Dale Ann Bradley

Dale Ann Bradley

 2017 - Pinecastle Records.  One of the most beautiful and elegant voices in Bluegrass is none other than Dale Ann Bradley.  With such dignified and delicate vocals, I question Ms. Bradley’s choice in songs for this project.  It is a Bluegrass tradition to include one or two cover songs on an album, nonetheless six of the eleven songs on this project are covers.  Two of the cover songs are original songs written and recorded by Carter Stanley with “I’ll Just Go Away” and “Our Last Goodbye.”  Bradley gains the help from Vince Gill in “I’ll Just Go Away.” She also includes a song originally written and recorded by Conway Twitty with “If You Were Mine To Lose.”  Among the covers, you can find “This Is My Year For Mexico” which was written by Vince Matthews and originally recorded by Charley Pride in 1970.  Since then, this song has been recorded by a who’s who in music including Crystal Gayle (1975) and Gene Watson (1975).  Dale Ann includes another notable song with “Stand By Me.”  This song is not to be confused with the ever-popular song that was written and recorded by Ben E. King and made into a movie of the same title in 1986.  Dale Ann re-records this song, which was written and originally recorded by the Reverend Charles Albert Tindley in 1905 and later recorded by a wide variety of artists including Bob Dylan.  For such a notable entertainer as Dale Ann Bradley is, I truly question why she would record “One More River.”  This song has quite the controversy surrounding it as Sam Cooke lays claim as being the original songwriter.  Later Bud Chambers claims that he wrote the song, while using many lyrics and stanzas taken from Cooke’s version.  Many artists have gone on to record their version, artists that include Jimmy Swaggart, David Wyper and the Singing Rambos. When you strip away all of these cover and remakes of these songs and get to the core of the album, it is then you find the cultivated beauty and truth behind Dale Ann Bradley’s talents.  This project opens with a song that Dale Ann co-wrote in “Southern Memories.” This simple, country-bluegrass tune gives the listener an autobiographical story that pertains to Dale Ann.  Oddly, the album closes with an additional autobiographical song with “Now And Then (Dreams Do Come True.)”  Dale Ann teams up with Jon Wiesberger to create a ditty that paints a wonderful picture of the simple life about growing up with dreams and making them come true.  Another song to note is “Champaign Lady” that depicts a story about a female gambler.  One more elegant song on this project is “Going Back To Kentucky.”  Written by our good friend Brink Brinkman and Tresa Jordan, Dale Ann gives a flawless performance filled with love, heart and soul.  The song that stands out among the rest is “Blackberry Summer.”  In this finely calibrated tune, Dale Ann performs this number with so much passion, that it radiates through the speakers.  This song is sure to hit our list of Top Songs of 2018, while earning a nomination for the Spirit Award’s Song of The Year award.  I understand Dale Ann Bradley’s decision to include the cover songs, nonetheless, when you have talents like she does, why would you stoop to re-record previously released hits?  Dale Ann Bradley has the loveliest, refined and impeccable vocals that are soothing; and she is a passionate performer and an accomplished songwriter.  I long to hear an entire album filled with original tunes performed by this skilled musician. If you enjoy covers, then purchase the entire album.  However, if you long for new music, download the five new songs. $$$+

(© Strictly Country Magazine - September / October 2018.)

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