Turkey In The Straw By Glenn Williams And The Ullbillies Reviewed By Pete Smith (The Advertiser UK)

Maintaining the theme of real country and innovation we move back across the Atlantic to the port of Hull where resides one Glenn Williams the captain of a motley crew called the Ullbillies. Glenn, it appears, is a performer after my own heart. His passion is to revive classic country and to give it a facelift without compromising the music's heritage and he does this superbly by writing "new" traditional arrangements. Thus on Turkey In The Straw (Lazyswede) we find age old songs like Turkey In The Straw, Wreck Of The Old 97, The Crawdad Song and I'll Fly Away delivered in a brand new but old package.

I know it doesn't make sense but it will as soon as you hear these songs. Williams is just, well, brilliant! Listen to the old George Jones hit Ragged But Right; done the Williams' way it is straight out of the Blue Sky Boys songbook.

The twelve songs include four of Glenn's proving that there is probably no end to this guy's musical talents. Completing the programme is an oh so beautiful a Capella version of Silent Night. Glenn arranged, recorded and produced the album with the help of musicians. John Smith (banjo, fiddle, mandolin, bones) Alan Raw (accordion, tin whistle, flutes, washboard) Mick Morton (guitar, vocals) Paul Hewson (bass). www.lazyswede.co.uk

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