A Beautiful Bouquet

by The Maddox Brothers & Rose, Rose Maddox, Vern Williams Band

Overview

In her prime, Rose Maddox was known as a country and rockabilly singer. But as she got older she spent more and more time singing with bluegrass bands, and this fine album (originally released on LP in 1983) was recorded over the course of two days with the Vern Williams Band. The program consists entirely of gospel songs, and the combination of Williams' slightly gruff high tenor and Maddox's powerful, brassy voice is a surprisingly effective one. The band itself is, for the most part, fairly workmanlike, though there are several sparkling moments of inspiration. They show a particular affinity for songs with tricky and irregular rhythms -- "We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder" is more difficult than they make it sound, and their hocketing vocal arrangement is lots of fun. They also manage to make the extra beats in "Turn Your Radio On" sound completely natural. Other highlights include an appropriately soaring version of "I'll Fly Away" and a soulful rendition of "Church in the Wildwood," but "I Can't Feel at Home" is given a slightly plodding treatment here and the title track is a bit maudlin, even by bluegrass gospel standards. Even with its minor flaws, though, this disc is a welcome reminder of one of country and bluegrass music's most powerful female voices. ~ Rick Anderson

Product Details

Release Date:	04/10/2007
Label:	Arhoolie
UPC:	0096297905821
Rank:	135029

Tracks

1. We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder
2. Life's Evening Sun
3. Church in the Wildwood
4. When God Dips His Love in My Heart
5. I Can't Feel at Home
6. Farther Along
7. I'll Fly Away
8. In the Sweet By and By
9. Kneel at the Cross
10. Turn Your Radio On
11. Beautiful Bouquet
12. Take Me in the Lifeboat
13. If We Never Meet Again
14. Swing Low Sweet Chariot

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Rose Maddox   Primary Artist,Vocals
Rose Madox   Primary Artist
Vern Williams   Primary Artist,Mandolin,Vocals
Vern Williams Band   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
The Maddox Brothers & Rose   Primary Artist
Keith Little   Banjo
Ed Neff   Mandolin,Fiddle
Kevin Thompson   Bass
Delbert Williams   Vocals,Guitar

Technical Credits

Chris Strachwitz   Audio Production,Liner Notes,Producer
Rose Maddox   Audio Production,Arranger,Producer,Performer,Composer
Michael Cogan   Audio Engineer,Engineer
The Maddox Brothers & Rose   Performer
Traditional   Composer
Cleavant Derricks   Composer
Vern Williams   Performer