Stong showing....
dale nixon | Commontown, USA | 11/08/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is a really good record. The band sounds good and it's a nice mix of origianls and covers. The covers are relatively obscure stuff and they keep them true to form. My only criticism is that the songs are a bit fast. Their version of Patsy Clines "Dont Ever Leave Me Again" is the only slow song on the whole record. Everything bounces right along and at times blends together. The vocals are very unique, confident and bold. No cliche imitations of Wanda Jackson and Janis Martin. The band is tight and they too stay away from more of the cliche stuff. Too bad they dont tour more."
High quality upbeat fifties style music
Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 11/06/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Apparently known as America's hillbilly sweetheart, Cari Lee is sometimes compared to the late great Rose Maddox and it's easy to see why. Cari likes to rock in much the way that Rose did, especially in her early recordings. Even Don't ever leave me, a cover of a Patsy Cline song, rocks - if somewhat more slowly than the rest of the album.Apart from Don't ever leave me, this album is filled with uptempo songs - a blend of fifties rockabilly and western swing. The fifties feel of the music is emphasised by the inclusion of a Billy Haley cover (Green tree boogie), the method of recording - live to two track - and the small number of musicians (six) used on the recordings. The opening track, Til I met you, sets the tempo of this excellent album.Cari has a strong voice well suited to the high-energy music contained on this CD and I can imagine that she would be a very exciting live performer.This is not the kind of music that will sell in huge quantities these days, but if you like upbeat rocking hillbilly music, this is as good as you're likely to find on the current music scene. Definitely one for Rose Maddox fans to investigate."
One Hot Hillbilly Dame
rockinbones101 | Chula Vista, CA | 08/21/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There's a good mix of rockabilly and uptempo western swing on this CD and Cari Lee's voice is like no other. It's bold and beautiful with a signature vibrato. She doesn't use any of the tired vocal "gimmicks" that so many of the other women in this style of music seem to use. You won't hear any annoying growling, whining or hiccuping on any portion of this CD. What you will hear are killer steel guitar melodies on songs like "Hadacol Boogie" and "Stop That Tomcattin" and real stomping double bass and drum breaks on the opening track "Till I met You" and "Green Tree Boogie". "Don't Ever Leave Me Again" (The Patsy Cline song) is beautifully done. It takes quite a band to try to reproduce anything that Patsy Cline did and Cari Lee really shines on this one. I think Patsy Cline would be proud! Take my word for it, Red Barn Baby is definitely worth adding to your CD collection!"
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1