Porter Wagoner - 18 Grand Old Gospel 2005

As a follow-up to his amazing 2004 release, 18 Grand Old Gospel 2005 does not disappoint. Porter Wagoner continues with that Grammy-winning gospel sound through another 18 tracks, this time compressed onto one disc, and including a duet with sometime partner, bluegrass singer Pam Gadd.

As with the previous year's release, "18 Grand Old Gospel 2005" is something mighty fine and precious. Porter Wagoner sings a gospel song with those same melodic golden tones that has made him such an important presence in the Grand Old Opry for all these years.

some of the tracks on this disc are so good they made me really stop to listen, focusing on melody and music and, of course, sent me reaching for the CD's jewel case. I was extremely disappointed to discover there are no credits contained therein. We don't know who is playing what anywhere, and it's particularly annoying on songs like "I Believe," where some gem of a bluegrass band is backing Porter and making the music, well, sing. Some of the joy of listening to a disc for the first time for me is pinning names on the instruments as much as it is listening to the vocals of the lead singer, so I feel this is a disastrous choice on the part of the label. This was the only flaw in the 2004 release, as well.

Still, it's the music folks are paying to listen to, and it's so good I'll just have to deal with the frustration of not knowing who the backing band members are. Porter Wagoner proves again and again why he is a country music legend, and, finally, a most deserving member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.