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Dave Matthews’ “Fat Man” arguably is the best reinterpretation on this “tribute” album. Radically different from the original, it’s slowed way down and adds African and island overtones, but the real treat is Matthews’ dozen and a half vocal tracks (he’s always used his voice like an instrument) and Sonny Landreth’s soporific slide guitar.
Capitol
Hired guitar slinger, king of countrypolitan, TV and movie star. Campbell, like Gene Autry, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, parlayed musical popularity into TV (“The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour”) and movie (“True Grit”) appearances that fueled sales (47 million albums). But his last Top 10 country song was 20 years ago; since then, except for a few gospel records in the ’90s, his output has been spotty.
Favored Nations
Sardinas won’t be able to do these songs justice in concert, and that’s a good thing. There hasn’t been a lot of difference between his shows and his CDs, because he’s always recorded in a trio configuration (outside of an occasional guest appearance by Hubert Sumlin, Johnny Winter or Honeyboy Edwards). But the addition of “and Big Motor” to his moniker isn’t the only change since his last album five years ago.
Yep Roc
Who does Lauderdale think he is, Ryan Adams? Actually, when it comes to prolific, he’s about to best Adams’ feat of three albums in a year. “Honey Songs” is the second in a trio planned to span a nine-month period.
New West/Via
Yoakam, who rekindled the Bakersfield sound in the late 1980s to early ’90s, pays tribute to recently departed mentor and friend Buck Owens with a thoughtful song selection, bolstered by young-gun players and just enough twists to ensure that fans of both country icons will be grinnin’ when they hear the pickin’ and especially the singin’.
