Liverpool is an incongruous but nonetheless devout hotbed of country music:
Beatles fanatics may recall that prior to replacing Pete Best,
Ringo Starr had written to the Houston Chamber of Commerce to inquire about job opportunities in the Lone Star State. Although Merseyside-born singer/songwriter
Charlie Landsborough spends much of his time in Ireland these days, he comes from the same countrified roots as
Ringo, but hasn't abandoned them.
Under Blue Skies,
Landsborough's ninth album, maintains the former busker's musical m.o.: this is pure countrypolitan, in the 1960s Nashville style, with the fairly important caveat that the swelling orchestras and sweeping vocal choirs are considerably ratcheted down. But anyone with fond memories of
Ray Price (after his honky tonk period) and
Sonny James will find songs like "Your Love Is Beautiful" and "You Don't Know Me" comfortingly familiar in their blend of easy listening and Nashville country. Elsewhere, a gentle, faithful cover of the warhorse "Moon River" falls too far over into the pure elevator music category, while the rollicking "Bullet in Your Gun" is a pure country shuffle that's the album's most energetic moment by far. At 17 tracks,
Under Blue Skies feels overstuffed and too long, but there's more than enough material here to please the faithful fan. [This edition includes a ten-track live bonus CD.] ~ Stewart Mason