CD: BUFFALO GALS – Won’t You Come Out Tonight

BUFFALO GALS
Won’t You Come Out Tonight
Cumberland Gap – The Southern Whoopie Song –
Polecat Blues – In My Time Of Dying – Reuben – Johnson Boys – Sally
Anne – Talking Blues – Elzic’s Farewell – Hop High My Lulu Gal – Angels –
Buffalo Gals
 
It is the old-time fiddle of Kate Lissauer that brings the
past alive so actively and so vibrantly on this CD.  Her ability to
‘feel’ what those early Appalachian Mountain entertainers did with their
music is all here.  The Buffalo Gals come from England, and began
gathering the tunes and songs of the early mountain folks in 2002.  In
2016 they are coming to America to accept a CD of the Year award from
the Rural Roots Music Commission.  I don’t believe there are any ‘rules’
about winning more than one, for I know once I present ‘this’
incredibly well produced CD of early American music to them they might
just make that possible.  The first song on this vibrant CD is
“Cumberland Gap” a very important and vital song of the early folks in
the mountains.  The ‘gap’ was a way west, the quickest and easiest. 
This song was first recorded by Gid Tanner and Riley Puckett.  Being a
close friend of Juanita McMichen, the daughter of Clayton McMichen (Tar
Heel Ramblers and Skillet Lickers) worked a lot with Riley.  Oh my the
stories I could tell she related to me about Riley.  Kate does a
remarkable job of presenting the song as a gifted fiddler directly from
the time frame and the geographic ‘style’ of the music.  She holds the
fiddle throughout the entire CD, and finds remarkable follow up with the
banjo of Johnny Whelan who is one of the best frailing drop-thumb
banjoists I’ve heard since Ralph Stanley.  Add to that Peter Dunn on
guitar and Tim Smith on acoustic upright bass.  Wow, this is the best
(guts of the songs) I’ve heard in a long time.  Add to that the mandolin
and guitar of Sue Clare and the foot percussion of Sibylie Riesen and
you are going to hear the ‘original’ country music of America at its
very best.  The entire selection of songs is remarkable, some incredible
up-tempo happy music as well as some old-timey blues songs.  I was so
impressed with the Buffalo Gals rendition of the Morris Brothers song
“Sally Anne.”  Both of those brothers are still alive and living in
Georgia (now in their 90’s), doing mostly old-time gospel music, very
good friends of myself and my wife Sheila.  They made the trek to
LeMars, Iowa, a number of years ago, and drove the audience wild with
their great old-time gospel music.  The same thing will happen to the
Buffalo Gals in 2016 when they perform their early American old-time
mountain music. For reasons I do not understand I could not get that
last two tracks to play, but I’m using a ‘not so good’ lap top to listen
to CD’s, and the previous ten songs more than make up for anything I
may not have heard.  Off this one goes to the Rural Roots Music
Commission for their listening pleasure.  Good luck Buffalo Gals see you
in LeMars in 2016.
RECORD REVIEW BY BOB EVERHART – www.ntcma.net
for Country Music News International

Related Posts

Auburn McCormick – Overdramatic

  By Madison Monroe for Country Music News International Magazine

Taylor Austin Dye – Out of These Hills

By Madison Monroe for Country Music News International Magazine

Eddie Noack – Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine

Tracy Byrd – The Definitive Collection

By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *