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This is the 4th CD from Tony Kerr and has to be his best yet. As with each of his other releases, they get better and better and I wondered after the first one would it be possible to improve. Well the answer to that is a resounding “YES”.
For Kentucky Gambler, Tony has surrounded himself with some of the best in the business. The multi-talented Paul McNeilly; who incidently also recorded and co-produced the CD with Tony; plays Lead Guitar, Bass, Drums, Dobro and backing vocals. To augment the country feel he has drafted in Stevie Hamilton on Pedal Steel and Mandolin. Most people will be aware of Stevie from his work with Country Harmony and if you want a fiddle player...why not go for two of the best! Charlie Arkins and Plunket McGartland share the duties.
Its nice to hear Nuala Kerr appearing again on backing vocals, again a duty shared with the up-and-coming star Justin McGurk.
The overall mix and sound of the CD is fantastic, again no doubt due to the high standards Paul maintains at P.I.C. Productions
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Lets get down to the real business in hand now...what’s it like? Well right from the very first track written by Vince Gill, you know you are in for a real treat. A country quickstep with liberal splashes of fiddle, steel and twanging guitar, get your dancing shoes on now!
“Streets of Laredo” next, Tony harks back to the old country feel, thank goodness there’s someone covering these older numbers and with Tony’s delivery and soulful voice its bringing it to a new, younger audience.
Apartment No 9 keeps it in the same vein, a slower very melodic song that showcases Tony’s voice and blends well with the haunting fiddle in the background. The fiddle takes a very prominent role in the title track “Kentucky Gambler” sure to become a much requested track on radio and during Tony’s live shows.
OK, throw in a couple of tracks from Alan Jackson and a couple from the much underrated Tommy Collins and you have an oustanding album it would be very easy to fall into the trap of using some very tired “puns” to describe “Kentucky Gambler”...so I’m not going to disappoint this CD is the “best bet” you’ll make this year, it’s not a gamble, its a dead cert for a great sounding CD.
And for the finale, again sure to become a showstopper during his live shows, “Why me Lord”, sung with all the passion that Tony delivers would even put a smile on Kristofferson’s face, its hard to beat the original, but well done Tony.
Check on Tony’s own web site for details of his other CDs and how you can purchase them direct via mail order, better still, if you haven’t got any already, buy all 4 at one go, its a safe bet...there I go with the puns again.
Colly
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CD 1
1 I Never Really Knew You
2 Streets of Laredo
3 Apartment No 9
4 Kentucky Gambler
5 When Did Right Become Wrong
6 Chattahoochee
7 Goodbye Comes Hard For Me
8 Love’s Got A Hold On You
9 Gone Out Of My Mind
10 Lovesick Blues
11 Here In The Real World
12 Why Me Lord?
Visit Tony kerr online at
www.tonykerr.com
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