Two CD Buddy Spicher Reviews
 By Graham Lees
Buddy Spicher & Mike Loudermilk:
'Wildwood Flower' [no number]
Celebrated fiddle player Buddy Spicher joins Mike Loudermilk, son of famed
singer/songwriter John D. Loudermilk, in producing this outstanding 10-track
bluegrass album. The album opens with a sensational version of the traditional
'Fire On The Mountain' emphasising the clean and clear rhythmic finger picking
of Mike and the powerful presence of Buddy's fiddle playing. The recordings
have perfect clarity, with several traditional numbers arranged by Loudermilk
& Spicher.
This is a richly textured anthology, offering many great songs and instrumentals
to choose from. Without singling out any particular track more than an otherfrom
this highly infectious musical store, Mike Loudermilk's guitar work is remarkable
on A. P. Carter's delicate 'Wildwood Flower', a tune that Chet Atkin's said
"is like the national anthem of country music." Buddy does an astonishing
job of putting over the song 'Devil Went Down To Georgia' and his wife Paula
says that when he's in the mood, he can really put that song over in a live
performance. People love it! Mac Wiseman's potent vocals add emotional weight
to the prison song 'Shackles & Chains' and Crystal Gayle injects new
freshness with a style that I haven't heard her sing before on 'Blue Moon
Of Kentucky and 'Blue Kentucky Girl'. Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown can be heard
playing guitar on his own striking instrumental 'Redwood Timber'.
Other instrumentals include the vigorous 'Arkansas Traveler' (sic) with fiery
sawing fiddle and dashing guitar work, while Karl Davis' beautiful 'Kentucky'
and Bill Monroe's 'Tennessee Waltz' are brought together, creating a rich
and gentle sound. Musicians include Mike Loudermilk on guitar, mandolin,
banjo and vocals, Buddy on fiddle, cello, mandolin and vocals, Josh Graves
adds dobro, with David Spicher, Charlie Chadwick and Terry Zimmerman all
featured on bass and additional fiddle is contributed by Billy Contreras.
With Crystal Gayle and Mac Wiseman prominently featured on vocals, this diamond
of an album is one of the finest bluegrass albums released this year.
Buddy Spicher: 'Front Porch Fiddle'
SecTer 400002
Released in August 2000, Buddy Spicher offers 14 dynamic old time fiddle
tunes with the added bonus of his son David holding forceful rhythmic lines
on upright bass, plus the highly talented Shad Cobb prominently featured
on clawhammer banjo and mandolin. On Front Porch Fiddle, the first thing
to strike the listener is the exciting 'Back Up and Push', swiftly followed
by 'Ragtime Annie' featuring the playful delivery of ringing banjo and fiddle.
The feet are instantly set tapping with the snappy traditional 'Soldiers
Joy' and 'Cotton Eyed Joe', which has Buddy contributing vocals and is the
only track on the album that is not wholly instrumental. Contained her are
fine examples of 'Get Along Home Cindy' with David Spicher taking a stylish
break on upright bass and the swing style of 'Draggin' the Beaumont' adding
another course for this texture of well-crafted bounteous instrumentals.
'Mom and Dad Waltz' offers a romantic sensibility, with the beauty of fiddle
and mandolin creating an emotional counterbalance.
From the banjo intro of 'Lisa Jane', through the stunning sharpness of fiddle,
to the deepness of bowed bass and the delicacy of the light chiming mandolin,
this track has the quality and passion that enhances the awareness of the
talent on offer. The delicacy of clawhammer banjo on 'Bill Cheatum' (sic)
is a joy in itself and the solidly paced 'Golden Slippers' matches the supremacy
of its predecessors, on this the closing track.
Front Porch Fiddle is a treasure of an album, eagerly complimented by the
interweaving expanses of silk lined instrumentation from three top class
and nimble fingered musicians, who offer a brew that is warm, rich and
refreshing. An album which is truly electrifying and will generate interest
from both bluegrass and old-timey circles. This is a gem not to be missed!
Graham Lees, Dewesbury, W.Yorks
Write to
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Website
Both Albums are available from:
sales@buddyspicher.com
GAMES93330@aol.com,
and in the UK from Liz Ball - 01293 541953 in the UK
1st Dec
2000
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