Larry Cordle has the best of both possible worlds. His songs have been cut by folks like
Ricky Skaggs,
Garth Brooks,
Alan Jackson, and
George Strait, providing him with a comfortable income. With his band
Lonesome Standard Time -- on this album Booie Beach, lead guitar; Kim Gardner, dobro; Mike Anglin, electric and standup bass, baritone vocals; Chris Davis, mandolin, tenor vocals; and
Kristin Scott Benson on banjo -- he plays the "traditional" bluegrass he loves. Traditional is in quotes because
Cordle is an artist who's able to write tunes that fit onto country, Americana, and folk play lists as easily as they do on the bluegrass charts. If you know him at all, it may be for his song "Murder on Music Row," an indictment of the country music business that ironically became a big country hit when it was cut by
Alan Jackson and
George Strait. But
Cordle isn't a one-hit wonder. He's been playing and picking traditional (although mostly self-written) bluegrass music for most of his life, and is dedicated to keeping the form vital. Like
Bill Monroe and
Ralph Stanley before him, he tracks down great young talents and gives them a leg up while providing himself with the stellar backing that
Lonesome Standard Time has become known for. "Hole in the Ground" is a coal-mining song in the tradition of
Merle Travis, and while
Cordle is modest about its virtues, it can hold its head up with the best work of
Travis. The band's vocal harmonies and the evocative work of
Benson's banjo and guest artist Jenee Fleenor's fiddle give the song its appropriately hopeless vibe. "Song for Keith," a co-write with Randy Scaggs, is a tribute to
Keith Whitley, a country/bluegrass singer who died at the age of 34, just as his career was taking off. It's a traditional country lament dominated again by banjo, fiddle, and
Cordle's aching tenor vocal. "Rough Around the Edges" is a
Cordle co-write with J.P. Pennington and Les Taylor of
Exile. It was a big hit for
Travis Tritt, who joins
Cordle on this bluegrass version that features Davis on mandolin and Gardner's dobro. "B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Blues)" has been cut by many singers but hasn't been a hit yet. It's a fine country blues that would have been great in the hands of
Jim Reeves. "Old Cheater's Blues" is another tune that could be a mainstream hit, a cheatin' waltz with a clever lyric and great melody.
Benson's muted banjo, Gardner's dobro, and Beach's lead guitar give the song its soul. Other standouts include "'67 Chevy Malibu," "The Hero of the Creek," a song praising the simple life, saved from cliché by
Cordle's lyrical skills and bright melody, and "A Visit With an Uncle," a song about a deceased relative, simply sung by
Cordle backed by a single acoustic guitar.
Took Down and Put Up isn't anything fancy, but fans of great pickin' and solid songwriting will find
Cordle delivering the goods again. ~ j. poet