Perhaps this new release from Nashville’s storyteller should also be entitled A gift from the gifted.
Tom T Hall signed for the Mercury record label in 1967 and since then has delivered a plethora of brilliant songs and stories through his music.
Know as ‘the storyteller’ he has entertained for five decades, delivering fifty chart singles and thirty five albums.
Everyone likes a good story and true to form a great little story surrounds his new release on the Drumfire record label.
When Tom’s wife ‘Dixie’ opened her Christmas presents a couple of year ago she discovered a mock up CD and cover entitled ‘Tom T Hall Sings Miss Dixie’ as over the years Dixie has also been instrumental in co writing some of the songs.
The gift that Tom offered in dummy form was that Dixie would produce the album (in his own studio) select the musicians, and the songs and that he would sing them.
The final result in this twelve track release is sheer musical brilliance with Tom in fine voice, superb musicianship and magical stories.
From the opening track ‘I’m A Coal Mining Man’ through to the final ‘Jimmy Martin’s Life Story’ (on which Jimmy features) the album is a musical mix of great entertainment with a definitive bluegrass feel.
According to Dixie,”I believe the ‘Hero In Harlan’ track is the finest song we have ever written, either together or apart and Tom T’s performance is my all time favourite”.
Tom T and Miss Dixie’s music has come a long way since the early days of ‘Harper Valley PTA’ which he wrote and was recorded by Jeannie C Riley in 1968 prior to him breaking into the music business in his own right.
In 1998, his 1972 song “Old Dogs and Children and Watermelon Wine” came in second in a BBC poll to find the UK’s favourite easy listening record, despite never having been a hit in the UK and being familiar to Radio 2 listeners mostly through occasional plays by Terry Wogan.
Thankfully he is still providing us with great ‘easy listening’ story songs and whether you are a country fan or not this is an album of brilliant musical merit that should be added to your collection.
Another ‘belter’ of a release from Tom T Hall which is not just a special gift for ‘Miss Dixie’ but for you and me too.
Originally released in the States a couple of year ago it is now available here for the first time.
Tom T Hall-A Gift from Tom T Hall : (Tom T Hall Sings Miss Dixie and Tom T) Drumfire Records DRMFR005
Available from August 1st ….check it out on www.drumfirerecords.com