Customer Reviews

Ride Again

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I think the return of the Aces has restored my faith in society a little. After stumblin' across Ride Again at a little local record store, driving these long country roads out here in the Va became a little easier to bear. Then to top that feelin' the other night I heard the Aces' cover of "The Rock" on a local station which led me to this site and to buy the newest CD. See, here like in most of the US, the country stations are mostly caught up in a love affair with that type of country music geared toward yankees in their new Tony Lamas and Stetsons ganging up in a line to do the Hokey Pokey.

The Aces never held with the commercial country scene in the 70's and 80's...they still don't. I'm really glad to find out that they have busted back onto the scene, even though I'm 5 years late in finding out about it.

Any of y'all who missed it should check out the albums from Russell Smith's solo mini-carreer. I've got two, one untitled and the other called "This Little Town".

Anyone who went through the 70's in a haze...whatever the cause...can rejoice because the music that carried you through is back again! Why the Aces were never more popular commercially is as much a mystery as why the majority of those polled believe Clinton is doing a "good job" as President. Della's Long Brown Hair, best appreciated around a campfire in a Central Oregon Meadow after too much Bailey's or some such, on a night when the sky is spangled with stars, you've caught some natives or come close, and your border collie/lab cross is finally exhausted from too much 'fishing' and frisbee, is the ultimate song on about 7 levels...if you don't like this album you're no friend of mine!

I had overlooked this record, assuming it was a re release of selected tracks from old recordings. Fortunately, I read the sleeve notes for Sunday Best and found out it was a reworking of their favourite songs in time to get possibly the last copy in the UK (It disappeared from the list the day after I bought it)

Rating it was difficult. For curiosity value it's definitely a 5. Musically it jars a little like some live recordings with different treatments of familiar songs, but I'm sure it will grow on me. (I've only played it 3 times since it arrived today)

The selection of songs and the way they are changed is interesting. Tracks span almost the whole range of their original career, emphasising the Country side of their music.

Real gems are King of the Cowboys and Last Letter Home where extra verses are added although KotC lacks some of the power of the original recording. Most recent song tackled is Rodrigo, Rita and Elaine, an unusual choice when Homestead In My Heart would have probably been a more suitable country song from that album. Listening to Russell Smith sing in the female verses on this song made me keen to listen to the original with Joan Baez and Tracy Nelson which, fortunately, I also bought when it was released on CD recently.

For collectors this is a piece of history, but those who like the country side of the ARA sound would be better off buying Russell Smith's Sunday Best CD.

Like a long lost friend spotted from accross the room, this album takes me back to some of the songs that I fell in love with in the 70's and 80's. A sampling of some Aces standards, with some subtle changes. I'd have liked to have heard a more faithful version of Rodrigo's ballad, however the extra verse in The Last Letter Home is a real treat. Having these guys back together again is an answer to my prayers. Makes me long for more digital recordings of other old Aces classics. How about it Guys?

I loved them when I heard them back in the 70's. I was unhappy not to be able to hear those great southern blues ( and especially that wonderful gritty voice ) since I had long since worn out the records and tapes. What a terrific surprise to see this CD, and what wonderful memories are restored, listening to those old tunes. Whereas the original guitar licks are missed, the same soulful tales and emotional musical lines are there. I sure hope that they're working on a follow-up CD!

Wouldn't you just know it! Since the dawn of the
musiccd, my beloved ol' 'Aces, were nowhere to be found. .....this is anold afflection, this search for the fella's on cd, so I can see that I'm getting ready to go off on the deep end...!

Putting"RIDE AGAIN' in stereo was cause for great celebration!
What Russell & the boys went ahead & did was to rerecord some of the great 'ACES classics for this cd.
3rd RATE ROMANCE, DELLA'S LONG BROWN HAIR & A HOST OF OTHER WONDERFUL 'ACES
tunes, with a few dust-ups done, here & there.
If you loved the 'ACES from their TOO STUFFED TO JUMP & TOUCAN DO IT TO albums (just to name a couple) than don't wait to get your hands on these wonderful discs!
Butch Mc Dade' plaintive voice coming out of my speakers made it one hell of a fine day!

I, too, have been looking for the Aces for YEARS! I ordered all of their recent releases except for the Concert series (based on the poor sound quality reviews). I was screaming in my car from sheer happiness. The ONLY reason I did not give this 5 stars is to plead for a re-release of "Burning the Ballroom Down." I cannot wait to see the Aces in August when they visit Denver.

This is good music and great fun. Third Rate and Ella B are standards. Both songs are on my three old copies of the Stacked Deck LP, which are quite literally worn out. Hope to see it on CD soon.

I have read the poor reviews on this CD and decided to revisit it recently. For those of us who had waited years for the ARA to come out with their original hits on CD (rumored due to a disagreement with their original label) this was their first CD in the mid 90's. Some of the original hits are different, but they are great nonetheless. Pity the Mother and Father and Third Rate Romance may actually be better than the originals. For those who like a variation on the originals but with quality recording, this is a good one to have. Look at the liner notes as there are some great musicians joining Smith on this collaboration. Of course, the original recordings remastered should be in every ARA collection. Don't forget absolutely live and Nothing but the Blues and their new original material as well. Overall, I liked this CD a lot and enjoy listening to it again from time to time.

When will the rest of the "Aces" be available