The Final Sessions chronicles the last recording project
J.D. Sumner completed with
the Stamps before his death in 1998; it consists mostly of new versions of some of the best and most popular songs in
Sumner's repertoire. It isn't up to the level of the recordings
Sumner made in his prime -- his voice is a little shaky and gravelly, and he sometimes sounds as though he's having trouble keeping up with the music. The production is a little syrupy as well, featuring heavy doses of electric piano which don't seem to fit
Sumner's traditional style. However, the package makes a fitting memorial; the booklet is filled with tributes from other artists, friends and relatives.