Search - Wild & Blue :: Come on in & Make Yourself at Home

Brilliant down-home bluegrass

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 05/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Comprising David Harvey (mandolin and guitar), his wife Jill (rhythm guitar) and her sister Jill Snider (bass), Wild and blue made just two albums and some Christmas songs before returning to the obscurity from which they never really emerged. On this album, the guest musicians are Jim Britton (banjo), Bobby Hicks (fiddle) and Gene Wootton (dobro). Kenny Malone plays drums on two tracks (River of tears, You were only fooling). Mark Howard plays guitar on two tracks (Mountain memories, You must come in at the door).



The album contains two instrumentals (Leaving Gatesville, High country breakdown) , two tracks featuring David as lead singer (Sooner or later, Will you travel down this road with me) and two featuring Jill as lead singer (Sundown and sorrow, Mountain memories). The remaining six tracks feature Jan as lead singer. On the vocal tracks, the two who aren't lead singer normally provide harmony backup to the lead singer.



The songs include several covers but they are all fairly obscure - however, they are all wonderful. Perhaps the least obscure song is When someone wants to leave, a song from Dolly Parton's original Jolene album. That album featured two country number one hits (Jolene, I will always love you) and has been re-issued on CD several times, so plenty of people will know the song.



This is bluegrass as it should be - bright and upbeat. If you enjoy bluegrass music, don't ignore Wild and Blue."