Brenda Reviews Wildfire: Quiet Country Town

Oct 12, 2022 | Brenda and the Reviews

www.pinecastlemusic.com

Song List:  Ride The Train, Quiet Country Town, What Would Your Memories Do, How Could I Love Her So Much, Ain’t No California, Oh Lonesome Me, Bridges and Walls, She’s Crazy For Leaving, I’ve Been Through It All, Help Me.

Wildfire was formed in 2000 by former band members Robert Hale and Curt Chapman from JD Crowe’s band, New South.  Robert’s guitar and Curt’s bass form the anchor for the group’s sound and they are joined by Johnny Lewis on banjo, Matt Despain on dobro, and Scott Napier on mandolin.

Robert wrote two original songs for the album, and the other songs are country classics given a bluegrass dobro and banjo backdrop and transformed by Robert’s resonant lead vocals.  The opening song, “Ride The Train,” has fast paced banjo and dobro giving a railroad rhythm to the Alabama song.  Robert’s “Quiet Country Town” has the wistful observation of a man who stayed in the country while his girl friend left for fame in fortune in the big city.  “How Could I Love Her So Much” was originally sung by Johnny Rodrigues and Robert pulls us into the story as we realize that the man who stole his love’s heart has been left by her also.  Robert gives a joyous bounce to Mel Tillis’ “Ain’t No California” that almost leaves the listener with the hope that water turning into wine and Big Rock Candy Mountains might yet be possible.  By the way, the song’s advice is to find a woman, a job and settle down for true happiness.

Regardless if you want to follow the sage advice of these old country songs, you will delight in the Wildfire version of some wonderful classics.