Sister Sadie II

Sister Sadie

2018 - Pinecastle Records.  One of the most considerable wastes in the music industry, is when a group of multi-talented musicians decreases their skills by recording cover songs.  Five accomplished female musicians;  Dale Ann Bradley, Tina Adair, Gena Britt, Deanie Richardson and Beth Lawrence; come together to create a band called Sister Sadie.  With this much talent, why would they choose to release a project that contains six covers?  Why not just release an EP filled with originals?  The old adage, If you can’t record it better than the original—then DON’T record it comes into play here.  Among the covers the girls include Dan Fogelberg’s 1974 hit song “Morning Sky” and Tom T. Hall’s “I Washed My Face In The Morning Dew” that he recorded in 1967 but was made popular by Johnny Cash in 1995.  The band also includes Woody Guthrie’s 1962 hit song “900 Miles,” which is surprising as the song is fenced in with controversy.  Some say that Woody plagiarized the words from the ever popular folk song “500 Miles” that was originally recorded by The Journeymen in 1961, but was Bobby Bare who made it a hit in 1963.  This brings us to “I’m Not A Candle In The Wind.”  It took me a bit to find this song, nonetheless, it was hidden within Bobby Bare’s 1982 album Ain’t Got Nothin’ To Lose. Another cover included on this project is “It’s You Again,” written and originally recorded by Skip Ewing in 1989. The final cover I found was “Love Has No Pride;” which was first recorded by Bonnie Raitt in 1972.  A year later, Linda Ronstadt recorded the tune, although it only peaked at #51 on the charts, it soon became one of Linda’s signature songs. The girls also include a public domain song with “Since I’ve Laid My Burden Down.”  There is another song that I question as the melody sounds very familiar, however, I have not found any reference to “Something To Lose.”  What I don’t understand with this group is that they have the skills needed to write a great song, but they chose to record covers?  Band member Tina Adair shares with us two of the songs she wrote and co-wrote.  The first we come across happens to be the opening song with “Losing You Blues.” Performed in a classic style, this tune is very reminiscent of a style that we have come to know as Reba McEntire.  Tina takes the lead in vocals and in listening to this tune, I can certainly hear a duet between Reba and Tina.  The second song written by Tina, is found in “Jay Hugh.”   Performed in a vintage haunted melody, this is a narrative about a broken down man; that contains a memorable chorus.  Where as Gena Britt created a wonderful instrumental that demonstrates the band’s individual but united picking talents.  The group also includes a new song written by our friend Paula Breedlove and her writing friend Bob Morrison with “No Smoky Mountains.” Performed in gentle melody, the lyrics take you on the journey of true love while it grabs your attention with its unique and memorable chorus.  What I cannot figure out is when you have the talents of two incredible songwriters within your band, that you don’t just include songs that they have created? If you can’t then why not team up with Paula Breedlove, who is an incredible lyricist, to construct originals worthy of one’s valuable time. Recording cover songs does not make you an entertainer!  It makes you a charlatan! This album is the perfect example of what not to do with five talented musicians! $-$$

(© Strictly Country Magazine - March / April 2019.)

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