The Background:Larry Gatlin is best-known for teaming up with his brothers in the late 1970s, where they became one of country music's most successful acts of the 1970s and 1980s. With 33 Top 40 country singles, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers’ popularity lasted throughout much of the 1980s. Their biggest hits together included, "Broken Lady", "All the Gold In California", "Houston (Means I'm One Day Closer to You)", "She Used to Be Somebody's Baby", and "Talkin' to the Moon.” This new 2009 introduction is a storyteller's album that began back in 1972 when the legendary Johnny Cash took Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers under his wing. Listen in as Larry Gatlin weaves personal stories of friendship throughout this classic album that features the highly talked about debut single, 'Johnny Cash Is Dead And His House Burned Down'.
The Review:
Webster’s defines the word storyteller as “a reciter of tales.” Gatlin’s friend and mentor Johnny Cash is the muse for this storyteller’s album. Between songs, Gatlin tells personal stories of how the legacy of Cash (and to a lesser degree Kris Kristofferson and June Carter Cash) played a role in making him the person and musician he is today. The stories are fascinating for this Johnny Cash fan- at least for the first few times around. I’m not sure how I would feel about them after I’ve heard them a dozen times. But hearing touching stories about Johnny giving Larry’s son a tin cup from Folsom Prison upon his birth are touching reminders of the true Man In Black. It’s a unique personal touch on an album that while not a traditional tribute album, is certainly a dedication. On the musical side of things, Gatlin pays homage to the Cash family with a new song, "Johnny Cash Is Dead (And His House Burned Down)," and has recorded two of his classic old songs, "Sweet Becky Walker" and “Penny Annie” that were Johnny’s favorites. Gatlin's voice is a little more grizzled than it was in the 1970s, but on a song like “Penny Annie,” it gives it a great distinction between original and new. When Gatlin’s brothers kick in with a chorus, it instantly reminds of older songs like “All The Gold In California.” The layered harmony buoy and adequately cover any singular voice changes. The highlight of the album for this reviewer was the last, “A Man Can’t Live With A Broken Heart Too Long.” Dedicated to and written about Johnny after June Carter passed away a few months prior to the legend, it recounts the love story between the two. With eloquent lyrics such as June Carter running across the River Jordan to hug her man after he passes, it’s an appropriate and touching end to the album- telling a story really no one really saw but we all hope happened. The Gatlins misfire on a couple of the songs along the way to get there, most notably “Hey Nashville, Whaddya Say?” and “Americans, That’s Who”- both of which end up being a little cheesy trying a little too hard for relevancy and topicality. But overall, it’s a welcome return for three harmony driven brothers adding to a long musical legacy of their own.
Sounds Like:
The Oak Ridge Boys Minus The Baritone
Track Highlights (suggested iPod adds):
Penny Annie
Johnny Cash Is Dead (& His House Burned Down)
Fill Me
A Man Can’t Live With A Broken Heart Too Long
The Verdict:
Three Stars Out Of Five
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