DON EDWARDS
Kin To The Wind (Shanachie)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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One of the best interpreters of traditional Western music, it's easy to imagine that Don Edwards was born in the back of a chuckwagon and raised on the back of a horse, but the New Jersey born Edwards was raised in Massachusetts by his parents, who were vaudevillians. Home and school in the east held little attraction for him, though, and his wanderlust took him to Texas over 40 years ago. Over the course of those years, he's become something of a Texan institution as a cowboy singer, actor and historian.

Kin To The Wind is subtitled "Memories of Marty Robbins," and it does an effective job of conjuring up an image of the late singer. In part, of course, that's due to the resemblance of Edward's rich baritone to Robbins' own voice, though there are clearly discernible differences. In part it's because of the strength of the material, which includes seven Robbins compositions and a set of complementary covers. In any event, it never hurts to be reminded of Marty Robbins, and there's no performer better suited to the task than Don Edwards.

It's particular nice to note that the Robbins songs Edwards chose for the project avoid the too obvious (there's no "El Paso" or "Big Iron" here) and offer a broad picture of Robbins' oft-underrated songwriting talents. This album should appeal equally to fans of Edwards, Robbins and Western music.

Track List:

Saddle Tramp * Begging To You * San Angelo * I'm Kin To The Wind * Singing The Blues * Old Red * Man Walks Among Us * I'll Step Aside * Is There Anything Left I Can Say * I'll Go On Alone * Ghost Train * The Best Part Of Living

© 2001 - Shaun Dale