Lucky Tomblin Band,
In a Honky-Tonk Mood



Label: Texas World Records

(3½ out of 5)

It's fitting that the Lucky Tomblin Band is releasing In a Honky-Tonk Mood on Valentine's Day. After all, there's few things more romantic than dancing to classic numbers from such songwriters as Moon Mullican, Harlan Howard, and Porter Wagoner.

Tomblin and a talented cast of friends cover 15 near-forgotten songs from the golden age of honky-tonk — the 1940s to 1960s. Tomblin rotates lead vocals with Earl Poole Ball, Redd Volkaert, and Sarah Brown, but the band really hits its stride with its leader in front — especially on "Trademark" (listen) and "You Are the One" (listen). Volkaert also notches a highlight with his jazzy vocals on the Floyd Tillman standard "Cold War" (listen).

With swingy vocals over simple rhythms and the occasional excursion into boogie-woogie guitar and piano, this is classic honky-tonk as it was meant to be played.

February 14, 2006