Customer Reviews

Montana Slim: Dynamite Trail Decca Years 1954-58

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Wilf Carter's songs, which often featured elaborate yodels, may seem dated to some listeners today, but for those of us who value straightforward singing--melodic, often joyful, and always from the heart--this album is a treasure that transcends time, and we can only give thanks that it is avialable, and with such good recording quality. The cd's 30 songs cover a wide range of subjects and emotions, from the exuberant, high-altitude happiness of "My Mountain High Yodel Song" to the soothing lullaby "Shoo Shoo Sh' La La" to the mournfully melancholic "A Sinner's Prayer" and "Born to Lose."

In addition to being an expert yodeler, Carter was an accomplished songwriter, and his "There's a Padlock on Your Heart" is as good a cowboy torch song as there is. "On a Little Two-Acre Farm," which Carter co-wrote, is a true toe-tapper that is worthy of anything heard on the Grand Ole Opry, while "My French Canadian Girl" is a lilting love song that manages to be sweet without ever becoming syrupy.

Carter was born and raised in Canada, and was vastly popular there during a career that spanned five decades. "There's a Bluebird on Your Windowsill" showcases Carter at his Canadian best, filled with good cheer, offering us a melodic message that is simple yet also sustaining. While some of the album's other songs may lack the appeal of those mentioned above, the CD is filled with enough outstanding cuts to satisfy any Carter enthusiast or to convince first-time "Montana Slim" listeners that the "Dynamite Trail" is a dynamite discovery.