CD Review: Earl Scruggs and Friends - Earl Scruggs and Friends
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"Borrowed Love" is an Earl Scruggs and Dwight Yoakum collaboration. This is the one brand new song on the album. It was written in the studio, when they came together to record this album - which is Earl's first album in 17 years. "Ring Of Fire," originally written by June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore, is given a spooky hip-hop edginess to it by Billy Bob Thornton. This is without a doubt my favorite song on the album. I just can't get this cool new beat and Billy Bob's attitude laced, almost whispery vocals, out of my head. Earl Scruggs shares the spotlight with two very special guests on "True Love Never Dies," - Gary Scruggs (who wrote this song with Kevin Welsh) and Travis Tritt, whom Earl has the highest praise for. "He knows no telling how many songs and he's got a good memory with songs. He's a good musician too, as well as a singer." Rock and roll singer/guitarist Melissa Etheridge joins Earl on "The Angels." This is a medium tempo tune that displays the best of her vocals with Earl's expert banjo playing accompanying her. In terms of her musical abilities, I really feel that she is this era's Janis Joplin. "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" is a song that was made famous in the 1967 Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty movie, "Bonnie and Clyde." Earl is joined on this tune by a very talented bunch of musicians and comedians. Yes I did say comedians. Paul Schaffer (of David Letterman Show fame) and Steve Martin (star of various movies and Saturday Night Live) showcase their musical talents in this upbeat number that is quite frequently known as getaway music. "I Found Love" features Vince Gill and Roseanne Cash on vocals. I really do believe that they are twin souls musically. They sound fabulous together! "Blue Ridge Mountain Blues" is an excellent bluegrass tune, featuring John Fogerty of the legendary rock and roll group Creedence Clearwater Revival. This is a song that just makes you want to get up and dance. "Passin' Thru" includes an awesome spoken intro by the "Man in Black," Johnny Cash. The beginning of this song gets to me in a very emotional way whenever I listen to this CD. Song List:
All soundclips courtesy of Amazon.
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