Assembling a group of tremendous musicians to play on
Empty Old Mailbox -- including his old boss,
J.D. Crowe;
Lonesome River Band mate
Sammy Shelor; and dobro master
Jerry Douglas --
Don Rigsby has put together a solid solo album that showcases his daunting tenor. He does a wonderful turn through the title track, written by
Tom T. Hall and his wife, Dixie, and the barnstormer "Louise," which was penned by the dependable
Paul Craft. He also wraps his pipes around a relatively peppy version of
John Hartford's "Here I Am in Love Again." Nevertheless, "If I'd Had a Mother Like You" is a bit of a misstep here, representing the kind of newgrass pap that could find its way into the mainstream country arena. "Dust to Dust" is similarly saccharine, and free as it is from any bluegrass influence, it's much less discreet in its Nashville aspirations. Overall, however, this is a strong format for
Rigsby's singing and there are plenty of gems here. ~ Erik Hage