Hymns & Ballads, 1999-2002
A CS production, January 2014
CD 1:
1. Hallelujah, I'm Ready To Go - September 23, 2000
2. Roving Blade - March 17, 2000 (Late Show)
3. Oh Babe, It Ain't No Lie - July 26, 1999
4. Satisfied Mind - November 9, 1999
5. This World Can't Stand Long - November 3, 2001
6. I Am The Man, Thomas - February 9, 2002
7. White Dove - April 3, 2000
8. Lucky Old Sun - June 29, 2000
9. Wait For The Light To Shine - November 19, 2001
10. Pass Me Not, O' Gentle Savior - March 21, 2000
11. Roving Gambler - March 10, 2000 (Early)
12. Long Black Veil - July 1, 2000
13. You're Gonna Quit Me - April 8, 1999
14. Searching For A Soldier's Grave - November 19, 2001
15. Somebody Touched Me - July 16, 2000
16. Rock Of Ages - March 16, 2000
17. Duncan & Brady - September 29, 2000
18. Rank Strangers To Me - July 16, 2000
19. Hummingbird - November 3, 2001
20. Stone Walls & Steel Bars - June 21, 2000
21. Delia - September 19, 2000
22. A Voice From On High - October 5, 2002
CD 2 - bonus tracks:
1. Dark As A Dungeon - June 21, 2000
2. Blue Bonnet Girl - November 1, 2000
This is true good old-fashioned music here. Twenty-two tracks of pure bluegrass, gospel, blues and ballads. Many of the songs here date from the early twentieth century, though a few are earlier. As far as I can tell, even the comparatively recent songs sound like they could date from the Civil War era.
Of particular note is this beautiful performance of "Roving Blade," so different in presentation from its 1992 guise. The hymns are especially moving, including "This World Can't Stand Long," "Pass Me Not, O' Gentle Savior," "Rock Of Ages," and "A Voice From On High." Don't think this is a low-key set, though! The band can move, too, and despite their high-minded lyrics "Hallelujah, I'm Ready To Go," "I Am The Man, Thomas," and "Somebody Touched Me" will get your foot to tapping. The secular songs here are of remarkable quality too, including heartfelt performances of the standard "Lucky Old Sun," Blind Willie McTell's "Delia," the postwar ballad "Searching For A Soldier's Grave," and a deeply moving "White Dove." Not all of the songs are equally brilliant, but even the less perfect numbers are classics.
I would ike to draw the listener's attention to two tracks, though, to lead you on to another recording. "This World Can't Stand Long" and "Hummingbird" are drawn from a Nashville concert in 2001, and that evening stands as one of the towering records of the Never-Ending Tour. The sound, for one reason or another, is very resonant, providing an almost impressionist interpretation of the show. It almost couldn't have sounded better in person! Seek this show out and you will not be disappointed.
Much as the Golden Vanity record covering 1988 to 1992 stands as the essential collection of covers from that time period, I hope this CD will serve much the same purpose for 1999 to 1992. The only tracks missing are some of the electric covers from 1999 and 2000 that were outside the scope of this acoustic album, including "Folsom Prison Blues," "It's Too Late," "Big River," "Not Fade Away," "Hootchie Cootchie Man," "House of the Rising Sun," and "My Blue-Eyed Jane." A handful of acoustic tracks from 1999 - 2002 are missing as well: "Blue-Bonnet Girl" and "Dark As A Dungeon" are the most prominent, but they just don't match the quality of the tracks presented. I'm sure you won't have any trouble seeking those songs out if you desire them.
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