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Charlie Sizemore - The Story Is... The Songs Of Tom T. Hall

(Rebel REB-CD-1767) 23 Apr 2002

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Charlie's third CD for Rebel was released six years after it's predecessor, although I believe it was recorded sometime around 1998 and put on hold whilst Charlie concentrated on his legal practice, and then later released to coincide with his return to music.^[1]

As the title suggests, the album contains versions of 14 songs written by Tom T. Hall, who also provides the introductory recitation to Old Dogs, Children And Watermelon Wine. All songs had previously either been recorded by Country music stars or Tom T. Hall himself in the past, so no doubt will be familiar to country fans. To help select tracks from Tom T. Hall's extensive back catalogue, Dixie Hall helped Charlie out, and the selection for the most part is absolutley wonderful. Superbly crafted, thoughtful and intelligent; which Charlie executes perfectly.

Incidentally, one track, Me And Jesus was also cut by Curly Ray Cline on his instrumental The Old Kentucky Fox Hunter Plays Gospel LP.

Featured guests on the album include Ralph Stanley, who provides harmony on I'll Never Do Better Than You; Kathy Mattea on I Flew Over Our House Last Night; J.D. Crowe on Another Town; and The Oak Ridge Boys (Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Le Golden & Richard Sterban) on Me And Jesus. The latter track is the only one that I find grates, with it's happy-clappy repetitive refrain. It also seems a bit too long, but at least it's the last track.

Me And Jesus received a Dove award nomination.^[2]

Overall this is another quality album by Charlie Sizemore.

^{[1] There was a radio phone interview with Charlie Sizemore (I think around the time of the 'Good News' album) where he mentioned this project as having been recorded earlier and then shelved. It was online, but now seems to have been removed.
[2] 'General Notes' section of Bluegrass Unlimited, March 2003 (p.12).}