#ZENITH LAST CITY REVIEW FULL#

He fearlessly climbs the ladder and nails them. On songs like “Danny Boy” and “I’ll Fight The World,” Vince Gill doesn’t wuss out or request a lower key when it comes time to sing the high notes. What seemed most important to Vince and Paul was finding songs that they could use as launching pads to showcase some rather incredible vocal and instrumental performances, which are packed into Sweet Memories from stem to stern. Vince Gill and Paul Franklin instead favored semi-hits and obscure selections so that much of the material still feels new to the audience despite being tribute songs. Ray Price wasn’t a terribly prolific songwriter, but only one song of his (“Your Old Love Letters”) made the cut. A song like “Weary Blues From Waitin'” is likely more identifiable with Hank Williams. Some of Ray Price’s signature songs such as “Heartaches By The Number” and “For The Good Times” aren’t even on the album. Where some of Ray Price’s production during the Countrypolitan era got quite schmaltzy and string-laden, with the steel accompaniment here from Paul Franklin, it’s all kept very sincere to traditional country.

#ZENITH LAST CITY REVIEW FULL#

Both Ray Price and Vince Gill are tenors, but where Price’s tone was more full and woody, Gill’s is more clean and favored to the falsetto. Sweet Memories: The Music of Ray Price and the Cherokee Cowboys is a master class and defining work of classic country music. Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill, and 30-time CMA Musician of the Year nominee Paul Franklin prove that so demonstrably with this album, it renders all counter arguments as moot, and with cover material no less. Just follow the lead of all the old greats, and the music will do the rest. It’s been said before, but the release of this tribute record to Ray Price is a great occasion to underscore it once again: Making great country music is not rocket science. Because this, ladies and gentlemen, is the best of country music. Cast aside the calamitous nature of all the troublesome current events and the caustic thoughts they lend to, and cue up this fine specimen of authentic country music that will steal you away to a sublime place where all is right in the world like only the best of country music can do.

Zenith last city review