Search - Albert Brumley Jr :: I'll Fly Away

Well-played songs that hold true to staunch familial roots

J. Ross | Roseburg, OR USA | 05/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"People associate the name, Albert E. Brumley, with some of the greatest Gospel songs ever written. His 800 songs earned Albert E. Brumley Sr. a reputation as "the greatest white gospel songwriter before WWII." Born on a cotton farm near Spiro, Ok. in 1905, Brumley attended music school in Hartford, Ark., sang with the Hartford Quartet, and taught singing schools in the Ozarks. After meeting his future wife at a singing school in Powell, Mo., they married in 1931 and raised six children there. One of the kids, Albert E. Brumley, Jr. has carried on the family's musical tradition with a goal to preserve the legacy of his father's songs with their earthy country sentiments and encouraging Gospel messages. Albert Jr. calls his new album "I'll Fly Away," in thoughtful tribute to his father's most famous song which was written in 1929 and recognized about fifty years later as the most recorded Gospel song in history. He's even written a biography about his dad, appropriately called "I'll Fly Away." Six other songs from the elder songwriter are also included, with "Rank Strangers," "The Sweetest Song I Know," and "I'd Rather Live by the Side of the Road" being most familiar to us. But, equally rousing and heartening are three other memorable tunes. "I Know My Lord's Gonna Lead Me Out" opens the album with some nice contagious energy. Midway in the set, "My Closest Kin," was written in 1960 and previously recorded by The Lewis Family. Closing the project on a nostalgic and sentimental note is "How I'd Like to be (a Child on Mother's Knee)."Intermixed with these songs are five penned by the famous songwriter's son who also demonstrates a good aptitude for turning a phrase and finding catchy melodies. He writes about the same subjects as his father did, and the messages inspire us in much the same way. They convey traditional spirit, and "Jesus of Nazareth" or "When They Sing in the Garden for Me" could very well have been composed sixty years prior. It can be challenging to write new songs, in a traditional style, that don't sound sappy, dated, or trite with messages we've heard many times before. "Green Valley Farms" is a favorite with its nostalgic autobiographical message that transports one back to the happy days of yesteryear in the Ozark hills. "Banjo Boy" has a new twist with its tale of a young man who plays gospel music on his 5-string. Brumley's pleasant, friendly baritone voice is immediately appealing, and he sings with much spiritual conviction. In the early 90s, Brumley spent several years fronting his own show in Branson, Mo. Since then, he has performed regularly, often with his wife on piano, at concerts, festivals, fairs, churches and special events. Produced by Rodney Dillard, "I'll Fly Away" features some veteran musicians from the Branson area. National fiddle champ Tim Crouch's experience includes five years with the Grand Ole Opry and performances with top names in country and bluegrass music. Steve Bush is an excellent, tasteful banjo player, who took second place in the national banjo championship in Winfield, Ks. in 1991 (Tony Furtado won that year.) He's recorded with Rodney Dillard in the past, as have Bruce Haynes and Jimmy Ponder who provide the harmony vocals on this CD. Filling out the cast are Dean Holman (dobro), Randall George (rhythm) and Boone Carlon (bass). It's been a few years since Albert Brumley, Jr. and Merle Haggard released an album of duets called "Two Old Friends." It's now a treat to hear Brumley sing some of his father's songs, as well as a few of his own. Simplicity and naturalness have always been Brumley family goals for their music. To that end, this project meets the objective of giving us a set of well-played old and new songs that hold true to staunch traditional and familial roots. This album, however, only gives us a minute taste of what one might experience live at the Albert E. Brumley Memorial Gospel Sing, held each summer in Fayetteville, Ark. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)"