Search - John Starling :: Long Time Gone

Pathbreaking Mellow Drive

C. H. Bartle | New York City - the bluegrass/country capital of | 01/10/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an excellent record, made in the late 70's (when Lowell George was still alive). It shows Starling reaching for a much more sophisticated sound than then existed in bluegrass or country. A pathbreaker."

Featuring Ricky Skaggs and Emmylou

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 10/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John came to my attention when I learned that Emmylou sang back-up vocals on his album (five of the fifteen tracks here). If this album had been recorded twenty years later, it might have been called alt-country. It has elements of bluegrass and country music with a rock edge. Lowell George (of Little Feat) produced the album, heading a star-studded cast of pickers and singers.



The musicians and singers varied quite a lot but the complete list is John Starling (lead vocal, rhythm guitar), Emmylou Harris (harmony vocals), Ricky Skaggs (harmony vocals, fiddle, mandolin), Herb Pederson (harmony vocals, rhythm guitar), Paul Craft (harmony vocals, guitar, rhythm guitar), Tony Rice (harmony vocals, guitar, lead guitar, rhythm guitar), Fayssoux Starling (harmony vocals), John Duffey (harmony vocals), Lowell George (slide guitar), Buddy Emmons (steel guitar), Danny Pendleton (steel guitar), Curtis Burch (lead guitar), Sam Bush (mandolin), Larry Rice (mandolin), Mike Auldridge (dobro), Bill Payne (piano), Scott Johnson (piano), John Cowan (bass), Sid Johnston (bass), Tom Gray (bass), Ben Eldridge (banjo), Tom Guidera (bass), Mark Cuff (drums, tambourine) and Karl Himmel (drums).



There is an interesting selection of songs, some of which may be familiar including Lonesome whistle (Hank Williams), Drifting too far from the shore (traditional), Brother jukebox (Don Everly, later revived by Mark Chesnutt), Sin city (Gram Parsons, later covered by Emmylou), Last thing I needed (Willie Nelson) and Jordan (traditional). The other songs are also excellent, including one written by John (He rode all the way to Texas).



John clearly had plenty of talent as this album proves, but he only appears to have recorded one more album (Waiting on a southern train). Nevertheless, if you enjoy quality country music, you might try John Starling."