Jim Lauderdale I Feel Like Singing Today CD

I FEEL LIKE SINGING TODAY was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album.

An unlikely combination? A leading light of the alternative country/"Americana" scene making an album with a man who is, after Bill Monroe, the greatest of all bluegrass singer/musicians? Not really, when one considers the alt-country scene reaches further back to the roots than mainstream country, and Stanley, while staunchly sticking by bluegrass, has been receptive to working with younger musicians. (Bob Dylan considers his recording a duet with Stanley a highlight of his career.)

Essentially, FEEL LIKE SINGING is Lauderdale adapting his earthy style to Stanley's traditional bluegrass sound, as opposed to Stanley adapting to Lauderdale's eclectic style. But that's fine, as Lauderdale sounds perfectly natural, his deep, worldly drawl melding beautifully with Stanley's soulful high lonesome tenor. He contributes several originals, many of which sound like they could have been written in the '40s, except for "Highway Through My Home," which deals with the cost of "progress." Many songs are devout (but not preachy or judgmental) gospel, like the Lauderdale originals "Like Him" and "Another Sinner's Prayer," and the standard "This World Is Not My Home."

/Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys.

9/14/99 New Rel.

Recorded at Maggard Sound Studio, Big Stone Gap, Virgina.

Personnel: Jim Lauderdale, Ralph Stanley, Ralph Stanley II (vocals, guitar); James Price (vocals, fiddle, mandolin); Jack Cooke (vocals); James Alan Shelton (guitar); Steve Sparkman (banjo).

Producer: Jim Lauderdale & The Clinch Mountain Boys.

Personnel: James Price (vocals, mandolin, fiddle); Ralph Stanley II (baritone, guitar); Jack Cooke (baritone); James Alan Shelton (guitar); Steve Sparkman (banjo).

Audio Mixer: David Castle.

Recording information: Maggard Sound Studio, Big Stone City.

Photographer: Liz Tormes.Entertainment Weekly (9/17/99, p.81) - "...Two Lauderdale-penned gospel songs, 'Like Him' and 'Another Sinner's Prayer,' are worth the album's price; singing as if for his life, Lauderdale matches Stanley in soulfulness - and that's saying something." - Rating: B+
Dirty Linen (2-3/00, p.82) - "...Lauderdale's hard-edged vocals blend wonderfully with the master, who is in great form himself....a good mix of familiar...and new....this year's best in the bluegrass genre..."