Songs From the Workbench

Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 10, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Shell Point
• ASIN: B00006HCU1
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #246,382 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Anything Southbound

2. Rambler's Blues

3. Carolyn At The Broken Wheel Inn

4. All I've Got Is Lonesome

5. Can't Let Go

6. Workin' End Of A Hoe

7. Cleanin' Off The Porch

8. That's Why They Call 'Em The Blues

9. Heartbreak Hurricane

10. I'm Not That Good At Goodbye

11. Stray Cat

12. Railroad Man

13. Lost As A Ball In High Weeds

14. Bonus Track

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fully tooled bluegrass workbench, September 21, 2002

By 

hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songs From the Workbench (Audio CD)

Larry Cordle is probably most widely known as the author of the Nashville-flaying "Murder on Music Row." It's initial rendering as the title track of Cordle's 1999 album didn't drum up any commercial interest, but a subsequent duet recording by George Strait and Alan Jackson led to more than a moment of irony at the 2000 CMA awards (at which the song won the "Song of the Year" trophy). No one can doubt Cordle's dedication to more traditional country fare (as fully exemplified on this release, for example), still, it would be tricky to rectify his Nashville's-killing-country-music stance with the list of industry vets who've recorded his songs, if his material weren't so good.

Cordle and band's second album for the indie Shell Point label continues their acoustic upbeat style, often emphasizing the blue (and downright bluesy) side of bluegrass. Cordle's originals blend smoothly with public domain selections such as "Rambler's Blues" and well selected covers, including a sterling take of Randy Weeks' "Can't Let Go" (originally waxed by Lucinda Williams on her "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road" LP), and a bluegrass rewrite of Blackfoot's mid-70s rock hit "Railroad Man." The latter is duty-bound for pairing with Dolly Parton's reworking of Blackfoot's "Train, Train."

Cordle provides notes of each song's genesis, either their writing roots, or their journey through others' recordings to the band's repertoire. The latter, which includes digressions on chord selections and a healthy dose of name dropping, lends a folkie air to the liner notes. Cordle's originals speak sweetly of life's simple pleasures ("Anything Southbound"), essay human loneliness ("All I've Got is Lonesome" "That's Why They Call 'Em the Blues" "Heartbreak Hurricane"), and praise with gospel tones ("Lost as a Ball in High Weeds"). His cover selections, including Jim Rushing's "Workin' End of a Hoe" follow similar fundamental themes.

The band's singing and playing is fine throughout, with the instrumental "Cleanin' Off the Porch" providing a showcase for their hot picking. Cordle's songwriting, and his selection of covers, provides Lonesome Standard Time a unique flair.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hard-driving in-yer-face bluegrass energy, September 24, 2002

By 

J. Ross "a-music_fan" (Roseburg, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Songs From the Workbench (Audio CD)

Larry Cordle and LST deliver the hard-drivin' bluegrass goods with his new project, "Songs from the Workbench." Self-described as "a bluegrass band with a rock 'n' roll attitude," this group clearly likes to serve up their 'grass with a lot of in-your-face emotion. Cordle's rhythm guitar and vocals are joined by some stellar musicians in Lonesome Standard Time - Terry Eldredge (bass/tenor vocals), David Talbot (banjo/baritone vocals), Booie Beach (lead guitar), and Jenee Keener (fiddle/high baritone vocals). Keener sings the lead vocals on the bluesy and bouncy "Can't Let Go." As the newest member of the band, Jenee Keener seems to be fitting right in, hitting the ground running, and serving up some hot soulful fiddling and singing. Eldredge sings lead on "I'm Not That Good At Goodbye," a classic country song written by Bob McDill and Don Williams. While all the cuts are strong, a couple of my favorites on the album are "Rambler's Blues" and "Workin' End of a Hoe." Buried in the copious liner notes is a mention of who is providing those brilliant dobro riffs - it's none other than Rob Ickes. From start to end, "Songs from the Workbench" will take you on an entertaining musical journey that you won't want to miss out on. A very professional product. Nice mix of songs. Great musicianship. Hard-driving bluegrass energy. And lots of fun too (don't miss the hidden bonus "frog" track). This album gets two thumbs up from me. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a lot of fun. . ., July 9, 2004

By 

Ronald Scheer "rockysquirrel" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Songs From the Workbench (Audio CD)

The songs on this CD are country music sentiments sung and played bluegrass style. Numerous songs about busted-down relationships, heartbreak, infidelity, and other forms of mishap, mischance, and misfortune, sung up-tempo, with terrific and enthusiastically played banjo, guitar, and fiddle. And, of course, Larry Cordle's great vocals.

The opening song, "Anything Southbound" sets the mood, the tone, and the whole attitude of the CD. It's followed by an old-time tune "Rambler's Blues" about a misspent life that ends in misery. Things slow down a bit with "Carolyn at the Broken Wheel Inn," the lament of a married man on the road finding comfort in the company of another woman.

And then things take off again with my personal favorite, "All I've Got is Lonesome," a rollicking complaint of being left behind when someone walks out, headed for greener pastures. Fiddler Jenee Keener takes a turn on the next song, "Can't Let Go," a driving anthem of codependence. And next, "Workin' End of a Hoe" celebrates the attitude-adjusting virtues of hard work.

At mid program there's a rousing instrumental, "Cleanin' Off the Porch," and an equally rousing Cordle-Scruggs song, "That's Why They Call 'Em the Blues." Then there's a bit of a breather with the easier "Heartbreak Hurricane," about a big blow of a one night stand and the slow "I'm Not That Good at Goodbye," sung in a wonderfully mournful C&W tenor by the group's bass player, Terry Eldredge.

The set concludes with the fast-paced "Stray Cat," about the perils of domesticating a man used to "straying," followed by a driving "Railroad Man," and something of a gospel tune sung in three-part harmony, "Lost as a Ball in High Weeds." After a long pause, there's an unlisted 14th track with some foolishness about frogs (I think you had to be there).

The CD comes with a booklet that includes lyrics of all the songs and Larry's comments on how each one evolved for this recording. Plus there are color studio shots of the members of the group, and a scrapbook of snapshots featuring other recording greats and members of the family. What a lot of fun.