Old Dogs

Bill Staines | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 6, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Red House
• ASIN: B000WDTO6Q
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #63,613 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Classic folk and country singer-songwriter Bill Staines returns with Old Dogs, his first new release in three years. Known for his sing-along classics that have been covered by such luminaries as Nanci Griffith and Jerry Jeff Walker, Staines' new album is a fresh batch of songs inspired by over four decades of touring America's highways and small towns.

Old Dogs is a heartfelt collection, featuring all-new Staines originals and covers by such notable songwriters as Guy Clark, Norman Blake, John Stewart and Elizabeth Cotten. Like the "old dogs" described in the title track, Bill finds himself looking back on a satisfied life, full of happy journeys and warm homecomings. He takes us on the road with him, introducing us to the colorful characters that inhabit the American landscape. We meet the blues-singing "Mama Lou," the drug-addicted "Uncle Sam," Florence Smith who runs away from the "Lone Star Hotel Café," and "Cody," an old man yearning to be back in his native Montana. Like a gentle singing cowboy, Bill gives voice to their stories that echo across the mountains, rivers and open prairies.

Recorded in Bill Staines' native New England, he produced Old Dogs with Larry Luddecke. They kept the production minimal, creating a simple country/folk sound reminiscent of Bill's earlier recordings. These are songs that will be listened to on long drives and sung around campfires for many years to come.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Instant Classic, January 31, 2008

By 

Bruce H. Jensen "bpnjensen" (San Lorenzo, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Old Dogs (Audio CD)

We love this newest collection on CD. Bill Staines has an instant classic with this album of songs old and new. We heard Bill unveil his new song, "Old Dogs," at a concert in October 2006, just a scant few weeks after he had composed it and before he had even written it down. It is graced with an immediately attractive and indelible melody that becomes more lovely with each hearing, and like so many of his songs the words leap straight from his heart to yours. Anyone who has ever had a dog as a companion, and empathized with the canine as he/she grew to senior status, will instantly warm to this tiny masterpiece. We left humming that tune that evening. Bill kindly corresponded with us after that on the song, and when the CD became available in 2007 at another of his concerts, we jumped at the opportunity to grab it.

The rest of the songs are no less vital and glowing - whether they are Bill's music and words, or covers of the songs of others that Bill has nonetheless made his own, they embrace the listener with hope, longing and sweet melancholy. He has a special gift for bringing the characters that populate his songs to glowing life - when he tells of the nostalgic small-town hallucinations of his "Uncle Sam," the dissolute ramblings of poor old "Cody," or the imperfect but well-lived and -loved life of "Mama Lou," he reconstructs their plights right there in your soul, lets you know them, lets your empathy flow. He gently positions the listener to "walk a mile in their shoes." The selection of songs he sings, and the way he sings them, make him an ambassador for the understanding of others, especially those whose lives, at their ends, may not have gone as they'd hoped.

His mellifluous voice and dextrous instrumentals never miss the mark, and like his other albums, this one has become a frequent companion both at home and on road trips to favorite places old and new. This album repeats only one song from previous efforts, "Sweet Wyoming Home," and as far as I'm concerned you cannot have enough of that one (it is among my very favorites). The rest are welcome new additions to his recorded repertoire. Thank you, Bill, for keeping us good company, and for timeless music that, like the old dogs who live on in our hearts, will forever be young.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable CD, January 16, 2009

By 

Old Slothead "Va is for Folk Music Lovers" (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Old Dogs (Audio CD)

Bill Staines' OLD DOGS provides some great listening to one of America's best folk singers. The flavor of his songs is timeless, and he offers up a variety of tunes in this album, in typical Bill Staines fashion. It's great to see both Guy Van Duser doing some of the lead guitar work, and also Staines' son, Bowen (who now has his own CD out) handling lead guitar on the CODY tune. A nice mix of songs penned by Staines, along with some from other artists, including Norman Blake, Guy Clark, and Elizabeth Cotten. Nice fingerpicking by Staines on Cotten's FREIGHT TRAIN piece.

Dog lovers will no doubt appreciate the sentiments expressed in the title song. Very enjoyable listening for this long-term Bill Staines fan.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this c.d.!, August 13, 2008

By 

Deborah (Golden, CO USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Old Dogs (Audio CD)

Besides the fact that our dog is getting old; looks just like the dog on the c.d. cover; and my husband loves this kind of folksy music (and his dog!), we think this is a great collection of music.