Urban Folk music reviews

MCA has long been one of the most important labels in country music and this collection presents sixteen of their best artists, each represented by one of their major hits, all recorded between 1979 and 1986. Some, like Waylon Jennings (here singing Rose in Paradise) and Merle Haggard (opening the set with I think I'll just stay here and drink), were only with MCA briefly but that was all the excuse needed to include them. Tanya Tucker was with MCA during the latte seventies and is represented here by Can I see you tonight, an excellent song that is often overlooked.

Other artists were with MCA for much longer including Barbara Mandrell (I was country when country wasn't cool), Steve Wariner (Some fools never learn), Don Williams (Lord I hope this day is good), the Bellamy Brothers (Lie to you for your love), the Oak Ride Boys (American made), Conway Twitty (I'd love to lay you down), Gene Watson (Fourteen carat mind) and Lee Greenwood (God bless the USA) - these artists were MCA's leading country stars for much of the eighties. Conway is also represented by a duet with Loretta Lynn (It's true love).

The album also includes Guitar town (from Steve Earle's outstanding debut album), Common man (from John Conlee, a great traditional country singer that is generally ignored these days), I've been around enough to know (from John Schneider, famous for his role in the TV series, Dukes of Hazzard, but an outstanding singer too) and You're the best break this old heart ever had (from Ed Bruce, another largely forgotten singer).

Most of these songs were number one country hits and the others were not far away. While this wonderful selection is out of print, most if not all of the tracks are available on more recent releases by the individual artists - however, if you get a chance to pick this up, it is well worth buying at a reasonable price.

Robin Greenstein's sophomore CD is an upbeat & endearing effort. Its upbeat pop is infectious as on the opener "New Kick Now." "I'll Be There (Anytime At All)" is an upbeat piano-based melody dedicated to single parents. Greenstein's voice gives me a deja vu on Rita Coolidge's lovely alto, but on "Cry for the Lonely" she sounds like one of Carole King's more countrified numbers from "Welcome Home." Greenstein gives a note on the insert that she was signed as a writer for Bob Dylan's music publishing company and pays her respects to the Bard with an endearing rendition of "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go." "West Coast Swing" has a bluesy jazz feel. "The Boys from Fargo" is an infectious midtempo rocker, "They make my blood flow; One plays piano, the other one sings the blues, the third one wears white cowboy boots for walking shoes." Written with Janice Payson, "Can't Lose With You" has a pretty slow melody and good background vocals that support the melody by Robin & Eva Sklar. "If you were to vanish, I'd die from the sorrow; Darkness would blacken the day, There'd be no tomorrow, no time, no place, no movement," Robin sings in a slow sweet melody about a good friend to close the set. "Acousticness" is a strong singer/songwriter effort that combines good songwriting, musical performance and vocals. Enjoy!