Redd Stewart - I Remember

The Golden Age of Nashville is often characterized by heavily over- produced songs with far too many strings and over-stated choral background vocals. Still, there were some mighty fine singers who came from that time period, and most of them at least tried to keep a country sensibility to their music, no matter how over-produced it was. Redd Stewart is one of these singers, a vocalist with a voice as sweet as molasses, as country as cornbread.

I'll admit I didn't immediately recognize the name of Redd Stewart when I heard it. He's been sadly overlooked by country music history, and of course these days even the most noted legend usually isn't given airplay. But I sure remember these songs, from the days when country radio played ALL country music. The cozily familiar strains of "Bimbo" and "Sunshine Over The Hill" took me right back to my childhood, as I grew up listening to both kinds of music--Country AND Western.

The brief note on the back of this CD pretty much sums it all up. If for nothing else at all, Redd Stewart should be remembered and entered in the Country Music Hall of Fame just for writing the immortal "Tennessee Waltz." But Redd Stewart was obviously much more than a great songwriter. The old songs on this disc are as compelling as items pulled from a time capsule, perfectly preserved and still so very accessible. There's the tear-soaked and steel-laden 1947 recording of "Talk To The Angels" and the 1968 "Dreaming Again." The songs span several decades, and each contains its own charm. While Glen Campbell recorded the definitive version of "Bonaparte's Retreat," Redd's version here shows much of that charm.

Redd Stewart left us in August 2003, but his fans and friends still remember him. His youngest son, Billy, and Billy's wife, Sharon, run a tribute website for Redd, and put together this disc in loving memory to a truly fine, and legendary, country music star.