THE BRADY’S
Then & Now
Blowing
In The Wind – Sweet Thing – Hen Scratchin’ Stomp – You Are My Sunshine
– Hold Fast To The Right – West Virginia Hills – Little Green Valley – I
Saw The Master This Morning – Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem – Then I Met
The Master – Pardon Me – Old Timer’s Waltz – Rocky Top – Banjo Riff
I wouldn’t
have realized that a Bob Dylan song would sound good bluegrass style,
but boy does it ever. This remarkable family are sticking to the
‘traditional’ sound of bluegrass. They’re more ‘mountain’ than ‘city’
and that sure does justice to the original intent of early bluegrass
music. Bill Monroe was a very ‘mountain’ style musician before Earl
Scruggs, and even though he created what we know as bluegrass, he was
also a very humble and sincere mountain style musician. So is the Brady
Family. This particular very traditional album is a very sincere and
very honest performance of ‘real’ traditional music. It’s one of the
best I’ve heard in this genre in a long time. Randy Brady is on banjo,
guitar, and vocals; Rotha Hardway is on guitar and vocals; Shirley
Sheppard is on bass; Danny Mullen is on fiddle (very nice traditional
sound); and Buck McChambers is on mandolin. I believe, although it’s
not listed on the CD, that these musicians might make their home in West
Virginia. If that be the case, they are certainly carrying on the
tradition that made it possible for Bill Monroe to emerge as the
founding father of this musical genre. This is a very sincere album,
these fine musicians aren’t interested in ‘fame or glory’ they just want
to keep the music they learned as children, alive and well for anyone
who likes their music have a chance to hear it. Randy did a really nice
job on the recording and mixing in the studio. It’s a very nice
example of how he hears the music, and how he wants it to be heard by
anyone listening. I received this CD from an old friend in Canada,
Michael T. Wall, who is originally from Newfoundland. As president of
the National Traditional Country Music Assn., he knows what I personally
like in that early country music sound. You, who might be reading
this, likes the traditional country music sound, this is the CD that you
need in your collection. I am immediately sending it off to the Rural
Roots Music Commission for their appraisal. They are still selecting
musical works for their CD of the Year awards at the LeMars, Iowa, 43rd
National Old Time Music Festival (Aug 27-Sept 2, 2018). I certainly
hope they will give this one serious consideration. It’s a totally
entertaining listen to the music the way it once sounded many years
ago. Just right, and certainly truthful. I love it. Carson Robinson’s
song “Little Green Valley” couldn’t sound better, and here it is
showing up in 2018. This meek group also keeps Jesus Christ in their
hearts and music. “Then I Met The Master” is an epitome of gospel music
done in the old style. Totally good right down to the last song, done
remarkably well by Randy on the banjo. Taught by their parents in the
‘old way’ the Brady’s are still doing what their parents taught them.
Wonderful.
www.music-savers.com RECORD REVIEW BY EVERHART, President, National Traditional Country Music Association for Country Music News International Magazine & Radio Show