The Grascals & Friends 'Country Classics with a Bluegrass Spin' Cracker Barrel

The subtitle says it all. A selection of classics recorded with a host of friends. Brad Paisley joins for Tiger By The Tail. A man well used to that mix is Dierks Bentley who sings Folsom Prison Blues with The Grascals to good effect.It would also, doubtless, have also have pleased it's author too. From then on it's guests all the way with two vocals from Dolly Parton on I Am Strong and Pain Of Lovin' You. The former songs also appears as a bonus track with a whole bunch of the guests (and more) joining in the chorus. She fits right in with the bands three vocalist who either trade verses with or provide harmonies for the guests where appropriate. Tom T. Hall sings his own The Year That Clayton Delaney Died. Darryl Worley takes on George Jones' White Lightening. They give the song a little power though they never get rude or rough enough to take away from the overall sense of fun or of having a good time that this album dispenses. Playing is naturally never less that top notch with a host of additional players like Steve Turner on drums, Hargus "Pig" Robbins on piano, Kent Wells on electric guitar and Steve Hinson on steel guitar making sure that the music successfully straddles country and bluegrass. Both get an equal spin and should please all but the harshest critics of the genres. Nothing is going to push any envelopes here but it is a thoroughly effervescent outing for all involved. The other guests are Joe Nichols, Charlie Daniels and The Oak Ridge Boys. The whole project is St. Jude Children's research Hospital. So here you have it a whole bunch of easy going music for a good cause that hits the mainstream with ease. You may have to go online to pick up a copy of this nicely packaged CD outside of Cracker Barrel outlets though.