Mixed Bag

Junior Brown | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 14, 2011)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Curb
• ASIN: B00005M98W
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,204 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Guitar Man

2. Ain't Gonna Work Today

3. Riverboat Shuffle

4. Our First Bluebonnet Spring

5. Cagey Bea

6. Runnin' With the Wind

7. Catfish and Collard Greens

8. Little Town Square

9. Hard Livin' Hard

10. Kansas City Blues

11. Grow Up America

12. The Chase

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Though the title could as easily apply to most of Brown's output, Mixed Bag understates the eclecticism of this radical traditionalist's first release in almost three years. For fans of his pyrotechnic picking on his double-necked "guit-steel," there's an album-opening assault on Jerry Reed's "Guitar Man," as well as supercharged romps through "Catfish and Collard Greens" and "Wild Goose Chase." While the musical rewards of such virtuosic displays may wear thin quickly, the balladry of "Running with the Wind" and "Our First Bluebonnet Spring" strikes a richer, deeper vein, while the patented wordplay of "Cagey Bea" (about a Russian spy) and "Little Town Square" attests to Brown's distinctive songwriting. The biggest stretch is the horn-laden Dixieland of "Riverboat Shuffle," before the musicianship of veteran stalwarts such as pianist Hargus "Pig" Robbins and drummer Buddy Harman returns the collection full-circle to classic country. --Don McLeese

Product Description

Junior Brown

This product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eclectic Electric, July 31, 2001

By 

Moohead (Simpsonville, SC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mixed Bag (Audio CD)

Another great Junior outing. I've seen Junior live twice in the past week and more than 10 times total now. CD's will never do the man justice compared to his live shows (where he routinely covers Hendrix and has a stunning new version of his surf medley including the likes of the theme from "Bonanza", "Ghost Riders in the Sky", and the themes from "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" and "2001 - A Spacy Odyssey", but I digress)

"Catfish and Collard Greens" is the signature here and probably the closest thing you can get on disc to seeing Junior live. If I had to try to explain Junior to an alien from another planet, I would start with this song. It's interesting to hear the studio experimentations that can't really be done live such as Hoagy Carmichael's ragtime "Riverboat Shuffle". Junior is obviously a Carmichael fan since he has previously covered "Hong Kong Blues". "Hard Living Hard" and "Running with the Wind" are classic country with the former sounding like it is coming straight off the radio circa 1973. "Cagey Bea" is the most clever song and musically engaging with the "Russian" guitar sound. I suspect this will be a concert standard much like "Highway Patrol" or "My Wife Thinks You're Dead". It's also about time Junior finally covers Ernest Tubb with a fine rendition of "Kansas City Blues". I've hit the high points here, but then again there are no low points. If you like guitar, then by default you like Junior. You can't go wrong here.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Country Classics for a New Generation, August 13, 2001

By 

Unkie D (Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mixed Bag (Audio CD)

With his new release, "Mixed Bag", Junior Brown has created some new country classics for a new generation of music lovers. He continues to stretch the boundries of steel guitar playing like no one else can and rip loose some string bending guitar licks that makes any guitar player green with envy. He adds to his expertise on the guitsteel with his velvet smooth baritone voice and his creative songwriting. This new CD covers music genres from rock and blues to new orleans jazz, all the while leaving no doubt to the listener that Junior's heart belongs to traditional country and western. Below are listed the cuts from this new release along with a short summary of how they sound to me.

1. Guitar Man: This remake of Jerry Reed's hit from the 60s is as catchy today as it was back then and it fits Junior and his guitar picking to a "T". Great version.

2. Ain't Gonna Work Today: Bob Wills would be proud of this Texas Swing style tune. Humorous lyrics about down on the farm life and great steel guitar.

3. Riverboat Shuffle: This Hoagie Carmichael song is not what a typical Junior Brown fan would expect, but it a pleasant suprise. Junior pushes the envelope of steel guitar by jamming with a New Orleans jazz band on this number. It's nice to see an artist take his music into different directions.

4. Our First Bluebonnet Spring: A slow traditional country and western song that blends Junior's great voice and his pedal steel.

5. Cagey Bea: Another one of Junior's trademark, play on words, songs. This one is about a sexy double agent from the U.S.S.R. and includes a great Russian sounding steel guitar part.

6. Running With the Wind: Although this one doesn't feature any of Junior's pyrotechnic guitar licks, this is one of my favorite songs of the whole album. When I heard this steady, bass driven, country tune in concert last year I was sure that it was an old country standard. When I saw the songwriters credits for this on the CD I was amazed to realize that it was a Junior Brown original. A true new age country classic.

7.Catfish and Collard Greens: When I heard this song for the first time it felt like I was at one of Junior's live shows. Anyone who has had the privilege of being at one of his concerts knows that it is hard to capture the whole experience of Junior Brown live on a recording. During the guitar solo on this one I thought I could hear the tubes from his two Fender Twin amps moaning for mercy.

8. Little Town Square: A slow play on word song that tells the story of a small town geek who become a small town hero.

9. Hard Living Hard: An up tempo country number that I could see Johnny Cash recording back in the day. It tells the story of a family's struggle to live while the father is in jail.

10. Kansas City Blues: Junior's version of the Ernest Tubbs classic includes blazing guitar solos, saxophone, horns, and vocals that keep close enough to his country roots that Ernest would be proud.

11. Grow Up America: This song stuck in my head for days at a time. Although the lyrics touch on the serious subject of child abuse, Junior turns it into a call to all parents to raise their kids in a responsible way and manages to back it up with a catchy chorus that you won't soon forget. Dr. Laura would be so proud of this one.

12. The Chase: What would a Junior Brown album be without a instrumental that hightlights his guitar picking and his steel guitar prowess? This one does that and then some.

Junior has truly let the genie out of the bottle on this one. I know what my three wishes will be. More, More, More!!!

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Free Range Country Lives On, August 12, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Mixed Bag (Audio CD)

Junior Brown's new release, "Mixed Bag", is a refreshing variety of musical styles deeply rooted in Country and Western. This new compilation of Junior's style of Free Range Country touches on music genres from tradional C&W to New Orleans jazz and Rock and Roll. Junior's blazing guitar work is highlighted in cuts such as, "Guitar Man", "Catfish and Collard Greens", "Kansas City Blues", and the snappy instrumental "The Chase". His velvet smooth baritone voice is highted throughout this new release and is especially appreciated in the country rooted "Our First Bluebonnet Spring" and "Running With the Wind". Junior's humorous and play on word lyrics continue in songs like "Cagey Bea", "Ain't Gonna Work Today", and "Little Town Square". On a somber note Junior's "Grow Up America" bring attention to child abuse. "Riverboat Shuffle", although a remake of an old Hoagie Carmichael song, is a exciting new sound for Junior that features Junior with a New Orleans Jazz Band. I hope Junior continues to stretch the envelope with his Free Range Country. I know I'll be waiting for the next edition in a long list of Junior Brown releases.