Music of the West
By Hugh McLennan
February-March 2009
 Songs of Sweat and Leather
Lloyd Dolen & Double Diamond
From the classics like Choppo and The Railroad Corral to contemporary songs like Corb Lund’s Bucking Horse Rider and Rich O’Brien’s Grandpa’s Barn, Lloyd Dolen has put together a pleasing collection of music that really are Songs of Sweat and Leather. Five of the tracks are Lloyd’s originals; he included a beautiful poem to honour his late granddad, poet and rancher, Patrick Lloyd Dolen.
The band Double Diamond hosts some familiar names from Alberta’s western music scene: Jim Peace on lead guitar, mandolin, banjo and harmony vocals; Graham Allen on bass; and the familiar sound of Sharky Schauer’s dobro.
Some of my favourite tracks include: More to a Cowboy than Ride, co-written with Buddy Gale, who also contributed to Longhorn Legends and Trail Rider. Diamond Doug Keith collaborated on Born to Ride the West. The project was recorded and mixed at Dutch Creek Productions west of Calgary.
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