Search - Paul Craft :: Brother Jukebox

Understated, finely crafted Nashville songsmithing

Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 11/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Paul Craft's name may not roll right off your tounge when asked to name some great country songwriters, but when you give this disc a listen, you'll be amazed at how many of these tunes you'll recognize - and what a high calibre they all are! There is, of course, the original 1976 demo version of the title track, covered most famously by Mark Chesnutt and Keith Whitley, and most effectively by Don Everly on his late-'70s album of the same title. Then, there's "Midnight Flyer" (The Osborne Brothers, Eagles), or "Hank Williams, You Wrote My Life," "Ancient History," and a slew of others that are perhaps less well known, but no less well-crafted. This is a nice, relaxed set, with subtle backing by a slew of talented well-wishers (including Rob Ickes, John Starling, Scott Vestal, Charlie Sizemore, and others from the Nashville/bluegrass axis...) Some of the songs may suffer in comparison to the punchier, bigger-sounding hit versions, but there's a lot to be said for Craft's low-key, unpretentious approach. This disc's a real gem."