Various Artists: Treasures From The Blue Canyon Vaults

​DETAIL ALBUM

Tracks:

1. Jim Terr Feat. Junior Brown: She Gave Her Heart To Jethro
2. Elliot’s Ramblers: Plains Of San Augustine
3. Lara Manzanares: Census Song
4. Junior Brown With The Last Mile Ramblers: Phantom 309
5. Michael Hearne With South By Southwest: New Mexico Rain
6. Chantel Mullen: Another Sweetie Has My Heart
7. Steve Young: Always Loving You
8. Jim Terr Feat. Junior Brown: Dig That Crazy Music
9. Don And Victoria Armstrong: Big Brown Pony
10. Carlos Medina: Mi Amigo Soldado
11. The Supernatural Family Band: Rockin’ Music
12. Jim Terr: She Taught Me How To Sing These Songs
13. The Yara Sisters: Every Time I See Your Face
14. BuDDy: Chile And Beans
15. Francine Fitzgerald: You’re Not The Only Love
16. Jim Terr: Talkin’ To My Wine
17. Kate Bennett: Son Of A Rabbi Man
18. Joey Wilson: The Old House
19. Jim Terr: Objects In Mirror
20. Busy McCarroll: Nothin’s Any Better For Me
21. Jimmy Stadler And Band: It’s Past My Beer Time

​Zanger, songschrijver en producer en labeleigenaar Jim Terr dook in zijn Blue Canyon opnames archief en selecteerde 21 tracks voor dit door Bear Family Records uitgebracht album ‘Treasures From The Blue Canyon Vaults. Diezelfde Jim Terr schreef ook de bij deze uitgave horende linernotes, en zorgde ook voor alle info en foto’s betreffende de tracks en de artiesten. De opnames beslaan de periode 1970-2022 en bevatten hoogtepunten in de singer/songwriter, folk en country genres. Daaronder bevinden zich o.a. songs van countrylegende Steve Young, die hits schreef voor o.a. The Eagles en Waylon Jennings. Eveneens van de partij is de alternatieve countryster Junior Brown. Deze compilatie bevat niet eerder uitgebrachte nummers van dit duo en een aantal originele songs door de ‘crème de la crème’ van de New Mexico muziekscene. Zoals bij beluistering blijkt, bevatte deze scene een diversiteit aan countrygenres.
Niet verwonderlijk dat meerdere van de hier voorgestelde artiesten New Mexico Music Awards in de wacht sleepten, want de country die je hier voorgeschoteld krijgt, is alleszins van topniveau. Naast de schitterende samenzang in opener ‘She Gave Her Heart To Jethro’, zorgt de banjo in ‘Plains Of San Augustine van Elliott’s Ramblers voor een licht bluegrassgevoel. Heerlijke uptempo country serveert Lara Manzanares even later in het door haar geschreven ‘Census Song’. Dat Jim Terr ook een getalenteerd songschrijver was, laat Chantel Mullen horen in het lieflijke ‘Another Sweetie Has My Heart’. De grote Steve Young is van de partij met de indrukwekkende, emotionele ballade ‘Always Loving You’. Heerlijk uptempo is dan weer ‘Dig That Crazy Music van Jim Terr en Junior Brown, inclusief prima gitaarwerk. Om in die typische Mexicaanse sfeer te raken, is er Carlos Medina met zijn accordeon in ‘Mi Amigo Soldado’, dat onmiddellijk aan het werk van Los Lobos doet denken. Pakkend is zeker de samenzang van Yara Sisters Madeline en Mia in het evenals uit Terr’s pen gevloeide ‘Every Time I See Your Face’. Terr hoor je later nog aan het werk in de typische countrysong ‘Talkin’ To My Wine’ van Bob Aldo, alsook in het door hemzelf geschreven ‘Objects In Mirror’.
Het album bevat enkele gesproken songs, waaronder het knappe ‘Son Of A Rabbi Man’ van Kate Bennett.
De enige twee niet originele nummers zijn opener ‘She Gave Her Heart To Jethro’ van Tom T. Hall, hier door Jim Terr en Junior Brown gebracht en Tom Faile’s gesproken trucker klassieker ‘Phantom 309’ door Junior Brown en The Last Mile Ramblers.
‘Treasures From The Blue Canyon Vaults’ biedt een prachtige inkijk in de rijke countryscene van New Mexico. Het label Blue Canyon Records, alsook de regio New Mexico zijn voor velen nog onontgonnen. Onterecht zoals blijkt uit deze compilatie. Hoog tijd dus dat hier verandering in kwam en dat hebben ze bij Bear Family Records ontegensprekelijk bewezen.
 
Lambert Smits

Singer, songwriter, producer and label owner Jim Terr delved into his Blue Canyon recording archive and selected 21 tracks for this album 'Treasures From The Blue Canyon Vaults' released by Bear Family Records. The same Jim Terr also wrote the liner notes for this release, and also provided all information and photos regarding the tracks and the artists. The recordings cover the period 1970-2022 and contain highlights in the singer/songwriter, folk and country genres. These include songs by country legend Steve Young, who wrote hits for The Eagles and Waylon Jennings, among others. Also present is the alternative country star Junior Brown. This compilation contains previously unreleased songs by this duo and a number of original songs by the 'crème de la crème' of the New Mexico music scene. As becomes apparent upon listening, this scene contained a diversity of country genres. It is not surprising that several of the artists presented here won New Mexico Music Awards, because the country music presented here is certainly top-notch. In addition to the beautiful harmonies in the opener ‘She Gave Her Heart To Jethro’ from Terr and Brown, the banjo in ‘Plains Of San Augustine’ by Elliott’s Ramblers provides a light bluegrass feel. Lara Manzanares serves up some wonderful up-tempo country a little later in the ‘Census Song’ written by herself. Chantel Mullen shows that Jim Terr was also a talented songwriter in the lovely ‘Another Sweetie Has My Heart’. The great Steve Young is there with the impressive, emotional ballad ‘Always Loving You’. Wonderfully up-tempo is ‘Dig That Crazy Music’ by Jim Terr and Junior Brown, including excellent guitar work. To get into that typical Mexican atmosphere, there is Carlos Medina with his accordion in ‘Mi Amigo Soldado’, which immediately reminds us of the work of Los Lobos. The vocals of Yara Sisters Madeline and Mia in the song ‘Every Time I See Your Face’, which also came from Terr’s pen, are certainly catchy. Terr can be heard later on in the typical country song ‘Talkin’ To My Wine’ by Bob Aldo, as well as in the song ‘Objects In Mirror’, written by himself.
The album contains several spoken songs, including the beautiful ‘Son Of A Rabbi Man’ by Kate Bennett.
The only two non-original songs are the opener ‘She Gave Her Heart To Jethro’ by Tom T. Hall, performed here by Jim Terr and Junior Brown, and Tom Faile’s spoken trucker classic ‘Phantom 309’ by Junior Brown and The Last Mile Ramblers.
‘Treasures From The Blue Canyon Vaults’ offers a wonderful insight into the rich country scene of New Mexico. The label Blue Canyon Records, as well as the region of New Mexico, are still unexplored by many. Undeservedly so, as this compilation shows. So it was high time that this changed and Bear Family Records has proven this beyond doubt.