RARELY HERD - Return Journey Herd Records HR-1001 PO Box 5638, Athens, OH. 45701 www.therarelyherd.com EMAIL: kenpo1 [at] frognet.net Playing Time - 37:37 Songs: 1. The Waving Girl, 2. Miss Me But Let Me Go, 3. I Still Miss Someone, 4. A Hundred Years From Now, 5. Always Wanting More, 6. Dream All Thru The Night, 7. Next Thing Leaving Town, 8. Old Church Bell, 9. Black-Eyed Susie, 10. I Could Cry 11. Lonesome Town, 12. Arizona John, 13. Don't Lay Down The Sword, 14. Long Time Loving You
Nearly eleven years have passed since I worked with The Rarely Herd on an article for Bluegrass Unlimited magazine's February, 1994 issue. At the time, they had released two albums, secured a contract with Pinecastle records, and won numerous band contests and awards. Always stressing entertainment, the Rarely Herd had become nationally known for a unique sound characterized by strong musicianship and smooth harmonies.
From Athens, Ohio, the band was originally formed in 1989 by Jeff Weaver and brothers Jim and Alan Stack (who formerly had a band called Frog and the Greenhorns). Fiddler Alan Stack is apparently no longer with the group, and Jeff Hardin now saws those strings. In 2002, original band members Dan Brooks (dobro) and Calvin LePort (banjo) returned after a four-year absence. The Rarely Herd is back with a vengeance, and "Return Journey" seems to indicate that the band may be sacrificing some traditionalism in order to create a more commercial, contemporary signature sound built around the nucleus of Jim Stack's engaging lead vocals. In all fairness, however, they also lay down some nice arrangements of Black Eyed Susie, A Hundred Years From Now, I Still Miss Someone, and I Could Cry.
With songs of many moods, the band covers material from Harley Allen, Don Reno, John Schwab and a trio of splendid numbers penned by Bill Castle (Old Church Bell, Lonesome Town, Don't Lay Down the Sword). "The Waving Girl," opens the album on acoustic country note and tells the sad story of Florence Martus, a jilted woman waiting earnestly for her sailor to return. A statue of her waving to ships stands on the shore of Savannah, Ga. today.
Of their original material, "Always Wanting More" sings about too much push-and-shove. "Miss Me But Let Me Go" is a catchy bluegrassy piece that puts to music a loving poem from an Ohio River fisherman to his family. "Dream All Thru the Night" documents the dream of Jeff Weaver's five-year-old boy about a beautiful dark-haired girl in a pink dress. I like well-written novelty tunes, and "Next Thing Leaving Town" does the trick. Weaver collaborated with Ronnie Reno to write "Arizona John," and Reno plays guitar on this track about a tall, dark, desperate (and woman-stealing) man. There's even a 16-second bonus "goodbye" track in full harmony.
Jeff Weaver once told me that "It takes three things to succeed in bluegrass and that's good talent, good management and entertainment." The Rarely Herd's "Return Journey" shows that the band has all three, and their solid enduring foundation is also built around hard work, persistence, drive and commitment. (Joe Ross)
THE RARELY HERD - RETURN JOURNEY [March 2005 Issue]
"Return Journey" marks just that, the first return to recording since 2000 for one of bluegrass music's more entertaining bands. Change has come again, however. On this, their seventh CD, founding member and mandolinist/fiddler Al Stack has left the band, as has short term banjoist Ned Luberecki. Rejoining are former members Dan Brooks (resonator guitar) and Calvin Leport (banjo). Jeff Hardin has been added on fiddle.
The result is, despite the musical chairs, an album consistent with their previous efforts. Singers Stack and Weaver, two of the finest in the business, are as dead on as ever, and the fiddling of Hardin is a great fit. Most importantly, the Herd continues to show a fine collective ear for writing and selecting excellent material.
There is much to like here, but for me it all begins with the cover of Harley Allen's plaintive, slightly calypsotinged "The Waving Girl," as compelling an argument for breaking the rule against opening an album with a slow tune as any I've heard. In that one tune is encapsulated what the Herd does best, which is produce relaxed, melodic, flowing music. They also do the pulse and drive thing well, as on "Lonesome Town" and the instrumental "Black Eyed Susie," especially on the latter with its humorous vocal inflections from Jeff Hardin, but, noting the ratio of drift to drive, it's obvious they know what works best for them. And so we're given a predominance of such tunes as "Dream All Through The Night," "Next Thing Leaving Town," "Long Time Loving You," Johnny Cash's "I Still Miss Someone," and Don Reno's "I Could Cry," and all that makes for some great listening. -BW
Rarely Herd - Return Journey (CD, 2004)
by Jason Cummins, 03/03/2004
This is an album with a wide range of emotions. The mood ranges from dreamy to celebratory to regret to hope to remembrance and all points in between. Jim Stack’s vocals and the band’s smooth, well-blended instrumentals make each song a winner.
The Rarely Herd consists of Jim Stack (guitar), Jeff Hardin (fiddle), Dan Brooks (dobro), Calvin Leport (banjo), and Jeff Weaver (bass). All members contribute vocals, with Jim Stack taking the majority of lead vocal duties. The Herd is as handy with a pen as with their instruments. Of the fourteen songs on the album four are written or co-written by band members, with another arranged by Jeff Weaver. Most are newer songs, though they included "Black Eyed Susie" and Johnny Cash’s "I Still Miss Someone." The liner notes give a few lines on the origin of each song and some are quite interesting.
"The Waving Girl" is the lead off song of the album and the one considered by The Herd to have the most potential. It is a sad song based on a real woman who stood on the shore in Savannah, Georgia every day waving to the incoming ships, waiting for her promised one to return from war, though he had been killed. Today there is a statue to memorialize her on the shore where she stood.
Expect the sleeper hit of this album to be "Miss Me But Let Me Go." This is an upbeat song based on a poem written for a memorial to an Ohio River fisherman. It is a celebration of a life lived with no regrets.
Return Journey features one solidly gospel song, "Don’t Lay Down The Sword", which features a great hook, ”Don’t lay down the sword, don’t lay down the sword. Keep fighting for our Lord and don’t lay down the sword.“ There is also a semi-sacred tune called "Old Church Bell".
This album is as good as their last album, Part of Growing Up. The Herd has again demonstrated their ability to cover old songs with a style and class all their own, as well as introduce new songs and give them a familiar feel. Jim Stack holds the last note on the album for a long time. A voice comes after saying, ”Holy cow, he holds that forever!“ And the listener wishes he truly would.
MP3 samples available!
Miss Me But Let Me Go
The Waving Girl
Long Time Loving You
Songlist:
1. The Waving Girl
2. Miss Me But Let Me Go
3. I Still Miss Someone
4. A Hundred Years From Now
5. Always Wanting More
6. Dream All Thru The Night
7. Next Thing Leaving Town
8. Old Church Bell
9. Black-Eyed Suzie
10. I Could Cry
11. Lonesome Town
12. Arizonba John
13. Don't Lay Down The Sword
14. Long Time Loving You
Bluegrass Unlimited Review
Tim Walsh Review
Tennessee Grass Roots Review
Copyright 2005-2008, The Rarely Herd, All rights reserved. | Site design & maint. by 50DB
