Lonesome & Blue
is the second
Red Allen
collection released on
Rebel Records
in 2004 and, like
Keep on Going
, represents a
bluegrass
artist at his best. The primary difference is that the second collection, comprised of material from 1965 and 1966, supplements hardcore
with a number of classic
country
songs. On the first half of the collection,
Allen
is joined by bassist
Billy Yates
, mandolinist
Wayne Yates
, banjoist
Porter Church
, and a young fiddler named
Richard Greene
. The band delivers striking versions of
Bill Monroe
's
"Summertime Is Past and Gone"
and
"I'm on My Way Back to the Old Home,"
but also delves into
Ernest Tubb
"Are You Waiting Just for Me"
the Louvin Brothers
'
"Seven Year Blues"
(the latter previously unreleased). On the second half of the collection,
Billy
brothers have been replaced by mandolinist
David Grisman
and bassist
Jerry McCoury
, and dobroist
Craig Wingfield
has been added. The addition of
Wingfield
, in particular, gives the material an
old-timey
feel, which proves just right for
Mel Tillis
"There Must Be Another Way to Live"
Johnny Bond
"I Wonder Where You Are Tonight."
As on
,
's vocals on
inject mountain soul into all of these songs and turn even a familiar favorite like
"Milk Cow Blues"
into something special.
will remind listeners just what real
sounds like, and will be warmly greeted by
fans. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.