We usually do a complete review of a CD without entering information from the CD liner notes or promo information. However, since this CD is more of a production for personal satisfaction I thought I would add their information below.
As far as the CD goes it is a good production with many original tunes that may be of interest to recording artists and producers in addition to those of us who are in the listener category. The CD is a laid back type of recording which is pleasant to the ear.
If you are looking for something that is outside the mainstream of recording efforts by known female singers then give this one a try. There is nothing that will hurt your ears and this CD recording is a fair first effort by Kevin & Geraldine Gill.
CD Liner Notes
So Many Times we have talked and thought about recording a CD of our music but there always seemed to be something else happening in our lives, not least of which was rearing two sons and holding onto the day jobs. At last this CD of our bluegrass music has come to fruition. When I met Kevin in 1981 he was playing finger picking country blues style guitar and singing songs from Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Blake to mention but a few. I had been into folk and traditional music since the late 60's, being involved in folk groups both in school and in University in Galway. We started playing music together from the time we met, trying to find a blend of both our styles that would somehow be a sound we liked. Bluegrass seemed to hit the spot with Kevin picking up five string banjo, dobro and mandolin while I took up playing bass and flat picking guitar. We were both band members of 'Grass Roots', 'The Rusty String Band' and 'Last Chance'. Kevin is currently the dobro player with 'The Lee Valley String Band' and has featured on their CD 'Corner Boys'.
The main thrust of this CD is bluegrass songs and instrumentals, featuring nine original numbers, (6 songs, 3 tunes). We have included four non mainstream covers, staying away from the old but beloved chestnuts.
The title track of the album 'So Many Times' is the first song we co wrote, Kevin came up with the lyrics and I put the melody to it, this is the usual format when we write songs together. Track number 10 'My Baby's Gone' was a big hit for 'The Louvin Brothers' however, we got it from the singing of Red Allen, one of our favourite bluegrass singers. We particularly like this song for it's unusual timing. I dedicate this song to my mother, Mary O' Shea from Ballyragget, Co, Kilkenny, who lost her husband (my beloved dad) of 56 years last December '03.
Kevin displays his country blues finger picking guitar style & singing on two tracks: 'Turn of a Coin' and 'Self Destruct', These songs have unintentional echoes of Doc Watson's style, (interestingly we both met for the first time at The Doc Watson Concert in City Hall, Dublin '81).
We hope you enjoy listening to this CD.
Geraldine Gill
