ROBERT MIZZELL      THANKS A LOT      (CEOL CDC 114) 

         IF IT’S GONNA RAIN … I HOPE IT MIZZELLS 

Not often enough, in music, do we get one of those ‘hairs on the back of the neck’ moments.

But that’s what keeps us listening.  Hoping for that experience  again. Way back, I felt it when listening to Hank Williams’ ‘Luke The Drifter’ album. 

Later I got it quite a few times with Elvis. Then hearing George Jones ‘live’ in Belfast, was another special moment. Sometimes Merle, Conway and Kris gave me ‘goose bumps’, but I never expected, in my wildest dreams, to get those feelings listening to a recording made here in Ireland.

But surprise, surprise it’s happened. 

I’ve been saying, for a long time, that ‘local’ recordings have been improving in leaps and bounds. Most of them no longer sound like cheap copies of Nashville productions. But this Robert Mizzell album, raises the bar to a new level.

I won’t try to grade the tracks, they’re all superb. Though if I had to pick one, it’s not easy, but I think I’d plump for ‘If It’s Gonna Rain’. A gorgeous vocal and a classy but not overproduced backing.    

Any country radio presenter who doesn’t give these tracks loads of airtime, should seek new employment, because this is what good country music is all about. 

It’s only March, but this is already a safe bet as my  ‘Album of the Year’. 

A brilliant co-production by Robert Mizzell and Jonathan Owens who have used the line up of  top musicians, to their best effect. 

To everyone involved, for an album which will often be spinning on my CD player, ‘Thanks A Lot’. 

Davy Kennedy  

Track Listing