Wagonmaster

by Porter Wagoner

Product Description:

Personnel: Kenny Vaughan (guitar); Marty Stuart (electric guitar); Mike Johnson, Fred Newell (steel guitar); Buck Trent (banjo); Stuart Duncan (fiddle); Mote (piano); Brian Glenn (upright bass); Harry Stinson (drums); Carl Jackson (background vocals).

Named in deference to his old band, Porter Wagoner's album WAGONMASTER (2007) is filled with surprises despite coming quite late in the legend's long career. The most pleasant surprise is that while WAGONMASTER reads from the outset like a comeback record, it's not an attempt to be Rick Rubinized--a la Johnny Cash--nor does it opt for the back-to-bluegrass blueprint of Dolly Parton (Wagner's former protege). Instead, the listener gets what Wagoner has offered at various peaks during his long career: top-notch countrypolitan delivered with an easy baritone and ace musicianship.

Porter plays WAGONMASTER very light on its feet: the grit is in the vocals and the hard-won wisdom of age in the stories. Thankfully, Wagoner never lets the gravitas overtake his desire to entertain with some good ol' country songs. Despite the hard-luck feel of "Late Love of Mine" and "Committed to Parkview," most of the selections are upbeat and feature incredible fiddle and peddle-steel exhibitions displayed just so by Marty Stuart's fantastic natural production. Indeed much of the album evokes the finest moments of the Ryman--surely the arena where Wagoner has always felt the most comfortable. WAGONMASTER ultimately reveals that in the twilight Wagoner will play to his strengths: great mainstream Nashville country circa 1969.