Studios in Macon, Georgia produced and en- gineered by Paul Hornsby. Randy was sense- lessly killed by a bounty hunter in his own home after missing a court date. It was a complete shock to the music world and a trav- esty.
Randy performed a couple of his own
gospel tunes here as well as covering some truly classic songs including Billy Joe Shaver’s “I’m Gonna Live Forever” and the well loved hymn, “In the Garden.” Randy did an outstanding rendition of “Sending Me An- gels,” penned by Jerry Lynn Williams and Frankie Miller, as well as Dannie Epps’ “Aunt Carrie Jean” and Kristofferson’s number one hit “Why Me Lord,” T. Graham Brown’s beau- tiful song about overcoming addiction, “Wine into Water,” the classic Hoyt Axton song (written by Bob Merrill) “Rusty Ole Halo and a great cover of Paul Thorn’s “Mission Temple Fireworks Stand.” Randy penned the title track, “A Pair of Knees,” as well as “Hallelujah Hotel,” “Wedding Prayer” and “Let Us Cross Over the River, “ a co-write with Tracy Parker and Larry G. Hudson. Joining Randy on this fine album were
Tommy Talton on acoustic slide, Hal Register on upright bass, Paul Hornsby on piano and Larry G. Hudson, David Blackmon, Willie Morris, Becky Hathaway, and Machelle Palma.
Excellent. -Michael Buffalo Smith
Charlie Daniels Memories, Memoirs & Miles: Songs of a Life (CDC)
This companion to
Charlie’s excellent auto-biography (re- viewed last issue) is the perfect mix of songs from Charlie’s career to illustrate the music of his life (so far). Starting
with the Carter Family classic “Keep On the Sunny Side,” Charlie treats us to a recording of his first rock band, The Jaguars, doing “Jaguar.” Very cool. Daniels tips his substan- tial hat to a major influence (and one he played on two albums by), the great Bob Dylan, with “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall.” Many of the CDB tunes are newer ver-
sions, re recorded, as with “Uneasy Rider,” Charlie’s first big hit. Anybody who knows Charlie’s music, or lived it, as your humble scribe had, will recall the “anthem” of South- ern Rock, “The South’s Gonna Do it Again,” and I was truly happy he included the classic “Saddle Tramp” here. No Charlie Daniels retrospective ever
in history could be without the zillion selling “Devil Went Down to Georgia,” and “In America” still makes me want to jump up and stand at attention and salute the American flag! Timeless music. Also timeless is Char- lie’s hit song about greed called “The Legend of Wooley Swamp” and the “get the party started” rocking “Drinkin’ My Baby Good- bye.”
“Simple Man” truly paints a picture of
the artist as a man, where he stands, his heart and soul. The politically correct nutballs have complained about the lyrics in the past, and probably will again, but one thing I absolutely love about Charlie Daniels is he is not politi- cally correct. Never. “Let ‘em Win or Bring ‘em Home” evokes memories of war, and Charlie’s no holds barred stance on war at the time.
Wrapping up the album in style are two
“bonus tracks” (that’s 14 in all, kids!) “Long Haired Country Boy,” and a personal favorite, a song that is a salute toi Vietnam vets every- where, “Still in Saigon.” Songs of a Lifetime is a “must have” for any fan of Charlie Daniels, the CDB, Southern Rock, country music, or just plain good music.
-Michael Buffalo Smith
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