MIKE JOHNSON
Doggone It I’ve Written A Sad Song Again
Doggone It I’ve Written A Sad Song Again –
The Day Hank Williams Died – Corner of the Bar – Guitar Pickin’
Motorcycles Hungry Women – Old Lovesick Fool – Do You Wanna Get Drunk
and Fool Around – Isn’t Goofy Something At All? – Sittin’ In A Truck
Stop Down In Georgia – Pain! Pain! Pain! – Chug-A-Lug Another One – Home
For Sunday Supper – The Good Part Of A Sad Song
The Day Hank Williams Died – Corner of the Bar – Guitar Pickin’
Motorcycles Hungry Women – Old Lovesick Fool – Do You Wanna Get Drunk
and Fool Around – Isn’t Goofy Something At All? – Sittin’ In A Truck
Stop Down In Georgia – Pain! Pain! Pain! – Chug-A-Lug Another One – Home
For Sunday Supper – The Good Part Of A Sad Song
Mike Johnson is one of the most amazing songwriters and
recording artists I’ve ever met. He makes his home in Virginia, right
next to Washington DC, and has pursued his life-long love and affection
for traditional and classic country music by writing and recording some
of the best ‘real’ country songs I’ve ever had the pleasure to listen
to. A couple of years ago he teamed up with a young college student,
James Adelsberger, who is a master at providing the musical backing that
is not only unique and original, it’s incredibly well done. What’s
totally unusual about this pairing is that Mike is a black guy, and
James is a white guy. The very epitomy of racial harmony in its very
best form, music. In this case ‘real’ country music. Mike has been
writing country music for a whole big bunch of years now, recording it
too, and taking the road wherever it takes him, sometimes pretty bumpy.
He’s been to our national festival several times, and receives
incredible admiration and acceptance there, and wherever he goes. This
CD is a kind of ‘new’ display of his very good songwriting ability.
James adds a ‘just right’ backing to everything Mike does. And, James
does this on acoustic and lead guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, mandolin,
piano, steel, and ukulele. They did call in a fiddler, Michael Roman to
play that particularly well represented ‘true’ country music part, and
presents it beautifully in “The Day Hank Williams Died.” This is my
favorite song on this CD. James is also a very gifted ‘mix’ artist.
The final version of any good musical production is what it sounds like
in it’s creator’s ears, that will hopefully sound the same to a
non-participant listener, like me, and thousands of others that will get
to hear this remarkable presentation. Is the ‘mix’ good? It certainly
is, the full poignancy and honesty of that early rural country soul is
all here, just as it should be. The stories in the songs are all here,
just as ‘real’ country music has always been. The ‘topics’ of the songs
are all here, just as ‘real’ country music has always been. A
congratulatory salute to Mike Johnson on an artistic work incredibly
well done. For me it is so sad to see this very American musical art
style and genre altered so drastically in the commercial music world
today….BUT, it’s alive and well in this new ‘Virginian,’ Mike Johnson,
and he’s not likely to let it die. Off this one goes to the Rural
Roots Music Commission for their observation. I already have a feeling
about this one. Keep it up Mike, an American ‘tradition’ is not going
to go away if you keep doing what you are doing. He’s been a truck
driver in the past, so he knows what ‘travelin’ is all about, and you’ll
hear that in another of my favorites “Sittin’ In A Truck Stop Down in
Georgia.”
recording artists I’ve ever met. He makes his home in Virginia, right
next to Washington DC, and has pursued his life-long love and affection
for traditional and classic country music by writing and recording some
of the best ‘real’ country songs I’ve ever had the pleasure to listen
to. A couple of years ago he teamed up with a young college student,
James Adelsberger, who is a master at providing the musical backing that
is not only unique and original, it’s incredibly well done. What’s
totally unusual about this pairing is that Mike is a black guy, and
James is a white guy. The very epitomy of racial harmony in its very
best form, music. In this case ‘real’ country music. Mike has been
writing country music for a whole big bunch of years now, recording it
too, and taking the road wherever it takes him, sometimes pretty bumpy.
He’s been to our national festival several times, and receives
incredible admiration and acceptance there, and wherever he goes. This
CD is a kind of ‘new’ display of his very good songwriting ability.
James adds a ‘just right’ backing to everything Mike does. And, James
does this on acoustic and lead guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, mandolin,
piano, steel, and ukulele. They did call in a fiddler, Michael Roman to
play that particularly well represented ‘true’ country music part, and
presents it beautifully in “The Day Hank Williams Died.” This is my
favorite song on this CD. James is also a very gifted ‘mix’ artist.
The final version of any good musical production is what it sounds like
in it’s creator’s ears, that will hopefully sound the same to a
non-participant listener, like me, and thousands of others that will get
to hear this remarkable presentation. Is the ‘mix’ good? It certainly
is, the full poignancy and honesty of that early rural country soul is
all here, just as it should be. The stories in the songs are all here,
just as ‘real’ country music has always been. The ‘topics’ of the songs
are all here, just as ‘real’ country music has always been. A
congratulatory salute to Mike Johnson on an artistic work incredibly
well done. For me it is so sad to see this very American musical art
style and genre altered so drastically in the commercial music world
today….BUT, it’s alive and well in this new ‘Virginian,’ Mike Johnson,
and he’s not likely to let it die. Off this one goes to the Rural
Roots Music Commission for their observation. I already have a feeling
about this one. Keep it up Mike, an American ‘tradition’ is not going
to go away if you keep doing what you are doing. He’s been a truck
driver in the past, so he knows what ‘travelin’ is all about, and you’ll
hear that in another of my favorites “Sittin’ In A Truck Stop Down in
Georgia.”
MUSIC REVIEW BY BOB EVERHART – www.ntcma.net
for Country Music News International