Posted by Pete Smith on February 18, 2009, 1:13 pm
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“The Advertiser” (UK) 6 February 2009
Texas based Lawrence Thibeault has a most unusual album on release through Comstock entitled “Right On Time”, unusual in the way the songs are presented. The album has classic rockabilly tracks and sweet spiritual numbers evenly layered almost throughout the 12 tracks. Surprisingly it works largely because Lawrence has a voice that glides easily from the rocking rhythms of “Matchbox” to the tender passion of “His Eye Is On The Sparrow” before rocking back with a rousing version of “Oh Boy”. Later there is “Who Am I” sandwiched with “Trying To Get To You” and “Hitchhiker Blues” Thibeault is assisted by some great musicians, pickers who have been around long enough to know just what rockabilly and Gospel need, cooking in the background. I suppose because of the Presley link drummer DJ Fontana would be leading the line-up but there are other equally fine musicians in Willie Rainsford (piano), Charlie Vaughn (lead) and Gary Phillips (bass). www.comstockrecords.com
If you like no frills country Gospel music you will simply love Downings Plus from the great state of Texas. Though the outfit did not arrive on the Gospel scene officially until 2002 Chris and Marlene Downing had been delivering a musical ministry for a few years previously but in 2002 had to adopt a “professional” name for their debut CD. So we have the Downings, Chris who sings and picks lead guitar and Marlene the singing bass picker, but what about the “Plus”? Well that includes a great bass singer called Paul Lynn Cook and Sonny Edwards a talented Dobro picker and harmonica player who helps keep that beautiful country feel. And that country feel is certainly felt on “Get Down On Your Knees” (Comstock), a collection of ten wonderful Gospels that include seven originals. Paul’s rich bass (Oh how I love that voice!) is beautifully demonstrated on “Wonderful Time Up There” (a fifties UK pop hit for Pat Boone) and “Holy Ghost Revival” whilst the group excel on all including “Because You’re There”, “Whispering To My Saviour”, “Oh Death” and “Get Down On Your Knees”. This really is country Gospel at its very best. www.downingsplus.com
Should you wish to contact me at any time for information on my reviews or any other country matter please contact me at pete_fabam@hotmail.com
Remember there are stars in the southern sky.
“The Advertiser” (UK) 13 February 2009
Ninety years ago today (13 February) Ernest Jennings Ford was born in Bristol, Tennessee. From an early age he had an ambition to be a radio DJ and this was fulfilled when he joined WOPI in Bristol. In 1939 Ernie briefly put his career on hold to study voice at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music but soon quit his studies to serve in World War 11 as First Lieutenant Ford flying missions over Japan as a Bombardier on B-29 Superfortresses. After the war Ernie moved to California resuming his radio career. It was whilst hosting “Bar Nothin’ Ranch Time” that Ford adopted the personality Tennessee Ernie Ford, a sort of exaggerated hillbilly.
The character became extremely popular and Ernie moved to bigger and bigger shows. Whilst working for bandleader Cliffie Stone Ernie changed careers, from DJ to singer. Ford loved to sing for fun but had never considered it as a career. When Stone heard him one day he hired him as a vocalist on his show and was instrumental in gaining Ernie, in 1949, a recording contract with Capitol. The records got off to a cracking start with “Smokey Mountain Boogie” and “Anticipation Blues” but it was “Mule Train” that established Ford as an international recording star. The following year Ernie hit hard with “Cry Of The Wild Goose” and “Shotgun Boogie”, a track that is widely regarded as influencing the emerging rock and roll genre. Moving through the fifties Ford enjoyed more hits, many crossing over to pop, such as “The Ballad Of Davy Crockett” and the seminal “Sixteen Tons”. At the height of his career Ernie turned more and more toward Gospel and in 1956 released “Hymns”, the first country album to sell a million copies. Throughout the early 1950s Ernie released around 50 singles, most of which charted with many crossing over to pop. Ford quit radio during the mid-50s to become a television star, hosting “Kollege Of Musical Knowledge” and portraying a country bumpkin, Cousin Ernie, on the “I Love Lucy” show before hosting his own “The Ford Show” for around five years. Ernie still pursued a recording career in Gospel music winning a Grammy for his 1964 release “Great Gospel Songs”. Over the years Ford received many awards including three stars on the “Hollywood Walk Of Fame”, “Presidential Medal of Freedom” and, in 1990, was induated into the “Country Music Hall of Fame”. Though it was never apparent to Ford’s millions.of fans both he and his wife Betty suffered severe alcohol related problems and by the seventies Ernie was able to sing only with great difficulty. Alcohol took Betty’s life in 1989. After leaving a state dinner at the White house, hosted by George Bush senior, Ernie collapsed and died of liver failure on 17 October 1991. Remember there are stars in the southern sky
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