Music Reviews
Dec-Jan 2005
Music of the West
Sing and Swing
By Hugh McLennan
Last of the Troubadours
Don Edwards
"I'm just a wanderin' troubadour and a song and my guitar is all I need."
Those words from The Habit on Track 2 of Disc One on this marvelous two-CD set from Don Edwards essentially describes the appeal of the collection.
Don set up a classic RCA 74 Jr. Ribbon microphone, plugged it into a DAT recorder, picked up his guitar and sang 32 classic cowboy songs in a style as pure as a lone coyote serenading a full moon. There's no reverb, no overdubs, no multi-tracking, no background harmony - just Don's voice and guitar, the way these songs were meant to be sung.
Don Edwards' fans are well aware that in addition to possessing one of the purest singing voices in Western music, he's also a terrific guitar player with a tasteful touch, clear acoustic sound, interesting chord progressions and gentle but effective runs joining chords together. A lot of familiar old songs are included here like When The Work's All Done This Fall, Utah Carroll, Windy Bill, Diamond Joe, Colorado Trail and many more, along with a few traditional ballads that were new to me. The Mormon Cowboy, The Old Cowboy, and The Dying Cowboy of Rimrock Ranch, may stir a memory or two for you.
There are also some recent songs that fit the collection well. One called For Them That Lean to Lonesome by Don Hedgpeth is one that grabbed me the first time I played this CD. Another remarkable new song here is Here's Lookin' At You written by the highly-respected Texas cowboy Joel Nelson, one of the most eloquent spokesmen in the world for the cowboy life. When you get this CD, if you listen closely you'll hear an extra guitar and a sweet female voice on Disc One, Track 6, and an extra guitar on Disc One, Track 13 and Disc Two, Tracks 7 and 12. That would be the virtuoso Norman Blake and his wife Nancy.
These are songs meant to be shared around a campfire with a few good friends who love cowboy music in its most traditional style.
Order from Western Jubilee Recording Co. Phone and Fax (719) 635-9974, or email custsvc@westernjubilee.com.
Or from the website www.westernjubilee.com.
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