benny Craig - fiddle, pedal steel, & harp
John Cooper - mandolin, vocals, & percussion
Kenny Earley - drums. percussion, & vocals
Bradley Piccolo - guitar, vocals
Ben Han - lead guitar, vocals
Bob Wiles - bass, vocals
special guests -
Lisa Mednick - organ, accordian
Dickie Lee Erwin - banjo
Scott Buxton - drums
Lloyd Maines - shaker egg
Produced by - Lloyd Maines