Another forthcoming CD release from the folks at Pinecastle Records is Signs (PRC1169) from Special Consensus.
Greg Cahill, with the band on tour in Ireland, took a few moments away from preparing for RTE Radio’s Mooney Show last week to speak about the songs on the album. ‚Ķ.
“The songs on Signs include many original selections; Justin wrote three of the songs and Ashby wrote three, including the title song Signs. I wrote the one instrumental (with some help from Ashby), which means that six of the twelve songs were written by band members.
We always include a swing song and a quartet song on every Special C recording and this one is no exception. Ashby brought in the old Statler Brothers classic I’ll Go To My Grave Lovin’ You and we thought that would be a great quartet to include since many of the country music fans might recognize it.
We were very fortunate to have two songs given to us by Ronnie Bowman, a phenomenal Nashville songwriter and musician, who co-authored the swing song (Simply) Talkin’ About It Just Don’t Get It Done and a beautiful gospel song Footprints. That song featured the very first ever guest female vocalist on a Special C recording; Sonya Issacs singing the high baritone part.
Too Late Now is a great song by the Wrights – a somewhat “funky groove” type of selection – and What A Beautiful Day (for the Lord To Come Again) is a traditional gospel song Justin brought to us.
And finally a great traditional song by Jake Landers’ Mountain Girl.
We enjoyed recording this album and hope our friends and fans enjoy the music!”
Signs consists of a dozen songs in all. After just one play of the CD, I am very impressed; it contains some of the best love songs collected on one album in a long time. Ashby Franks’ title song cleverly alludes to the interpretations of messages from the opposite gender. A timeless issue. Franks also penned My Heart Breaks Again. While Justin Carbone’s collaboration with Becky Buller, Gone To Carolina and his Lonesome Lesson Learned also demonstrate that Special Consensus has two excellent songwriters in its midst.
Here’s a sample of Gone To Carolina…
Listen now: [http://media.libsyn.com/media/thegrasscast/gone_to_carolina.mp3]
David Thomas, the third lead vocalist, does a fine job on the afore-mentioned Talkin’ About It Just Don’t Get It Done and Mountain Girl.
The CD, which is due for general release on 24 March, is a cert for lots of airplay and perhaps some tangible recognition by those that decide to whom the industry’s awards go.
