No One Stands Alone

No One Stands Alone

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Martin Carthy, along with various members of the Watersons and the Scottish folk group Swan Arcade, formed Blue Murder to play a one-off benefit concert for a local school in 1986. And that, they thought, was that. But their a cappella renditions of traditional songs and hymns were such a hit that the band became something of a fixture at various folk festivals over the years. No One Stands Alone is Blue Murder's belated debut recording, and it perfectly captures the good-natured spontaneity of the band's performances. The membership of the group has always been fluid, and this version includes Martin Carthy, his daughter Eliza Carthy, Norma Waterson and her brother Mike, and the trio Barry Coope, Jim Boyes, and Lester Simpson. The tracks include hymns like "Stars in My Crown," which the group belts out with an open-throated gusto that recalls Sacred Harp singing, old ballads like "Gown of Green," and songs composed by various band members. Martin Carthy supplies very understated guitar accompaniment occasionally, but for the most part the performances are a cappella. The members of Blue Murder obviously get a kick out of singing together and their joy shines through on every song. --Michael Simmons

Tracks:

The Other Side Of Jordan
A Long Time Ago
I Pressed Through The Crowd
Beautiful Heaven
Where No One Stands Alone
When We're Living On The Other Side
I'm Getting Anxious
A Dusty Pair Of Sandals
Modernize Churches
That Same Road
Can You Hear The Angels Sing?
Could That Be Jesus?
Thank You Jesus
I Know My Lord Is Going To Lead Me Out

Customer Reviews:

... and 1/2 .... An exceptionally fine bluegrass gospel unit .......2007-05-22

Playing Time - 38:03 -- There are few artists producing bluegrass gospel today as prolific as Paul Williams and the Victory Trio, a 5-piece group that recently was named SPBGMA's Traditional Bluegrass Gospel Group of the Year. In this set, they primarily offer trios that praise the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Doug Gibson's "Could That Be Jesus?" is their one song arranged with just two voices (lead and tenor), and that cut is followed with the album's only vocal quartet ("Thank You Jesus") that is passionately sung a cappella.

Originally from Virginia but now living in Tennessee, former Lonesome Pine Fiddler (and Sunny Mountain Boy) Paul Williams left bluegrass music in 1963 to pursue a career with the U.S. Postal Service. Now retired, Williams is back picking his mandolin, singing high leads and tenors, and recording since his reappearance on the music scene in 1996. "Where No One Stands Alone," his dozenth album during the last decade is actually his seventh release on the Rebel label. While the title cut comes from Mosie Lister, five compositions were written or co-written by Paul. Other songs come from the pens of Ken Young, Joe Isaacs, Linda King, Ernie Groves, and Albert E. Brumley.

Over the last decade, Paul has worked and recorded with many fine musicians such as Jerry Keys, Ned Cutshaw, Jeff Orr, Susie Keys, Keith Williams, David Johnson, Billy Proffitt, Mike Grove, and Karen Benton. With each subsequent album, Paul has introduced us to new and pure gospel, as well as to consummate musicians who provide impressive vocalizing and instrumental blending to the band's continually evolving sound. His current lineup includes Kelly McCord (guitar), Rodney Worley (guitar, fiddle), Kevin Bowen (banjo), and Matt Wallace (bass). The only minor shortcoming on this album is that the band had the opportunity to track in additional fiddle, and that would have provided for the fully traditional bluegrass sound. Arrangements that emphasize vocals, flatpicked guitar, and mandolin are certainly pleasant, but the added dimension of fiddle (or some resophonic guitar) would have infused some songs (e.g. "I Know My Lord Is Going To Lead Me Out") with stunning and exhilarating excitement. Even in those two songs when it's used (Could That Be Jesus?, Where No One Stands Alone), Worley's fiddle is relegated to a very minor, understated role.

The Rebel Records label has been very supportive of Paul and his traditional style music that he's known for. Continuing to spread his ministry through music, Paul Williams hopes that everyone hearing this CD is blessed by its contents. His band's reputation continues to grow as an exceptionally fine bluegrass gospel unit that emphasizes both original and lesser-recorded material. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

Average customer rating:

Great British folk music
Simply stunning

No One Stands Alone
Blue Murder
Manufacturer: Topic Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Blue Murder
Nothin' But Trouble
We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions
Taking The Long Way

ASIN: B000066C16
Release Date: 2002-06-25

Tracks:

No One Stands Alone
Gown Of Green
Rubber Band
Blue Mountain
Standing On The Promise Of God
The Banks Of Sweet Primroses
The Land Where You Never Grow Old
Three Day Millionaire
Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy
Bully In The Alley
Mole In A Hole
Stars In My Crown
The Goodnight Song

Amazon.com

Martin Carthy, along with various members of the Watersons and the Scottish folk group Swan Arcade, formed Blue Murder to play a one-off benefit concert for a local school in 1986. And that, they thought, was that. But their a cappella renditions of traditional songs and hymns were such a hit that the band became something of a fixture at various folk festivals over the years. No One Stands Alone is Blue Murder's belated debut recording, and it perfectly captures the good-natured spontaneity of the band's performances. The membership of the group has always been fluid, and this version includes Martin Carthy, his daughter Eliza Carthy, Norma Waterson and her brother Mike, and the trio Barry Coope, Jim Boyes, and Lester Simpson. The tracks include hymns like "Stars in My Crown," which the group belts out with an open-throated gusto that recalls Sacred Harp singing, old ballads like "Gown of Green," and songs composed by various band members. Martin Carthy supplies very understated guitar accompaniment occasionally, but for the most part the performances are a cappella. The members of Blue Murder obviously get a kick out of singing together and their joy shines through on every song. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews:

Great British folk music.......2002-10-29

With a lineup that includes the superb guitarist Martin Carthy and singer Norma Waterson, along with their daughter Eliza Carthy (one of the up-and-coming stars of the Brit-Folk scene...) this disc promises great things... and it delivers! Fans of Eliza and the Watersons will definitely want to check this new album out.

Simply stunning.......2002-06-28

If harmony singing is your passion, stop, do not pass Go, and buy this CD. Now. This is spine-tingling stuff, rich, lustrous and energetic from the opening notes of "No One Stands Alone" to the last chorus of "The Goodnight Song." I haven't stopped playing it since it arrived yesterday. The impeccable Carthy-Waterson clan combine forces with one of Britain's most acclaimed a cappella groups, Coope Boyes Simpson. The result is always satisfying and at its best, explosively powerful. A blend of traditional, contemporary and gospel, it defies categorization. On my favorite cuts, voices weave in and out in harmonious counterpoint. Even one of my least favorites, "Blue Mountain," is worth the price alone to hear Norma Waterson singing "I was born and raised in Texas..." in a Yorkshire accent. The liner notes make it clear that the participants had a lot of fun singing together, and it really shows. This is one of the most exciting recordings I've heard in a long, long time. My only quibble, and it's a minute one, is that I'd have liked more information on the selections.

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