[.ca] Songs from the Gravel Road

Amazon.ca:
Like a Great White North-ern version of Johnny Cash, Ian Tyson is a walking legend, the lines on his weathered face roadmaps to his historic life. Tyson started making indentations in the '60s as a folk musician (one half of Ian and Sylvia) whose music has been covered by everyone from Neil Young and Judy Collins to Suzy Bogguss and Gordon Lightfoot. Songs like "Four Strong Winds" and "You Were Always On My Mind" were among Ian's contributions to Canadian musical history. He also hosted his own TV show, won the Order of Canada, and temporarily quit the music industry, preferring to be a rancher and rodeo rider. Tyson could've played it safe on Songs from the Gravel Road by bringing in straight-up country pickers, but he decided to shake things up with the inclusion of respected jazz musicians, including Guido Basso on trumpet and Phil Dwyer on sax. As a result, straight-ahead country melodies like "So No More" become jazz-backed twang. That cut leads straight into a traditional cover of "One Morning In May", a song made famous by James Taylor; the tune is high on charm, complete with an exemplary fiddle solo and whimsical delivery. Tyson's great players also breeze through a host of other tunes, everything from songs infused with Spanish undertones ("Silver Bell", "Always Saying Goodbye") to a reggae track, "Range Delivery". That song is the disc's most charming cut, attributed in part to the tune's co-vocalist, Cindy Church (one fourth of the country group Quartette). There is nothing out of left field on the album, just an hour of country-laden comfort from one of Canada's most enduring roots legends. --Denise Sheppard

Grows on you - give it a chance:
Took a few listens, but this turns out to be some of Ian's best work and a logical progession from 1999's Lost Herd, the last studio album. If you didn't like that CD, then chances are you won't like this one as it certainly isn't typical 'cowboy music', whatever that is. However, if you are open-minded enough to allow Ian to stretch the boundaries of the genre he's done so much to revitalize over the last 20 years, then you will be rewarded. "This is My Sky" is an excellent and original opening to the CD which also sounds great live. "Land Of Shining Mountains" is more typical Tyson and like the opening track is one of many highlights. The two ballads - "Love Without End" and "So No More" are poignant reflections of the breakup of Ian's 20 year marriage. For my money, the real 'grower' on the CD is the third track, "Ambler's Saddle" which left me cold on first hearing, but now has me hooked. Another favorite is the Tom Russell-esque "Road To Las Cruces", which again pulls you in with each successive hearing. I sincerely hope that "Songs From The Gravel Road" is not Ian's last CD - at the age of 72, he's proven again what an enduring force he is, with more originality in his little finger than artists half his age. Heartily recommended - but listen to it a few times before judging.

Not as good as:" All the good' uns":
Only a view songs I like on this CD. Like "Land of shining Mountains" and "Silver Bell". Not all the songs sound realy country stylish,but maby someone else like them. "All the good' uns" is stii the best!

• This Is My Sky
• Land of Shining Mountains
• Ambler Saddle
• Love Without End
• Silver Bell
• Road to Las Cruces
• Range Delivery
• So No More
• One Morning in May
• Always Saying Goodbye
• Moisture
• Casey's Gone
• Casey's Gone